The Jones Families of Henry County, Illinois

RICHARD D. JONES.

A little boy convalescing from a hard attack of smallpox which he caught in the coal mines, plead daily with his parents that they would forsake that confining and unhealthy life, buy a piece of land and engage in the agricultural pursuits, which, while being more remunerative, would also enable them to enjoy more rugged and permanent good health. From those days in the sickroom Richard D. Jones dates his career as a farmer, and in the lapse of the years has never had occasion to regret that his pleading was given thoughtful consideration, for he is now one of the successful and influential agriculturists of Colona township.

He was born in Wales, April 1, 1850, a son of Daniel and Mary (Jenkins) Jones. In 1856, the family, consisting of the parents and six children, started for America. The father was a miner and when they embarked upon their long journey it was with the intention of settling in Salt Lake City, Utah, for they were among the believers of Joseph Smith and members of the Latter Day Saints. When they reached Iowa City, however, then the terminus of the Rock Island Railroad, they found that they should have to continue the rest of the trip by wagon train and that a considerable amount of money was a prerequisite. As they were wholly without funds, the balance of the party continued on their way without them, and they were compelled to look for some place where they might obtain a living. Having been coal miners across the ocean, the father and elder sons decided to seek employment in the mines in this state, and accordingly the family removed to Minersville, Colona township, Henry county, now known as Briar Bluff, where they found employment. In 1857 they removed to Coal Valley, where they lived and worked until the spring of 1863, when they located on a farm of eighty acres which the father purchased in Western township. He had worked in the mines since he was seven years of age, and like many men, who have become habituated to one means of winning a livelihood, found little complaint with his work, despite the fact that it had been his occupation for half a century. But not so the young boy who believed that the mines were exhausting the strength and destroying the powers of the different members of the family. He had experienced the fulness of the life, which had made him subject to the dread disease of smallpox, so he urged the father to buy a piece of land and start in life anew. Such was the reason for the family's removal to the farm in Western township, upon which they lived until 1884, when the father and mother removed to Correctionville, Iowa, where their youngest son, Daniel, was located. There the former died in October, 1889, and his widow in June, 1893. The hardships the couple had known were numerous and sometimes almost overwhelming, but they ever ordered their lives in accordance with high principles of honor and integrity, being able to transmit to their children the strong Welsh train of honesty, industry and frugality.

There were seventeen children born to them, but only six of these were living when the family came to the United States. They were Louis, Walter, William, Martha, Richard D. and Daniel. The eldest went to California in 1862, married there and then removed to Nevada, where he lived for about twelve years. At the end of that period he sold his claims and returned to Illinois. In 1872 he bought a farm near Red Oak, Iowa, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in October, 1898, leaving a son, a daughter and a widow, who still make their home there. Walter was married in 1861 and with his young bride joined an emigrant train bound for Salt Lake City, where he has since resided. In 1862 William enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twentysixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served three years or until the close of the war. Although he was ever at his post of duty and participated in a number of severely contested engagements, he closed his career as a soldier without having been wounded or captured. Martha, the only daughter, is the wife of D. H. Harris, of Piatt, South Dakota. Daniel, the youngest, is in Iowa.

Richard D. Jones has been very busy ever since he was old enough to work, and although he was but thirteen years of age when he persuaded his parents to engage in farming, he had to assume no small share of the work. He received a meager education in the district schools of Western township. At the age of twenty-one he married, but when he established a home of his own he removed to Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877. In that year he returned to Colona township, this county, where he purchased the place known as the R. L. Shepherd farm, which has been his home ever since. The original farm comprised one hundred and eighty acres, but he has added to it in the course of years until now he owns four hundred and forty-four acres, an excellent tract of land, on which Mr. Jones pursues diversified farming and engaged in stock feeding and dairying. His place is well improved with buildings suitable to his needs, and the fields are tilled with care, skill and knowledge. In consequence, as progressive ideas and industry have been guiding features in his life, he is one of the most successful men in his locality, for not only has he secured a large income, but he enjoys a high reputation for honesty and is respected by every one who has come in contact with him either in business relations or socially.

