Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 784
W. ALLEN JONES

The worthy gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is so well known throughout Harrison county, Iowa, as to need no introduction to another citizen thereof. W. Allen JONES is a recognized leader in his community, being always among the very first to take hold of any project which will benefit, even indirectly, the community at large. He lends his time and money freely in any good cause, is a man of unusual business ability and winning personality and has a host of friends. He is one who can rightly style himself a self-made man, for he has won success by his own efforts and often in the face of discouraging conditions.

W. Allen JONES was born on March 15, 1859, on Honey Creek, Boomer township, Pottawattamie county, this state, being a son of Allen and Sarah (SKELTON) JONES, the latter of whom was a native of Indiana. Allen JONES also was born in Indiana and was a son of Allen JONES, of that state, whose father came to this country from Wales. When a young man, Allen JONES left his native state, going into Kentucky, where he remained a short time and then returned to Indiana, settling in Putnam county. There he met Sarah Skelton and made her his bride. He was a farmer and about the year 1853 joined the great army of men who were coming westward in search of fortune, Iowa being his goal. He settled on Honey Creek, Boomer township, Pottawattamie county, where he secured wild land and set himself the task of improving it. He remained there until 1865, in which year he sold out and went to a location near Sidney, this state, where he farmed for a couple of years. Not being satisfied with that location, he went to Holt county, Missouri, where he remained for four years and later went on to Phillips county, Kansas, where he secured a tract of wild land. He was doing nicely in that location, when the grasshopper scourge reached his district and the pests completely cleaned him out. Thoroughly discouraged, he returned to Pottawattamie county, and settled near Loveland, where he still resided in his eighty-seventh year, hale and hearty for one of his age. In his early years Allen JONES learned the carpenter's and cabinet maker's trade, and worked at it for some time. He was above the average in point of workmanship and used to make a great many coffins, as well as pieces of furniture. He has led an active life and has many friends. His first wife died on December 25, 1865, and he married, secondly, Mrs. Ruth Jane (HAWKINS) JONES, a native of Indiana. She was the widow of Jonathan JONES, by whom she had five children: Eliza, deceased; Aseneth, residing in Hastings, this state; Henrietta, living at Carson, Iowa; Haddasah, living at Glenwood, this state, and Apler R., who lives near Loveland. By his first wife, Allen JONES had five children: Lemuel W., who married Eliza Selvey and died in 1882, leaving a widow and three children, Anna, William A. and Lambert: John L., a farmer near Honey Creek Station, this state, who married Viola C. Reel and has a family of eight children; Amanda A., who married Wilson McDowell, lives near Glenwood, Iowa, where he husband is engaged in farming and fruit growing: Noah H., who married Mary A. Robeson, and is in the ice business in Worth county, Missouri, and W. Allen, the youngest of the family, the immediate subject of this sketch. Allen JONES has for years voted the Democrat ticket, but he has never cared for the doubtful honor of public office, being content to perform his duties as a private citizen. His religious membership is with the Primitive Baptist church, to which society he has given his support for many years.

When a boy, W. Allen JONES attended the primitive schools of this section, the buildings at that time being small log structures, with puncheon floors and writing desks arranged about the walls. He secured what education he could in this manner and applied himself so well to the opportunities offered, that he was able to lay a good educational foundation, on which in later years he has reared a structure alone and unaided. He remained with his parents until 1874, working on farms in both St. Johns and LaGrange townships for about two years. His first business venture was when he bought land in section 13 of St. Johns township, this tract containing ninety-three acres. It was partly improved when he obtained possession of it and had on it a small frame dwelling. He added to its acreage a time or two and in 1898 disposed of his holdings and purchased from the estate of his deceased father-in-law his present home in St. Johns township, known as the A. R. Cox place. At the time he bought this tract, it contained three hundred and sixty acres and he has added thereto, until the home farm now contains four hundred and forty-seven acres. He also owns a farm of three hundred and fifteen acres near Loveland in Rockford township, Pottawattamie county. He has what is claimed to be some of the finest land in the state and in the management of his lands he proves himself possessed of business ability of a higher order. A considerable portion of his land is devoted to general farming, as practiced throughout this section, and in addition he has more than a local reputation as a breeder of live stock. He has at the present time about sixty-five thoroughbred Herefords on his place and a goodly number of Duroc-Jersey hogs of pure strain. He also raises a few horses and while not specializing in this line, there have been some fine animals in his stables. He also feeds a quantity of cattle for the market each year and, in fact, his business is of considerable magnitude.

Mr. JONES married on March 2, 1881, to Mary COX, born on the old Cox homestead, where Mr. JONES has lived for a number of years. She is a daughter of Andrew Reel and Barbara Jane (DEAL) Cox, the former of Quaker stock and the latter of German ancestry, both natives of Indiana, who came to this state in 1855, settling near Loveland, on Honey creek, where they remained for several years. In 1857 or 1858 they came to this county and entered the land where Mr. JONES and his wife now live, passing the remainder of their lives in that spot. Mr. Cox died on March 16, 1898, and his widow passed from this life on March 20, 1914. A. R. Cox was a miller in his earlier years. He also was a boatman on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers for a short time, but after coming to this section he gave his entire attention to farming. The Coxes were excellent people and reared a large family of children, all of whom have taken their places in the world as good men and women. Mr. Cox was a member of the Quaker church, while his wife belonged to the Primitive Baptists. He was a Republican, taking more than ordinary interest in political affairs. Their eldest son, George T., is a farmer near Missouri Valley, this state, while Peter R., farms in St. Johns township. Sarah is the wife of Robert Hairsine and lives near Loveland. Lydia married M. S. Moats of St. Johns township and Nancy is the wife of A. W. Moats of Bloomfield, Nebraska. The sixth child of the family is Mary, wife of the immediate subject of this sketch. Ella is Mrs. J. S. Fox and resides in Eugene, Oregon, and Neddie, the youngest of the family, died when young.

Mr. JONES holds his fraternal affiliation with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and Mrs. JONES are members of the Daughters of Rebekah. He was one of the promoters and organizers of the Rural Telephone Association and has taken a very active part in the work of instituting the drainage system proposed for Harrison county. He is a stanch Republican, and while not seeking for public office for himself, is a man of known influence at the polls. He is a wide-awake man of affairs, a born leader of men and among a host of friends is held in the highest respect. In 1909 Mr. JONES erected on his farm a modern eleven-room home, which has been made a very beautiful place. Not only has it every convenience to make the lives of its occupants happier, but those occupants themselves lend the charm of their personality to the dwelling, so that it is a home in very truth and fairly radiates a charming hospitality, appealing to friend and stranger alike. Mr. and Mrs. JONES have a family of six children, namely: Carl T., the eldest, a farmer near Loveland, this state, married Frances Morgan, who has borne him three children, Helen I., Wilma A. and Dean T.; Hallie, the wife of B. W. Moorehouse, a farmer, of Craig, Nebraska, is the mother of three children, Marguerite, Louise and Nellie; Gertrude married Ray R. Beckley, a farmer, of Blair, Nebraska, and has one child, James Allen; Chris C., the fourth child in order of birth, resides at home and has the management of his father's place. He received his preliminary education in the home schools of Missouri Valley and at the Woodbine normal and was graduated from the Iowa State College on June 11, 1914. A little daughter, Edna, died in December of 1896 and Gladys Fyrne, the youngest of the family, remains at home, attending school at Missouri Valley. Mr. JONES is one of those men who has proved himself a man indeed, in every walk of life, and is well entitled to the high regard in which he is held by the people of the county. Therefore, it is eminently fitting that he should be specially mentioned in a work of the character of the one in hand.

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