Abraham Jones 1795 - 1983

JONES, BAXTER, PRYCE, EVANS, BULLOCK

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 3/25/2004 at 00:25:18

The Daily Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Tuesday, January 10, 1893

* The Strong of Earth *
[In memory of Abraham Jones, who died this day, and just before his 89th birthday.] [sic, s/b 98]
The oak which for nearly a century stood,
And buffeted storms with its dignified
strength,
While exhibiting wondrous perfection in
wpod[?],--
Born of earth, must return to its mother
at length

A patriarch, such as his namesake of yore,
Father Abraham Jones has for ninety-eight
years
Lived to bless generations that went on
before,
And the present, which gives to his mem-
ory tears.

Few such will you find in the records of
life,
Few such, ripe in years and in good all
along,
Mark with sweet benedictions life's strug-
gle and strife.
Earth may fail, but the ransomed of earth
will be strong.
Iowa City, Jan. 6,1893. Abel Beach.

---------
Abraham Jones was born the 4th day of February, 1795, at Allt Y. Bron Adu Plyn Corno Shir Dafalduyn, North Wales: died at Iowa City January 6th, 1893, at nine o'clock a. m., and was the youngest child of Meredith and Mary Jones.
He had three brothers and one sister. All of them have been called away from the scenes of earth many years ago, he being the only one of the family to remain for almost a century in this life.
His younger years were spent with his parents in Wales. In 1825 he, in company with John Baxter, who now resides in Sharon township, this county, came to this country and located at Ebensburg, Pa. Here he engaged in the milling business but finding that this was not best for him to follow on account of his hearing, he he [sic] purchased a piece of timberland and set to work to clear the timer off for a building spot, and built a log house which is still remaining there to-day.
He was married to Miss Mary Pryce, a daughter of William and Grace Pryce. They were some of the first settlers in Ebensburg, this being Miss Pryce's birthplace.
From this union four sons were born, William, who died in infancy; Richard, who now resides in Nebraska, John and David, of this city. But a few years had rolled by before death called at this home in the forest the second time and took away the mother, leaving the father with three small children, the youngest but a babe, to battle on the journey of life. But he was industrious, and labored diligently to improve the farm.
He was married the second time to Mrs. Ann Evans, widow of Mr. David Evans. She was a great comfort and help to him until her death, some twelve years after they were married.
After living at Ebensburg, Pa., about thirty-nine years he sold his farm, and in company with his son David and his family moved to Johnson county, Iowa. They lived in Union township for a number of years and for the last twelve years in Iowa City, and it is with them that he has been making his home for the last thirty years of his life and in his declining years when old age was still advancing, how thankful he would be to Mrs. Jones for all her kindness to try to alleviate his pain when his hearing had almost failed entirely that it was very difficult to talk to him. She knew all his wants and would not falter to do all in her power for him.
He joined the Welsh Congregational church in Ebensburg and was a devout Christian to the end. He was very fond of reading and kept well posted on all matters national and political He was a citizen of this country since 1836.
He was confined to his bed for the last two years of his life and he took great comfort from repeating those sweet old Welsh hymns that he had committed to memory when young.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Bullock of the Congregational church, his test being "Blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints."
The remains were interred in the Iowa City cemetery.

- Transcribed by Stephen David Williams

Welsh Settlers in Johnson & Iowa Counties, Iowa
 

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