ANTHONY D. JONES

JONES

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 15:25:58

ANTHONY D. JONES, one of the venerable citizens of Montgomery county and a carpenter and joiner of Villisca, was born in Greene county, New York, July 14, 1821. His parents were Lora and Nancy (Smith) Jones, and both died in New York State, the former in 1867, at the age of sixty-seven years, and the latter in 1870, aged seventy-eight. Of their thirteen children, twelve grew to maturity and seven are still living, Anthony being the fourth born and the oldest now living. He was reared in the Empire State. At the age of fifteen he commenced to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. That trade he has followed through life, although at various times he has been engaged at farming and other work.

In May, 1846, Mr. Jones enlisted in Company I, First Regiment of New York Volunteers, for three years or during the war. The regiment went from Bath to Governor's Island, New York, and there our subject, and indeed one-third of the company, were sick, caused by bad water. By permission from his colonel, he went to the house of a friend and while there and before he had recovered, the vessel with his regiment on board left New York harbor for the seat of war. The war closed, however, before they were one-half way to Mexico.

Returning home, Mr. Jones worked at his trade there until the fall of 1862, when he moved to Clinton county, Michigan, and located near Lansing. He worked in and near Lansing till the spring of 1864; moved to Bureau county, Illinois; in 1875 came to Iowa and settled in Taylor county; and since 1883 has been a resident of Villisca. While in Taylor county he served two years as Justice of the Peace. As a workman he is skillful with tools, having few superiors in his trade. He is a remarkably temperate man; never drinks or uses tobacco and never played cards.

He was married, August 8, 1854, to Miss Elma F. Aldrich, daughter of Warner and Phidelia (Eddy) Aldrich. Six children have been born to them: Frank; Addie, wife of W. B. Woods; Charles; Warner, deceased; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Stephen Matson; and Delia B. The whole family are church members. In politics Mr. Jones is a Republican.