JONES, Isaac D. - 1912 Bio (1832-1916)

JONES, MCCANNON, VAUGHAN, YOUNG, MOORE, BROWN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/16/2007 at 20:14:50

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 72-74

Isaac D. JONES is today one of the veteran members of the Iowa bar, having practiced continuously in Fairfield since 1860. Moreover he has been a resident of the state since its territorial days and has not only been an interested witness in the transformation that has here been wrought but has also actively participated in the work of development and progress which has brought Iowa to its present high place in the sisterhood of states. His birth occurred in Johnson county, Indiana, April 9, 1832. One of his great-grandfathers was Christopher McCANNON, who served on the Virginia line during the Revolutionary war and was wounded at the battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, after which his wife, Hannah, the great-grandmother of Mr. JONES, took care of him while he lay wounded on the battlefield. He did not recover from his injuries but soon passed away and was buried at Richmond, Virginia. The parents of our subject were William C. and Pamelia A. (VAUGHAN) JONES, the former born in North Carolina, July 9, 1809, and the latter in Virginia, October 3, 1811. They were reared, educated and married in the south and in 1831 removed from Virginia to Johnson county, Indiana, where they arrived on the 31st of December of that year. For about fourteen years they remained in Indiana and on the 30th of March, 1845, came to Iowa, settling in the eastern portion of Jefferson county. They first took up their abode on government land and later the father purchased other property, continuing to engage in farming until 1876. He then retired and removed to Fairfield, where his death occurred September 10, 1898. His wife had passed away in this city in 1889. They both had the warm friendship of many who knew them and Mr. JONES was regarded as a valuable citizen whose labors contributed to the work of general progress and improvement. He held a number of offices including those of township assessor and county assessor in Indiana. He was likewise a member of the board of commissioners, was collector and treasurer and served as sheriff of Johnson county, Indiana. In 1840 he was also made deputy United States marshal for the district which included Johnson county. In 1860 he made the enumeration in the east half of Jefferson county and for two terms he filled the position of school fund commissioner. He also acted as justice of the peace and was clerk and member of the school board, being continuously identified with the interests of public education in Cedar township until his retirement from the farm in 1876. No public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his loyalty to the best interests of the community marked him as one of the representative and worthy citizens of his part of the state. In politics he was a lifelong democrat, voting with that party since casting his first presidential ballot for Andrew Jackson in 1832. Both he and his wife held membership in the Christian church and were always loyal and true to their professions. Unto them were born six children of whom Isaac D. is the eldest. William H., who was a druggist of Fairfield for twenty-two years, is also deceased. Martin V. B., who had followed carpentry during the greater part of his life and who served for two years in the Twenty-sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, was wounded at Champion's Hill, being shot through the knee, after which he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Fairfield where he continued his residence until called to his final rest. Wiley A. is a physician now living in Cantril, Van Buren county, Iowa. He served as hospital steward with the Tenth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war. Elizabeth R., the youngest of the family, died in 1864.

In early life Isaac D. JONES was handicapped by lameness, suffering, in 1845, from an illness which left him a cripple so that he has since used a crutch and cane. He has never allowed this, however, to retard his energy and laudable ambition, his dominant qualities, but has wisely used every opportunity that has come to him for the advancement of his interests. He continued to reside in Jefferson county until 1855, when he went to Missouri where he spent three years. He then returned to Fairfield in 1858 and, having determined to make the practice of law his life work, became a student in one of the law offices in this city. His further preliminary reading secured his admission to the bar in 1860 and he has since practiced here, being today the oldest representative of the legal profession in Fairfield. He has displayed marked ability in handling his cases which he always prepares with profound care, and in his work in the courts has altogether been of an important character. From time to time as opportunity has offered he has made judicious investment in real estate and has bought, sold and traded considerable property. He still has good holdings in Fairfield and from this derives a substantial income.

On the 11th of December, 1856, Mr. JONES was united in marriage to Miss Rachel E. YOUNG, who was born in Johnson county, Indiana, January 7, 1830, and was brought to Jefferson county in 1853 by her parents, Joseph and Mary (MOORE) YOUNG, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The children of Mr. and Mrs. JONES are: Anna M., who is the widow of Fred MOORE and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Kate M., an abstractor of titles occupying offices with her father; Elizabeth R., who has been a national organizer with the Young Women's Christian Association for a number of years and is now located at Bisbee, Arizona; Effie M., the wife of Frank C. BROWN, a farmer of Greeley, Colorado; and Frank H., a traveling salesman residing at Waterloo, Iowa.

In politics Mr. JONES has always been an active supporter of democratic principles. He served as postmaster of Fairfield under President Johnson and was also mayor of the city for one term. He filled the office of deputy treasurer, collector and recorder for three years, being chosen to the position upon the creation of that office in 1851. He has long been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been honored with the presidency of the Historical Society of Jefferson county since its organization. His has been a well spent life and in many respects his service has been of signal usefulness and benefit to the county of his adoption. His influence has ever been found on the side of improvement and progress and in passing judgment upon vital questions he brings to their consideration the analytical power of the lawyer and the logical deductions of the judge.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.