Richard D. Jones

As printed in 1910

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 History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.