Francis A. JONES, b. 1845
Francis A. Jones. who owns and operates a
good farm of two hundred and four acres on
section 18, Pleasant Grove township, was born
in Hendricks county. Indiana, February 19,
1845, his parents being James and Elizabeth
(Gibbons) Jones, of whom mention is made
in connection with the sketch of Robert M.
Jones on another page of this work. He was
eleven years of age when with his parents he
came to Iowa and in the district schools he
acquired his education. He continued to assist
in the operation of the home farm until
twenty-seven years of age, when he went to Missouri,
where he purchased a farm, residing thereon
for two years. He met with reverses, however,
and lost his farm, after which he returned to
Iowa. In 1883 he purchased the property upon
which he now resides, becoming owner of two
hundred and forty-four acres on section 18,
Pleasant Grove township. The place was but
little improved. There was a small house, sixteen by twenty-four feet, which Mr. Jones has
since enlarged and remodeled, making it into a
comfortable residence. He has also built a barn
and other out buildings for the shelter of grain
and stock. He has since sold forty acres of land
but still retains possession of two hundred and
four acres, constituting one of the valuable
and productive farms of the county, the land responding readily to the care and cultivation which he
bestows upon it. He carries on general
agricultural pursuits, raising both stock and grain.
He has always been a hard worker and in fact
his close application and unfaltering industry
have somewhat impaired his health. All that
he possesses is due to his own efforts and his
example should serve as a source of emulation
and encouragement to others, showing what
may be accomplished through diligence and
perseverance.
On the 2nd of June, 1875, Mr. Jones was
united in marriage to Miss Maria Belle Foster,
who was born in Davis county, Iowa, a
daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Jones) Foster, the
former a resident of Texas. The mother,
however, died in Idaho. They came to Iowa in
1854, settling in Davis county, where they lived
for many years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones have
been born thirteen children, of whom three are
now living: Mary Susan, the wife of Lafayette
Tolles, a resident of this township; Jennie May,
the wife of John S. Small, of Pleasant Grove
township; and Mary Melissa, at home. Ten
died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Jones has always
been a democrat but has never had a desire for
office. He has served as school director and he
and his family are members of the Baptist
church. In manner he is unassuming but
possesses sound judgment and is considered one of
the substantial farmers of Pleasant Grove
township.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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