JONES, JOHN R.

JONES, EAGAN, SETCHELL, MCCLEMENT

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 3/2/2004 at 08:47:18

Biography reproduced from page 102 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

With the advent of the late John R. Jones in Algona in 1870 Kossuth county gained one of her representative citizens, a man who in various relations has furthered public progress. He was for many years prominently connected with business affairs; he has held the reins of city government as mayor of Algona; and was most widely and favorably known in connection with various fraternal organizations. His birth occurred near Toronto, Canada, May 10, 1837, his parents being Jesse and Henrietta (Eagan) Jones. His father was a Methodist minister in the province of Ontario throughout his entire life and a long and useful career was ended when death called him July 7, 1890, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife survived until 1906 and reached a remarkable old age.

John R. Jones was educated in the public schools of Canada and in 1857, when a young man of twenty years, he crossed the border into the United States and made his home at Dubuque. He was a student in the high school of that city in 1858. His education thus completed, he began providing for his own support as an employe of the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Waterloo, Iowa. He was made station agent there in 1860 and sold the first railroad ticket at that place. From Waterloo he went to Jesup, Iowa, where he was engaged in dealing in grain, live stock, lumber and farm implements, and while controlling this business of varied character he was also acting as station agent at Jesup for the Illinois Central Railroad, occupying that position for nine years. In 1870 he came thence to Algona and established an agricultural implement business, building and owning what was known as the Wigwam. There he carried a large stock of agricultural implements and farm machinery and for twenty-three years conducted a successful and growing business, which he at length transferred to his son, Wilfred Paul Jones, in 1893. Since that time he engaged in the real-estate business and in looking after individual interests. Prosperity attended his efforts because at the outset of his career he realized that persistent labor, intelligently directed, is the basis of all honorable success. He, therefore, closely applied himself to his work of whatever nature it consisted and gradually advanced until he long occupied a place among the leading merchants of his adopted city.

Appreciation of his worth on the part of his fellow townsmen was indicated in his election to the office of mayor in 1887 for a term of two years and as the incumbent in that position he discharged his duties so acceptably and creditably that in 1889 he was reelected for a second term. He has also been a member of the city council for a number of terms and exercised his official prerogatives in support of various progressive measures which have been of lasting benefit to the city.

On the 1st of January, 1866, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Flora A. Setchell, a daughter of Delos Hayden Setchell, of Cuba, Allegany county, New York, who was a preacher and also engaged in teaching school in the Empire state and in Iowa. In 1863 he took up his abode at Jesup, Iowa, and in 1871 came to Algona, where he remained a respected and honored resident to the time of his death in 1902, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His wife passed away in 1907, when eighty-four years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two children. Jessamine Lynn, who was born June 21, 1868, and died October 12, 1908, was a graduate of the Algona high school, and of the University of Iowa in 1893. She became an authoress of considerable note, writing many short stories, which were extensively published in the various high-class magazines of the country. The son, Wilfred Paul, born in 1870, married Veda M. McClement, of Burlington, Iowa, and they have three children. He is now vice president of the Merchants National Bank of Portland, Oregon, where he resides.

During his long residence in Algona, John R. Jones gained a social position of no less prominence that the place which he had won in business and political circles. He belonged to Prudence Lodge, No. 205, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for five years; Prudence Chapter, No. 70, R. A. M., of which he was high priest for ten years; and Fort Dodge Commandery, K. T. In the Odd Fellows society he held membership in Algona lodge and he belonged to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Algona. He attended the Congregational church and it is a recognized fact that his cooperation could be counted upon to further any project for the public good. He passed away at the age of seventy-five years, June 18, 1912, and remained until the last an active and influential factor in the world’s work.

Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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