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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
SAMUEL W. JONES, an energetic, enterprising and successful farmer, of Garfield Township, was born in Guernsey, Noble Co., Ohio, Nov. 23, 1836, being a son of Thomas and Sarah (Robinson) Jones, natives of Fayette County, Pa., but who settled in Ohio among the early pioneers of that State, clearing away the heavy timber and opening up a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are living: William L., of Holly Springs, Miss.; James, a farmer, residing near Oskaloosa; John, living on the old homestead in Noble County, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Joshua Douglas, deceased, of Noble County, Ohio; Samuel W., of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of James W. Finley, of this county. Mrs. Sarah R. Jones died in about the year 1846, and Thomas Jones in 1860. They were both lifelong members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were earnest Christian people, and highly regarded in the community where they resided. Mr. Jones was an indefatigable reader, and kept himself well informed upon all public matters. Politically he was an old-line Whig, but joined the Republican party on its organization in 1856. The subject of this sketch was reared in Noble County, Ohio, receiving his education in the common schools. He worked upon the farm until he reached the age of manhood, and in the summer of 1861 enlisted in the 78th Ohio Infantry, going with his company to the regimental encampment, but was rejected by the examining surgeon. He subsequently joined the Ohio militia, and assisted in the capture of Gen. Morgan, who made his famous raid through that State. While a member of the State Militia, some rebel sympathizers in the village of Mt. Ephraim, Ohio, raised a pole, on which they hoisted a Confederate flag, threatening with death anyone who would dare molest it. A lady remarked to Mr. Jones, "If I were a man that rebel Flag would not fly there." He asked if she could furnish him with an ax. She replied that she could, and handed him one. Mr. Jones, assisted by a comrade, cut down the pole, but for some cause the rebels failed to carry out their threats. In 1864 Mr. Jones came to Mahaska County, and engaged in farming near Beacon, where he had purchased 200 acres of land, which he retained and cultivated till the fall of 1883. He then sold the same to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for a handsome sum, it being underlaid with coal. Mr. Jones was married in Knox County, near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth A. Phillips, a daughter of Willis and Elizabeth Phillips. She was born in that county in 1836, and died in Ohio in 1872. He was again married, to Naomi C. Shaw, a daughter of Joseph and Hila Shaw, who were among the very earliest settlers of this county, coming to the State in 1840, and settling in Mahaska County in 1843. (See sketch of Joseph Shaw.) Mr. Jones is at present residing two miles from Oskaloosa, where he owns 100 acres of land, under a high state of cultivation,and which would readily sell for $100 per acre. Mr. Jones is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity; Mrs. Jones is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The best evidence of a man's financial ability is the success which he achieves in business. Judging Mr. Jones by this standard, we have only to view his beautiful farm and observe the system with which it is conducted, and the results of his management. Politically he is a Republican, and an active and influential member of his party, in the success of which he evinces a deep interest. As a representative and highly esteemed citizen of the county we are pleased to present the portrait of Mr. Jones elsewhere in this volume.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy