H.E. Jones

JONES, MCCABE

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/21/2010 at 10:06:09

H. E. Jones needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is well known in the western part of the county where his numerous friends call him Ed. He is one of the active businessmen and public-spirited citizens of Lone Tree township, making his home in Everly, where for the past seven years, he has been engaged in business. He was a little lad of less than four years when brought to Clay county and he has since remained within its borders. His birth occurred near Stoughton, Wisconsin, on the 18th of December, 1863, his father being Evan Jones while his brother is A. T. Jones, mentioned elsewhere in this work. On the old home farm in this county H. E. Jones was reared and in the common schools pursued his education. He herded cattle on the open prairie when a lad, for at that time the prairie had not been converted into farms and was still in possession of the government, and the settlers could turn their cattle and stock loose upon it that they might graze on the native grasses. With all of the farm work H. E. Jones early became familiar, as his father believed in practical training for his boys, that they might have experience to aid them when they reached manhood. He continued with his father until twenty-two years of age when, thinking that other fields would prove more congenial and profitable than agricultural life, he turned his attention to railroad construction and for three years was employed on various roads in six different states. In 1888, however, he returned to Clay county with the capital he had saved through his earnings and purchased land, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Waterford township. Here he began the arduous task of cultivating land that was still in its primitive condition. It is no sinecure to open a new farm. Years had made the ground hard and it was therefore difficult to break the sod and prepare the soil for planting. But with persistent energy Mr. Jones pursued his task and made a good start in the farm work. Later he bought another tract of three hundred and twenty acres which was partially improved. He continued its further development and thus engaged in farming for twelve years, after which he rented his land and removed to Everly, where he turned his attention to the live-stock business, also selling farm machinery. He continued in live-stock business three or four years and then withdrew from that field of industry but continued to engage in the implement business and is giving close attention to its control and management. He is, moreover, a stockholder in the Everly Grain & Lumber Company and in all of his commercial as well as agricultural relations he has shown himself to be a man of good business ability, of strong and determined purpose and undaunted energy. He forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. His business judgment is rarely, if ever, at fault.

The home life of Mr. Jones had its beginning in his marriage in Spencer in March, 1887, to Miss Iva McCabe, who was born in New York. They are now the parents of three children Edith, Ella and Ruth. The eldest daughter is now attending school in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Politically Mr. Jones is independent. He was elected county supervisor by a large majority in 1908, and is now filling the office in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. He belongs to Everly Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Odd Fellows Lodge of this place. There are few citizens of the county more widely and more favorable known than H. E. Jones, whose business enterprise has carried him into important commercial and financial relations, while his genial manner, his unfailing courtesy and his spirit of friendliness have gained him the warm and lasting regard of those with whom he has brought in contact.

Contributed by: Susan Gregory. Source: History of Clay County Iowa – Steele – 1909, page 254.