The Jones Family of Clinton County, Iowa

ISAAC W. JONES.

The deserved reward of a well-spent life is an honored retirement from business, in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. To-day after a useful and beneficial career, Isaac W. Jones is quietly living at his pleasant home in DeYVitt, surrounded by the comfort that earnest labor has brought him. In early life he engaged in carpentering and later followed farming with marked success.

Mr. Jones was born in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio, September 4, 18 18, and is a son of Jonathan Jones, a native, of Brownville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. His parental grandfather, Jonathan Jones, Sr.. was of Welsh descent and an early settler of Philadelphia, where as a carpenter he assisted in putting on the first shingle roof in that city. At that time there were about three hundred houses in the town but all were covered with clapboards. From Philadelphia Mr. Jones removed to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and later to Jefferson county, Ohio, being one of the first white men to locate there. In the midst of the wilderness he cleared and improved a farm.

The father of our subject grew to manhood in Jefferson county, Ohio, and in that state married Miss Hannah Flaugh. who was born and reared in Uniontown. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and went to Ohio with a sister. For some years Jonathan Jones, Jr., followed the stone and brick mason's trade, but later settled on a farm near Freeport, Harrison count) Ohio,.and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. About 1855 he came to Iowa and joined his son in Clinton county, where he spent the remainder of his life. His first wife, who was the mother of our subject, died in this comity, and he subsequently returned to Ohio, where he was again married. He continued to make his home here, however, until his death, but while on a visit, died in Cassville, Ohio.

Isaac \Y. Jones passed his boyhood and youth in Jefferson and Harrison counties, Ohio, where he attended the common schools and also learned the cabinet maker's trade, at which he worked about eighteen years. Later he followed the carpenter's and joiner's trade for some years. He was married near Cassville, Harrison county, December 10, 1840, to Miss Hannah Knight, who was born near Cassville, that county, where her father, John Knight, located in 1806, being one of the first settlers of the county.

Coming west in 1853, Mr. Jones took up his residence in Davenport, Iowa, on the loth of May, that year, where there he worked at both the cabinet maker's and carpenter's trades. The following year he came to DeYVitt. Clinton county, and as a carpenter aided in building the old court house, doing all the work on the belfry. While living in Davenport he had purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in what is now Welton township, this county, and one hundred and sixty acres in DeYVitt township, nine miles west of the village, and after following carpentering here for about five years, he located upon his land and turned his attention to its improvement and cultivation. His first home here was a small residence, which in later years was replaced by a more commodious structure. He also erected a good barn and outbuildings, set up a wind pump, and made other improvements upon the place.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWIN STANTON JONES.

Edwin S. Jones, of DeWitt, is carrying on an extensive business in the sale of farm implements, wind pumps, wagons, buggies, carriages, etc., and is to-day one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of the village. A native of this county, he was born on the old homestead farm in Welton township, March 13, 1862, and is a son of Isaac W. Jones, who is represented elsewhere in this work. He received a good practical education in the common schools, and early acquired an excellent knowledge of all kinds of farm work while assisting his father in the operation of the home place. After arriving at mature years he took charge of the farm and carried it on quite successfully for ten years.

On the 31st of March, 1886, Mr. Jones was married in DeYVitt to Miss Alice K. Hixby, who was born, reared and educated in Pennsylvania, and was a young lady when she came west. For many years her father, Charles Hixby, was engaged in business in DeWitt, where he died February 2, 1897. Her mother is still living, and now resides with a daughter in Chicago. Our subject and his wife have three children: Xettie Erma, Ina May and Ada Alberta.

In 1897 Mr. Jones removed to DeWitt and succeeded his father-in-law. Mr. Hixby, in the coal and scale business, which he continued for two years. He then sold out and embarked in his present business, which from the beginning has steadily increased until he is now at the head of a well-established trade. He carries quite a large stock of farm implements, wind pumps, wagons. buggies and carriages, and has gained an enviable reputation for fair dealing and upright business methods. Since attaining his majority he has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but has never cared for political honors. Roth he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been initiated into the mysteries of that order in DeWitt Lodge, with which he still holds membership. While Mr. Jones, as a prosperous business man, has given close attention to his private affairs, he has never forgotten or ignored that bond of common interest which should unite the people of every community, and he has always been ready to promote progress in every line.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.