- J. BOYD JONES, the present popular and efficient County Superintendent
of the schools of Rock
- County, is a representative of one of the early families
of this community. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Daniel
JONES was a native of Maryland, and emigrated thence to Ohio,
when that State was still a Territory. He was of Welsh descent,
and his death occurred in 1814, when his son, Ira, the father
of our subject was but four years of age.
- Ira JONES born in Champaign County, Ohio, Jan. 3, 1810, and
was reared to manhood in his
- native State, where he married Sarah Jane LEMON, who was
born in Champaign County in 1815. He was a farmer by occupation,
and followed that pursuit as a life work. In 1837, the year of
his marriage, he removed with his young bride to Pecatonica,
Winnebago Co., Ill., where he settled on a new farm, there making
his home until the spring of 1840, when he came to Rock County.
He became a resident of the town of Union, entering a claim on
section 32, where he made his home until his death, which occurred
on the 19th of December, 1856. He left a family of eight children,
four sons and four daughters, including an adopted daughter.
The mother of the family died at the old homestead in September,
1881. The children left by Ira JONES at his death are with one
exception all yet living. The adopted daughter, Sarah, the eldest
of the family, and is now the wife of William A. MILLER of Preston,
Minn.; Mary, widow of D. L. CLARK, resides at the old homestead;
S. Van JONES, the eldest son, is living in Parker, South Dakota;
J. Boyd is next in age; Ella G. died in 1864, at the age of nineteen
years; Frank E. is making his home in Millville, Tenn.; Ira A.,
and Gertrude are living on the old homestead.
- Ira JONES was one of the prominent settlers of Rock County.
He served as Chairman of the
- Board of Supervisors of Union Township for a number of years,
occupying that position at the time of his death. He was a member
of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1846, was appointed
a Justice of the Peace of Rock County by Gov. Henry DODGE, on
the 16th of January, 1841, and our subject now has in his possession
the commission as Justice issued by the Governor of the Territory,
bearing the date above given. This commission is one of the few
in existence given by a Territorial Governor of Wisconsin, and
perhaps is the oldest to be found in the State. Religiously,
Mr. JONES and his wife were for many years faithful and consistent
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was one of
the organizers of the first Methodist Society at Evansville.
- The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Union,
Rock County, on the 21st of December,
- 1844, and was reared to manhood on the old homestead. He
received his education at Evansville Seminary, and at Allen's
Grove Academy in Walworth County, and at the age of sixteen years
began teaching. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the late war
as a musician in the band of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division of
the 20th Army Corps, and served until the close of hostilities,
being mustered out in June, 1865. He was continually with his
command from the time of his enlistment until the close of the
war, and participated in some of the most important events, including
the Atlanta Campaign, and Sherman's march to the sea. With the
20th Corps, he marched all the way from Nashville to Washington
by way of Atlanta and the Atlantic Coast.
- On his return from the war, Mr. JONES resumed the profession
of teaching, which he has followed
- as a livelihood during the greater part of his life. For
one year he was editor of the Evansville Review. As an
instructor, he is thorough and successful in his work and his
efficiency as a Superintendent is indicated by the improved conditions
of the schools since his administration began. Mr. JONES has
given considerable attention to the science of music, is a superior
bass singer, and an accomplished instrumental musician. He has
written considerable music of much merit, and from the fall of
1872 until the fall of 1877, he accompanied and formed one of
the famous Leavitt Bell Ringers, making a tour of the United
States. In politics, he is a Republican, and a warm advocate
of the principles of that great political organization. In the
Presidential campaign of 1888, he took an active part, and was
an effective speaker on the stump in support of the Republican
candidate.
- Mr. Jones married Miss Ella ROBERTS, a native of Vermont,
and a daughter of S. M. ROBERTS.
- Three children have been born of their union - Ella, Karl,
and Paul.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Rock
County,Wis." (c)1889, p. 952.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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