Hello, I am new to the list and somewhat new to Genealogy research. I have the great
challenge of researching my JONES surname (a needle in the haystack).
I have traced back to my GGGrandfather William D. Jones who was born JAN 10, 1845 in
Minersville, Meigs County, OH - served in the 56th Regiment Company A Ohio Vol. Infantry
during the Civil War. He died NOV 16, 1877 in Oakland (now Distant), Armstrong County, PA.
He married Margaret Jane BOWSER in 1867 and had six children (Elizabeth, Mary, David,
John, Thomas and James) Thomas being my GGrandfather. William was a miner.
My challenge at this point is to determine William's father. I did locate in the 1860
census in Salisbury township, Meigs County, OH a family that would fit. It lists D.J.
JONES, 42, a miner, born in WALES; Roeana JONES, 40, born in WALES; John JONES, 17, a
miner, born in PA; William JONES, 15, born in OH; Margaret JONES, 13, born in PA; Edward
JONES, 3, born in VA; Lydia JONES, 2 months, born in VA; Jane JONES, 22, born in OH.
No explanation for Edward, Lydia and Jane except that perhaps there was an older son and
perhaps his name was David and he passed on leaving his wife Jane and their two small
children living with the in-laws.
William was married to Margaret BOWSER at the house of his sister Margaret who was at the
time married to Absalom FARST and they lived in McCreas Furnace, Armstrong County, PA
I am not sure how to go about verifying if the family I find in the 1860 census mentioned
above is my family. Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.