On the 25th of December, 1871, Mr. Jones wedded Miss Jeanette Craig Mc- Whinney, a daughter of James and Margaret (Craig) McWhinney, The former was a native of the north of Ireland, while the latter was born in Scotland. Both came to America as young people, were married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where their, daughter, Mrs. Jones, was born, and then came to Henry county, Illinois, settling in Colona township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. They died some years ago. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely: Margaret, who is the wife of Amos Baum, of Colona; Daniel F., who is married and is a farmer of Edf ord township; Thomas, A., who is also married and is a farmer and stockman of Colona township; Clara, who is the wife of Albert Kershaw, an agriculturist of Briar Bluff; Nellie, who is the wife of Clark J. Glenn, a coal operator of Edford township; and Ruby E. and Raymond W., who are at home. Mrs. Jones was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and while all the family are interested in religious work they are not members of any denomination.

A republican in his political views, Mr. Jones has played an important part in local affairs and in the councils of his party. He has been a delegate to county and district conventions, is now, having been for some years past, the Colona township member of the county republican central committee. For a number of years he served his township as assessor, was road commissioner, and for eighteen years was a member of the district board of education, for he has always been deeply interested in the subject of public instruction, as he never enjoyed the advantages in that line by which his children have profited. A progressive citizen, he is an ardent advocate of all substantial public improvements and has been influential in obtaining many of the advantages of which the citizens of Colona are now proud. His religion and charity are distinctly of the practical kind, so that he may well be called one of the splendid residents of his locality, whose life has contributed much toward the betterment of those who have associated with him.

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

WILLIAM D. JONES.

William D. Jones is a retired farmer, making his home in a comfortable residence in Colona, which he purchased in December, 1908. In former years, however, he led a very busy and active life on the farm, so that the rest which he now enjoys is well merited. Mr. Jones is a native of Canada, born on a farm in Pickering township, near Ontario. He is a son of Isaac Jones, who was born in the Empire state. He was a shoemaker by trade, also engaged in farming. He journeyed from New York, his native state, to Canada and was there united in marriage to Mrs. Susanna Millard, who bore the maiden name of Snyder. Like her husband, she was a native of New York. She had a son by her former marriage, John Millard, who served in the Civil war, being a captain in the Confederate army. He was killed in battle. She also had two sons, Charles and George Jones, who served in the Union army, being members of a Michigan regiment. Charles was also killed in battle but George served throughout the war and lived for many years thereafter, his death occurring in the Soldiers Home at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his remains were interred. It will thus be seen that the half brother, Mr. Millard, was their antagonist during that great struggle but the fact was not known at the time.

William D. Jones was reared on the home farm in Canada and was educated in the district schools. In 1866, when a young man of twenty-two years, he crossed the border into the United States, making his way direct to Kewanee, Illinois, where for a time he was employed at whatever he could find that would yield him a living. His principal work, however, was driving teams. After a few months he went from that city to Green River with a drove of fifteen hundred sheep for O. A. Gilbert, with whom he remained for several months. He later found employment with various farmers of the neighborhood and was then with the Mineral Creek Coal Company for one winter. During the following summer he worked at farm labor in Edford township and in the winter again returned to the Mineral Creek Coal Company, with which he remained two years. It was about this time that he established a home of his own by his marriage, and subsequently he removed to Cleveland, Henry county, where he worked at carpentering and mining for about three years. It was about this time that he decided to make farming a permanent vocation and to this end he took up his location on a tract of land in Western township. After a residence of three years in Western township he spent one year on a farm in Colona township. During all these years he had carefully saved his earnings and worked diligently from early morning until late at night and through these methods he acquired a sum which justified him in making purchase of eighty acres in Colona township. He paid but ten dollars per acre for this land but it was not long until, owing to the improvements which Mr. Jones placed upon it in the way of buildings and the care he gave to the soil, it was worth many times the amount he paid for it. This proved the basis of his later success and in due time he added ninety-three acres to his original purchase, so that the place now comprises one hundred and seventy-three acres in Colona township. For many years Mr. Jones was identified with the cultivation of this farm. He also gave much attention to stock-raising, keeping the best grades of cattle and hogs, which commanded high prices on the city markets. For many years he was likewise engaged in breeding thoroughbred French coach horses, making a close study of this breed of animals and becoming; a recognized authority on the subject. Mr. Jones was thus actively engaged until December, 1908, when he put aside the more arduous cares of business pursuits and removed to Colona. His life has been a success but it is that success which comes of earnest and unremitting toil, guided by sound judgment and the capable control of all business affairs.

