~Page 607~

WILLIAM JONES

&

JAMES JONES

In looking over the honored residents of Fayette county of a past generation who are now sleeping the sleep of the just there is found the well remembered name of William Jones, a man who led a life of which his descendants and friends who survive him should be justly proud, for he was truly a good and useful man, whom to know was to admire and respect. He was born in 1822 in Breconshire, Wales, and there he grew to manhood and learned the shoe-maker's trade. In 1856, accompanied by his mother, he came to America and located in Illryia township, Fayette county, Iowa, where he bought twenty acres of land in section 20, built a log house on the place, which he cleared up and transformed into a good farm, making shoes and tilling the soil at the same time. He worked something less than a year at his trade in West Union, and he made his own shoes all his life. From time to time he added to his original purchase and at his death owned one hundred and fifty acres, forty acres in section 29 and balance in section 20. Mr. Jones's mother made her home with him on the farm until her death in 1879. In 1878 Mr. Jones built a large two-story stone dwelling on his place, consisting of nine rooms and he and his wife lived there very comfortably until their deaths. Politically, Mr. Jones was a Republican but, preferring to give his farm all his attention, he never took much interest in political affairs and never sought office.

James Jones, an older brother of the subject, who was also born in Breconshire, Wales, left his native land sometime previous to the date that saw the departure of his mother and brother. He located in New York and there married Ann Sanders, who was born in Breconshire, Wales, in 1833. She had come with her parents to America when a young girl, locating in New York.

About 1857 Mr. and Mrs. James Jones came to Fayette county, Iowa, and located in Illyria township, where Mr. Jones was killed soon afterwards while digging a well. He left a widow and two daughters, Mary, now the widow of John Stephens, and Mrs. Clara Landas, of Fayette County. Sometime after the death of James Jones, William Jones and Mrs. Ann Sanders Jones were married, and to them were born five children, namely; William C., who lives in South Dakota; George W., who lives on the home place, which he owns; Jane is the wife of Grant Wilber and lives in South Dakota; Emily M. is the wife of Frank Follensbee, of Illyria township; Frank T. lives in Westfield township, this county. The two daughters of James Jones made their home with their mother and step-father until they were married. The death of William Jones occurred in May 1887, and that of Mrs. Jones in July, 1887.