Joel Jones

As printed in 1906

JOEL JONES.

Joel Jones is the owner of a fine farm in Salem township and that he is classed with the substantial residents of his community is due to a life of unabating energy, strong determination and unflagging work. He has now reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey and his life record proves that prosperity and an honorable name may be won simultaneously, for an upright life has gained for him the respect and confidence of his fellow men. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 15th of June, 1826, a son of Isaac and Mary (Milleson) Jones, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents, William and Emma (Cause) Jones, were born in the same state and the maternal grandparents, James and Abigal (Hayes) Milleson, were natives of Easton, Penns6o sylvania. The tide of emigration has steadily flowed westward in this country and the boundaries of the frontier have thus been extended. Among the early residents who left the Keystone state for Ohio were the parents of our subject and after residing for some time in that state they started with wagon and horses for Iowa, driving across the country at a period before the building of railroads. They crossed the Mississippi river at Fort Madison and thence continued on their way to Salem in Henry county, where they spent the winter. Mr. Jones purchased two hundred acres of land in Salem township, of which one hundred and sixty acres lay on section 15. Upon this farm the family took up their above in the spring, Mr. Jones building a little frame house of two rooms, to which he added a third room the following year. Forty acres of his land was covered with timber and was situated on section 20. Salem township. With characteristic energy he began the development of his farm and during the first season broke forty acres of land, capable performing the arduous task of turning the sod and placing hitherto uncultivated prairie under the plow. He afterward purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land in Lee county, Iowa, which he gave to his sons who, wath six yoke of oxen he owned, broke that tract at the same time he was breaking his home place. A stone mason by trade, he did considerable work in that line, letting his boys carry on the work of the farms. He was a very industrious, energetic man and he instilled lessons of industry and enterprise into the minds of his children, so that they early came to a realization of the value of earnest persistent labor as a factor in winning success. In the family were five sons and two daughters: Eli, James, Jonathan and Abigail, all of whom are now deceased; Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Fisher and has also passed away; Isaac, who has been called from this life; and Joel, who is the enty surviving member of the family. The mother died September 5, 1858, at the age of seventy-five years, four months and two days and the father passed away August 28, 1862. at the age of seventy-nine years. They were worthy pioneer residents of the county, contributing to the early substantial improvement of this part of the state.

Joel Jones was a lad when his parents came to Iowa and he continued his education in the common schools and seminary of Salem, Henry county. His memory goes back to the time when almost this entire district was wild and unbroken prairie. Along the streams there grew some timber, but the entire countryside was much as it was when it came from the hand of nature. Only a few settlements had been made within its borders, showing that the white man was extending his domain into the 'region which was formerly the hunting ground of the red race. With the family Mr. Jones shared in the difficult experiences incident to pioneer life when the comforts of an older civilization were difficult to obtain because of the remoteness from cities of any size. In his youth Mr. Jones was trained to the work of the farm, aiding in the arduous task of developing and cultivating new land and continuing to work upon the farm until after his parents* death, when, wishing to remain upon the old homestead, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property. He has resided here continuously since and has put all of the improvements upon the farm to the value of about five thousand dollars. In 1875 he built a house of seventeen rooms with cellar underneath. He also has a large barn, forty by fifty feet with stone basement, which was built in 1864, being one of the first good barns in this vicinity. The place is as well improved as any in the township and indicates the careful supervision and progressive spirit of the owner. He has added twenty-one acres to the original tract and also ten acres of timber and he now owns altogether two hundred and ten acres, all in Salem township. In more recent years he has abandoned the active work of the fields. Avhich he has turned over to his son Arthur, who lives just opposite his place and who in connection with general farming is with his father feeding cattle extensively each year.

On the 2 1 St of December, 1856, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Caroline Rhodes, who was born in Warren county, Ohio. October 28, 1830, a daughter of John W. and Sarah (Thompson) Rhodes, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maine. Her paternal grandparents were John and Sarah (Jacob) Rhodes and her maternal grandparents were Samuel and Sarah (Harrington) Thompson. Her great-grandfather, William Rhodes, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who gave his life for the cause of liberty. Mrs. Jones was educated in the schools of Ohio and in the high school of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and also Howe's Academy in that city. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children: Alvin, who was born January 21, 1858, and is living in Salem township, married Mena Bailey, who died leaving four children. Hazel, Trell, Cophine and Darrel J.; Arthur, who was born October 27, 1859, and is operating the old home place, married Clara Taylor, have five children. Gilbert, Roscoe, Anthony, Bessie and Bertha; Ida, who was born April 18, 1861, and is the wife of Amos Binford, a rancher of Colorado, living in Denver, has two children. Max and Berda; and Jessie, who was born March 10, 1872, and is at home.

In his political views Joel Jones is a stalwart republican and for many years has served as township trustee, his long continuance in the office being proof of the capability of his service and the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Almost his entire life has been spent upon the farm which is now his home. From this place he has watched the great changes that have wrought a marked transformation in the county, converting it from a frontier district into a center of advanced civilization with all of the elements of modern progress and improvement.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.