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Author: WellsVolunteer
Surnames: Jones, Walker, Felts, Kohr, Caley, Nicholson, Waters, Lawrence, Hill, Salter
Classification: biography
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Message Board Post:
From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana," 1903,
pp. 515-516.
John Jones. Among the oldest settlers of Union township, Wells county, Indiana, is John
Jones, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, May 9, 1831, a son of Samuel and Nancy
(Walker) Jones, who came to Indiana from North Carolina, in which last named state Samuel
Jones was born and reared.
John Jones was but five years of age when death deprived him of his father, at which time
he went to live with an uncle, John Felts, with whom he remained until he had attained his
majority. In the meantime, however, in 1847, Mr. Felts came to Wells county and settled on
the farm on which young Jones was reared to manhood and assisted in developing. Owing to
the constant demand for his labor in accomplishing the task of clearing up this place, the
opportunities of attending school were but few, and at the age of twenty-one he found
himself to be not only without an education, but without cash. But at his majority Mr.
Jones was possessed of a robust constitution and his general health was all that could be
desired. Moreover he was filled with ambition and determination, and he worked hard to
earn the money he knew he needed when the time for his marriage should come about. This
happy event took place January 29, 1857, when he led to the altar Miss Sarah J. Kohr, a
native of O!
hio. This union has resulted in the following named children: Rosa, now the wife of
Stephen D. Caley; Mary J., who is married to Ephraim Nicholson; William, who married a
daughter of John M. Waters; Frank, who is married to Elma Lawrence; John A., who married
Minta Hill; E.S., unmarried, and Della, who is the wife of Waldo Salter. The family of Mr.
Jones have been reared in the faith of the Christian church, of which he has himself been
a member ever since childhood and to the support of which he and his children have been
and still are liberal contributors financially. All are sincere in their profession of the
faith and live strictly up to its teachings.
In politics Mr. Jones is an enthusiastic Democrat and is one of the most active workers
for his party in Union township. Notwithstanding the fact that he has never been
habitually an office-seeker, he has, on account of his personal merits and undeniable
qualifications, been selected by his fellow citizens to fill the office of supervisor for
Union township, the duties of which position he performed in a most satisfactory manner,
and he has also served as school director and on the election board.
Having been a resident of Wells county since childhood, or for more than half a century,
Mr. Jones is fully acquainted with the needs, wishes and desires of the people of his
township and county and is therefore well qualified for aiding in framing and
administering such measures as redound to the benefit of the community. His life has been
one without reproach, and in all his business transactions he has been straightforward and
upright. Without being parsimonious or niggardly, he has succeeded in acquiring a fair
share of this world's goods as a reward for his industry and judicious manner of
living, has an open hand to those in need or who have been less fortunate than himself
and was never known to turn away from his door unassisted any person who applied to him
for relief. He has reared his children in respectability and is himself one of the most
honored citizens of Union township.
Typed by Kathy Davis
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