Robert M. JONES, b. 1843

Robert M. Jones owns a farm of eight hundred and fifty-three and three-fourths acres, his home being on section 6, Pleasant Grove township. He has always resided in the middle west, his birth place being Hendricks county, Indiana, and his natal day May 12, 1843. His paternal grandfather was Allen Jones, his father, James G. Jones. The latter was born in Kentucky, February 11, 1810, and after arriving at years of maturity wedded Elizabeth Gibbons, who was born in South Carolina, February 7, 1809, her parents being Francis and Susannah (Cox) Gibbons, both of whom were born in 1780, while their marriage was celebrated in 1800. When a young man of about twenty-one years James G. Jones removed to Indiana and it was in that state that he was married. He followed farming in Hendricks county until 1857, when he came to Iowa, settling upon a farm of four hundred acres in Poweshiek county. The land was all new and he built the first dwelling upon the place, making his home there until his death, which occurred in 1876, at which time his land was divided among his children. His widow resided in Poweshiek county for a few years after her husband's death and then came to Pleasant Grove township, Mahaska county, to make her home with her son, R. M. Jones, with whom she lived until called to her final rest in January, 1893. In their family were ten children: Nancy S., who became the wife of Hamilton Foster and died in Nevada, while on the way to California; Wiley N., living in Poweshiek county; David A., who makes his home in the state of Washington; C. E., of Arkansas; Elizabeth C., the wife of James Worman, living in Kansas; Robert M.; F. A., who resides in this township; Alexander A., who died in Oklahoma; Sarah A., who became the wife of Jessie Darland and died in Kansas; and Mary E., who married David Rice and died in Pleasant Grove township. Robert M. Jones pursued a common district- school education and lived with his parents until twenty-four years of age, when he began operating a ditching machine. He afterward returned to Indiana for the benefit of his health and spent about four years visiting among friends and relatives there. He then returned to Iowa and engaged in farming on forty acres of land given him by his father. In 1879 he came to Mahaska county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he soon sold,, however, and about 1880 bought two hundred acres where he now resides. This land had never been improved. Nearly all of it was timber and with characteristic energy he began clearing and cultivating it. He built the frame house which he now occupies and he has since bought land from time to time until his possessions aggregate eight hundred and fifty acres, making him one of the large and prosperous landowners of the county. Much of his land is in pasture and he raises cattle on an extensive scale formerly feeding as high as three hundred head in a year, but not raising so many now. He also carries on general farming, owns a steam threshing outfit and does his own threshing and sometimes threshes for others. Mr. Jones was married November 22, 1886, to Miss Sarah Ann Hart, who was born in Kansas, June 9, 1871, a daughter of Absalom and Amanda (Shion) Hart, who were natives of Ohio and are now living in Union township, Mahaska county. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have become the parents of nine children, of whom Mary died at the age of five years, and Robert at the age of one year and three months. Palmer, Annie, Lizzie, Wesley, James, George and William are still at home. Mr. Jones is a man of strong determination and energy, who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has encountered difficulties and obstacles in his path but has overcome these by his resolute will and unfaltering energy, and has worked his way steadily upward to success. In politics he is a democrat but has filled no office save that of school director, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs. His example should serve as a source of emulation and encouragement to others, showing what may he accomplished if one has the will to dare and to do.

-------------------------------

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

Home Page