JOHN W. JONES

JONES

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 20:01:54

JOHN W. JONES is one of the early settlers of Carl township, a highly respected and esteemed citizen and an ex soldier of the late war. He came to Adams county, Iowa, in 1875, and has since made this place his home.

Mr. Jones is a native of Champaign county, Ohio, born March 28, 1837, son of john and Mary (Laferty) Jones. Grandfather Jones was of Welsh extraction, and was among the early pioneers of Champaign county. The parents of our subject, both natives of Champaign county, passed their lives there and die in the same neighborhood where they were born. The father died July 15, 1876, at the age of seventy-one years; the mother died September 18, 1884, at the age of seventy-six years and eight months. They reared a family of seven children. The father was a farmer by occupation; in politics a Whig and later a Republican; in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife, and he was a class-leader of the church a great many years.

The subject of our sketch grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools of his native county. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted, May 3, 1864, in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry, volunteers, and served four months. His regiment was stationed at Cumberland, Maryland, and at Bermuda Hundred, on the James river. He was honorably discharged in August, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio. Returning to his home, he engaged in farming. In 1869 he moved to Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois, and subsequently to Douglas county, that State, locating near Tuscola. In 1875 he came to Iowa and settled on his present farm, 120 acres, section 25, then all wild land. As a result of Mr. Jones' well directed efforts his farm has been brought up to a high standard of development, and now ranks favorably with the best farms in this vicinity. His first home here, a box house, 16 x 16 feet, with a room in the loft, served its purpose then, but has been replaced by a modern cottage of seven rooms, tastefully furnished and complete in all its requirements. A beautiful lawn, dotted over with ornamental shrubs and trees surrounds the house. Everything necessary for the successful carrying on of farming operations is found here - good barn and outbuildings, fine pond, stock scales, etc. His farm is well stocked, he being especially interested in a high grade of cattle.

Mr. Jones was married in De Witt county, Illinois, February 29, 1860, to Miss Sarah E. Hendricks, a native of Vermont. She was four years old when her parents moved to Ohio, where she grew up and received her education. Her father and mother, Moses and Lucy (Hall) Hendricks, both died in Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have four children: John H., who married Miss Mary E. Wallace, October 6, 1886, and lives in Carl township, this county; Mary Elizabeth, Charles W. and William C. Their second child Samuel A., born September 17, 1862, was accidentally killed August 30, 1867, aged five years.

Mr. Jones is a Republican, and he and his wife and daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.