The 8th of May, 1869, witnessed the marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Anna Anderson, a daughter of Andrew and Martha (Anderson) Anderson, The daughter was born in Sweden, March 1, 1849, and accompanied her parents to America in August, 1852, the family home being established on a farm near New Boston, Mercer county, Illinois, where Mr. Anderson engaged in farming throughout his remaining years, passing away December 5, 1878. The mother still survives at the advanced age of eighty-six years. She is still active and in the fall of 1909 made a trip to Polk, Nebraska, to visit a son, John H. Anderson.

The marriage of Mr, and Mrs., Jones has been blessed with seven children, as follows; Anna, the wife of Daniel McGraw, a farmer of Colona township; Mabel, the wife of Josephus S. Evans, a resident of East Moline, Illinois; Carrie, the wife of Clarence Garland, a resident farmer of Colona township, who is mentioned in this work; Manville, who died June 11, 1892, leaving a widow and one daughter, who make their home in Colona; Clarence E., of Silvis, Illinois; Lucinda, the wife of Howard Williams, of Colona township; and Wesley D., who operates the old homestead farm.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr, Jones has supported the republican platform and he has always kept well informed on political questions. For thirteen years he served as justice of the peace but resigned the office when he took up his above in Colona. He has also been road commissioner, while for fourteen years he served as school director, the cause of education and good schools being one of deep interest to him. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward and as class leader. He is also acting as superintendent of the Sunday school, in which Mrs., Jones is a teacher. She is also identified with the Laaies Aid Society and both are deeply interested in each and every department of church work. No man is more respected and no man more fully enjoys the confidence of the people or more richly deserves the esteem in which he is held. The people, recognizing his merit, rejoice in his advancement and in the honors to which he has attained. Honorable in business, loyal in citizenship, charitable in thought, kindly in action, true to every trust that has been confided to his care, his life is the highest type of Christian manhood.

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

ROBINSON G. JONES.

The educational interests of Henry county find one of their most prominent representatives in Professor Robinson G. Jones, superintendent of the city schools, He was born in Kansas City, Kansas, December 14, 1871, a son of Rev. John G. and Rovilla (Robinson) Jones, the former a minister of the Methodist church. Professor Jones pursued his education in the schools of Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated, and in the Ohio Central Normal School and the Ohio Northern University, the last named conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1894. He also studied law in the Ohio University and pursued a special history course in the University of Chicago and a special course in Columbia University in New York city in 1907. His entire life has been devoted to educational work and to the further promotion of his own education as he has found opportunity to resume his studies. For one year he was principal and for four years superintendent of the public schools at Gibson City, Illinois, was superintendent of the schools at Lexington, Illinois for two years and spent five years as superintendent at Harvard, Illinois. He then came to Kewanee as superintendent of schools of this city, where he has done excellent and effective work, placing the public-school system of Kewanee on a par with that of other schools of the state. He holds to high standards and works toward high ideals in his chosen profession, eagerly embracing every opportunity that will enhance the effectiveness of his labor in accomplishing results, in equipping the youth for the practical and responsible duties of life. He is a member of the National Educational Association and of the Department of Superintendents and belongs also to the State Teachers Association and to the Superintendents Round Table of Chicago. He is a member of the western division of the Northern Illinois Teachers Association and is vice president of the Superintendents and Principals Association of Northern Illinois. He is now acting as secretary of the superintendents division of the State Teachers Association, He has a wide acquaintance among leading educators of Illinois and has made continuous progress in his profession, being now accorded a position of distinction as a representative of public instruction in this state.

On the 27th of July, 1899, Mr. Jones married Miss Minnie L. Gish, of Rittman, Ohio, a daughter of John J. Gish, a tobacco broker, who is a native of Connecticut and is now connected with the tobacco industry of northern Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been born a son, Robert Stanley. In his fraternal relations the father is a Mason, devoted to the interests of the order, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian.

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