[1] Her father, James Riddle, was of Scottish descent, and her mother, Elizabeth Jackson, a Quaker, was of English origin.

Her poem, "The Gruesome Rain", embodied a grief, a regret and a hint of the horrors of that season.

Sophia Fox, hearing of Banta's situation, sent her carriage and servants a distance of 25 miles (40 km) to carry the young widow to her plantation at Bovina, Mississippi.

Fox, with characteristic southern warm-heartedness, had supplied all her needs and refused all proffered remuneration on the arrival of Dr. Mount, the old family physician.

[1][4] For the sake of an entire change of scene, her father disposed of his home and business interests in Covington, temporarily, and removed to Bloomington, Indiana.