Early in 1870 they played their first minstrel engagement with Dan Shelby’s Company, and the same year they joined Duprez and Benedict’s Minstrels, and were features of this famous organization until 1879, when they joined Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s Minstrels.
Subsequently they were with the Skiff and Gaylord Company, and in September, 1882, Fox and Ward’s Minstrels made their first appearance.
In 1884 they were members of Haverly’s Minstrels.
In 1886 they played with Lester and Allen’s Minstrels, and two years later returned to Haverly.
In 1890 they traveled with George Arlington’s Minstrels.
Fox and Ward eschewed minstrelsy for several years, when in 1897 they played their third engagement with Haverly.
Again deserting their burnt cork friends, they played vaudeville and combination dates for a few seasons. They joined Dumont’s Minstrels in Philadelphia in 1905, and the major portion of the intervening time has been since spent with that notable organization.
Joseph Fox (Monahan), was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., May 7, 1852.
William H. Ward (Marvin Morton Mallison), was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., September 17, 1852.