Merritt B Jones

JONES

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/17/2010 at 13:16:09

Merritt B Jones is successfully engaged in draying and livery business and also deals to some extent in horses. He was born in Jackson township, Boone county, on a farm which is now owned by H A Cobb, on May 10, 1880, and is a son of Lewis and Louise (Sawyer) Jones. The father was born in Ohio, where he lived until seven years of age, when he was brought to Porter county, Indiana, where he attended the public schools. His early life was spent upon a farm in that state, and he subsequently married in Indiana, where he and his family remained until 1870, when they removed with their two children to Iowa. They located on a farm near Gilbert, Story county, where they remained for three years. At the end of that time they went on to a tract of land comprising 160 acres in Jackson township, and there they resided for eight or ten years, the father bending his energies to agricultural development. He then bought a farm in Franklin township, Story county, just over the line from Jackson township, Boone county, and there he continued to reside until January 18, 1898, when he passed away. He was buried in Ontario cemetery in Boone county. The mother, who is a devout member of the Christian church, survives him and makes her home with her children. Mr Jones did not belong to any particular church but was always eager to contribute to church work and the different organizations, being thoroughly in sympathy with tier efforts. In their family were the following children: Leah, who married Dr C W Johnson of Des Moines, Bertha who is now Mrs T L Jones of Boone, Flavius S of Story county who farms on the home place, Merritt B of this review, and Mabel who died at the age of three.
Merritt B Jones was educated in the country schools near his father’s farm and those of Boone city. He rounded out his learning and prepared himself for business life by taking a course at the Capital City Business College, completing his studies there at the age of twenty-one. Until nineteen years of age he assisted his father on the home farm, but when he had reached his majority he went to the Dakotas, where he worked for farmers, later having charge of a real estate office at Tower City, Cass county North Dakota. After his marriage Mr Jones established his home in Boone, accepting a position with the Boone Cereal Mill, with which firm he remained until its affairs were liquidated. He then joined the Boone police force under Mayor Goodykoontaz, remaining for eleven months in a minor position, at the end of which time he was made city marshal under Mayor Forrow. At the following election Mr Wiles was elected mayor, Mr Jones continuing under him as city marshal. Subsequently he established himself in the livery business and now gives his sole attention tot his enterprise. He is a courteous and obliging man and has built up a profitable business along honorable principles. Such success as has been his is well merited and is the outcome of determination, industry, honest and close application.
On February 10, 1904, Mr Jones married Miss Jessie Hull, a daughter of J M and Susan (Redmond) Hull. She is one of four children born to her parents and is widely and favorably known in Boone as a lady of womanly qualities of character. Mr Jones is a republican and thoroughly devoted to his party. He has taken a laudable part in the progress of Boone and is ever ready to support new enterprises which promise to be of value to the community. He has many friends, all of whom esteem and respect him for what he is and what he has achieved.

1914 Boone County History Book