Edward William Jones

JONES, THOMAS, WOOD

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/8/2004 at 10:22:32

"The History of Madison County, Iowa"
Union Historical Company, 1879
page 540

E. W. Jones, Winterset, retired merchant; born in Wales, in 1834; emigrated to the United States in 1854, and settled in Wisconsin; he came to this county in the autumn of 1868, and, in connection with M. R. Tidrick, was engaged in selling goods; he married Miss Emily J. Wood in 1862; she was born in Ohio, and died in February, 1868; he afterward married Miss Sarah D. Wood, in November 1868; she was born in Ohio; has two sons by first marriage: Roy G. and Willie E., and one son by his second marriage: Harvey B.
__________________________________________________

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

Transcribed and edited by Kent G. Transier, 06 Jan 2010

Edward William Jones, a retired merchant of Winterset, Iowa, has been identified with the interests of this city since 1868. Mr. Jones, like many of the good citizens of this country, is not a native of America. He first saw the light of day in a little town of Wales, September 17, 1835, his parents being William and Catherine (Thomas) Jones, natives of that country, where they passed their lives and died. His father was in early life a carpenter but later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he was engaged up to the time of his death.

Edward W. attended the public schools of his native town, then took a course at Aberdaron, Wales, and afterward spent two years in school at Manchester, England, where he acquired a fair knowledge of the English language, and where his studies were completed. After leaving the Manchester school he secured a position in a wholesale notion house there, where he was employed as a clerk for some time, and on severing his connection with that establishment went to Liverpool, took passage for America, and in due time landed in New York City.

From New York he directed his course westward to Columbus, Wisconsin, where he accepted a clerkship in a general store. He continued to reside in Columbus until 1868. In the meantime he formed a partnership there with a Mr. Loomis, under the firm name of Jones & Loomis, and they conducted a successful business until 1868, when Mr. Jones sold out and removed to Winterset, Iowa. Soon after taking up his abode here he opened a general store on the south side of the public square, and this business he conducted alone until 1871, when he took in as a partner Mr. M. R. Tidrick and the firm name became Jones and Tidrick.

In 1879 they sold out to Terrill Brothers, After this Mr. Jones purchased a stock of implements from Ratclift & Nicholson, three years later sold out to J. J. Gaston, and then, in company with R. B. Terrill, and under the name of Terrill & Jones engaged in the boot, shoe and clothing business, which they conducted successfully up to 1894, when they sold out to M. J. Graham & Sons.

Since 1894, Mr. Jones has been retired from active business. He started out on his business career without any capital whatever and the success he has achieved is due solely to his own industry and good management. His pleasant home in Winterset is a substantial stone residence located on one of the principal streets of the town, and in addition to his property here he is the owner of a fine farm of 150 acres, well improved with good buildings, etc.

Mr. Jones has been thrice married. He first wedded Miss Emily J. Wood, of Columbus, Wisconsin, whose untimely death occurred February 26, 1868. She left two children, Roy and William E., the former a resident of Bonesteel, South Dakota, and the latter of Los Angeles county, California. For his second wife Mr. Jones married Miss Sarah D. Wood, sister of his first wife, their marriage occurring November 3, 1868. She died in October, 1886, leaving one son, Harvey B., of Florence, Alabama. His present wife, nee Margaret Cox, is a daughter of Theodore Cox, of Madison county, and their marriage was consummated February 14, 1888. The union has resulted in the birth of a little daughter, Eleanor.

In his political affiliations Mr. Jones is identified with the Republican party. He has served as a member of the City Council of Winterset three terms – six years in all – and during that time was a valued member of the board. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the First Presbyterian Church of Winterset.