Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 554
CHARLES EDWARD JONES

One of the substantial citizens of St. Johns township, Harrison county, Iowa, is Charles Edward JONES, the subject of this sketch. Mr. JONES is a man of whom it may be truly said that he stands four-square to every wind that blows,� for in every walk of life he fills his place to the best of his ability. He is a man of quiet temperament, who gives the best of attention to his own affairs, but so truly does he appreciate his responsibilities as a citizen of this great commonwealth that he finds time to take an active interest in matters of public welfare and being a man of kindly disposition, he has many warm friends throughout the county.

Charles Edward JONES is a native of this state, born on Willow Creek in Pottawattamie county on February 14, 1863, a son of Reuben and Catherine (SKELTON) JONES, both of whom were natives of the Hoosier state, born and reared on neighboring farms in Greene county, Indiana. They married in their native state, and soon after marriage decided to come into the west in quest of fortune. They made the journey to this state in covered wagons, after the manner of that time, and in 1851 or 1852 arrived in Pottawattamie county, where they secured a tract of wild land on the banks of Willow Creek, where they established a home and where the subject of this sketch was later born. They were among the earlier settlers of that district and being among the leading citizens, were well known. Reuben JONES was a Democrat and active in the political affairs of the new section, which brought him into contact with the best men, by all of whom he was held in high esteem. Religiously both Reuben JONES and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist church and lived their lives in strict accord with its teachings. They passed the remainder of their days on the farm home on the banks of Willow Creek, both dying there. Their family consisted of five children, of whom Lizzie, the eldest, is deceased. Mary became the wife of Green JONES, of St. Johns, this county, and Charles E., the immediate subject of this sketch, is the third child of the family in order of birth. Ella married David Campbell and lives near Loveland, this state, and Della, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Daniel Skelton, of Pottawattamie county.

When a boy Charles E. JONES did not have very good advantages in the way of schooling, the only schools to which he had access being the little schools of pioneer times. However, he made the best of the opportunities offered and remained with his father until his eighteenth year. In September, 1882, he was united in marriage with Martha DENTON, a young lady residing in Pottawattamie county, who had been born in Linton, Greene county, Indiana. She was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (ELLIS) Denton, both of whom were born and reared in Greene county and who first came to this state in 1870. They located first in Adams county, later moving to Pottawattamie county, still later to Monroe county, and finally located in St. Johns, this county. It was in the year 1898 they settled in Harrison county, where Mr. Denton still resides, his wife having died in 1905. He was both a blacksmith and farmer, combining both his occupations not only to the benefit of himself, but also to the great convenience of friends and neighbors. They had a family of seven children, Mrs. JONES being the eldest child of the family. Elizabeth Married John Roden and resides in Emporia, Kansas. She is the mother of eleven children, three of whom, Lulu, Warren and Dudley, have passed from this life. Those remaining are George, Edward, Lucy, Mary, Stephen, Winifred, Lelah and Nellie. Winnie, the fourth child of Mr. Denton's family, is dead, as also is Alice, the fifth child. Winnie was the wife of William Steele and he, together with four children, Iva, Pearl, Guy and Wilma, survive her. Annie is the wife of George Cox, of Missouri Valley, and they have a family of five children, Mildred, Freda, Dudley, Lelah and Isabelle. George, the youngest of the family, married Della Dickinson and is located at Missouri Valley, where he is an engineer on the local division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad.

Directly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. JONES located in La Grange township, this county, where they remained for one year, at the end of which time they moved to Council Bluffs, where they remained for a short time only, and then secured a location in Monroe county, this state. There they farmed for fifteen years and in 1901 Mr. JONES disposed of his holdings there and removed to St. Johns township, this county, where he has since made his home. The place contains ninety acres and since obtaining possession of it Mr. JONES has made many improvements thereon. He carries on general farming as practiced by the best agriculturists throughout this section and is uniformly successful in his undertakings. He is a Democrat and, though taking an active part in political affairs, has never aspired to office. His fraternal affiliation is held with the Yeomanry, and throughout the community honored by his residence he is held in the highest respect and has a large circle of warm friends. Mr. and Mrs. JONES are the parents of three children, but one of whom, however, survives. This is Zora, the eldest of the family, who is the wife of Frank Craig, a farmer, located in St. Johns township. The two daughters who have passed from this life are Erma W. and Nancy G. Mrs. JONES is a fine woman who has fulfilled her part in winning for the family the respect of which they are so worthy.

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