JONES, LEMUEL AND MARY

JONES, WALKER, WOOD

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 8/3/2006 at 11:23:31

PIONEER DAYS-HESPER TOWNSHIP 1851-1941

Lemuel Jones, a native of Virginia and Mary A. Walker, his wife, was a native of Maryland. They moved to Ohio at an early date where he was engaged in the mercantile business. They came to southern Minnesota in 1856. However in 1864, they sold their farm and moved to Hesper township, where they built the farm that will be remembered as the Plunkett place.

Sometime after, they moved into the village and lived where Thomas Humphrey now lives. They were parents of eight children: Samuel, Lewis, Albert, Dillwyn, Rachel Ann, Frank, Elizabeth, and Oliver.

Albert was born in Ohio, May 7, 1840, and remained with his parents until 1859, when he went to Chicago and entered the employ of Richards, Crumbough and Shaw, remaining there for three years. While home on a visit, he received an offer from William Cook to conduct a store for him at Hesper, which he accepted. Later he clerked for Jonathan Pike. After four years he purchased the business from Mr. Pike, continuing the business alone for awhile. He then built the general store on Main and Grove streets. Subsequently his brother became his partner, and continued in business some ten years. In 1879 they went to Mabel and bought the first lot in the village and put up a store which they conducted some seven years. Albert married Celia Wood, the daughter of Rev. R. R. Wood, a pioneer Methodist preacher, of Black River Falls, Wis., who is said to have preached the first sermon at La Crosse.