My Genealogy Hound

AMOS JONES, the owner of a finely-improved farm on section 24, La Grange Township, Cass County, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Preble County on the 13th of August, 1820. He is of Welsh descent, his great-grandfather having been born in Wales and emigrating thence to America in the old Colonial days. He located in South Carolina, where the grandfather and father of our subject were born. Being a member of the Society of Friends, he took no part in the Revolutionary War, but his sympathies were strongly enlisted on behalf of the Colonies.

The grandfather of our subject, George Jones, was a son of George and Jane Jones, and was born in South Carolina. A farmer by occupation, he was also a well-read man and possessed an extensive knowledge of all subjects of general interest. After his marriage to Lydia Hobson, he removed from South Carolina to Georgia, where he lived for a short time, following the trade of a harness and saddle manufacturer. In 1802 he removed to Preble County, Ohio, crossing the Ohio River at Cincinnati, which then contained a solitary log cabin. Having accumulated some property, he came with his horses and other effects, and upon his arrival purchased a large tract of land, and also entered claims for his children.

Later Grandfather Jones removed to Butler County and located at Somerville, on Elk Creek, where he erected a large saw and grist mill and also built the largest tannery in the State. He gave his personal attention to the management of all these enterprises, and was a man of splendid judgment and rare ability. His residence was a large brick structure, conveniently arranged, and supplied with all the comforts of life. He and his wife reared a family of ten children, namely: Henry, Charles, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, George, William, Keziah, Nathan and Martha. Two of the family died in infancy. As did his father, he worked actively in the Quaker Church and did much toward increasing its usefulness. He donated the land on which was erected a very large church edifice.

In June, 1829, Grandfather Jones came to Michigan and attended the land sale, where he purchased three thousand acres on Young’s Prairie. In the fall of the same year he brought his family to this State, also bringing with him a large drove of cattle and horses. On Dowagiac Creek he purchased a mill and one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he gave to the father of our subject. Being old and quite portly, he was unable to walk any great distance, and therefore kept a carriage and horses and drove over his farms every day, giving to their management his personal attention. He died in 1833 at the age of sixty-two years. The widow passed away in 1846.

The father of our subject, Henry Jones, remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss Hannah, daughter of Amos and Esther (Low) Green. Amos Green was born in America, but was of English parentage, and was a nephew of Gen. Nathaniel Green, of Revolutionary fame. His wife, Esther, was a lady of great culture and intelligence, possessing a love for reading and a retentive memory, which enabled her to store away in her mind an extensive fund of knowledge. She reached the advanced age of ninety and to the last retained her memory unimpaired.

After his marriage Henry Jones came to Michigan and a year later took charge of the mill property mentioned above. During the remainder of his life he continued in the milling business and also operated a farm of eight hundred acres. Politically, he was a warm admirer of Gen. Jackson, and when he was elected to the second term as President, Mr. Jones affiliated with the Whigs, remaining with that party until his death. His fellow-citizens frequently chose him to occupy positions of trust, and he served as one of the three County Supervisors. Unto him and his wife were born the following-named children: Esther, Lydia, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Amos, Phoebe, George, Hannah, Henry, Abigail, Finley and Jesse. The only ones now surviving are Esther, Amos, George and Finley. Our subject’s father packed pork in Cincinnati for three winters and took it to New Orleans on flatboats.

The only schooling secured by our subject was in Ohio prior to the age of ten, and his education has been gained principally through extensive reading. In 1842 he married Miss Rebecca Hebron, who was born in Yorkshire, England, February 27, 1824, and came to the United States when eight years of age with her parents, William and Sarah (Bolmer) Hebron. Unto our subject and his wife were born nine children, as follows;

Sarah, the wife of Henry Miner; Elizabeth, who married William Shurte; Hannah, the wife of John Ward; Ruth, Mrs. Thomas Armstrong; Henry; George, who died at the age of eighteen years; Delia, who married L. H. Lawhead; William and Charles.

After having conducted farming pursuits for a few years, Mr. Jones went to California, in 1850, crossing the plains to the far West in company with a party of eleven and making the trip with two wagons. From the Missouri River ninety days were consumed in making the trip to Hangtown (now known as Placerville), Cal. Locating in that place, Mr. Jones mined for six months, and was so successful in his labors that he made about $3,000 in five weeks. In March, 1861, he returned home via the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, spending forty-four days on the ocean. Once more in Cass County, he resumed his farming operations and also engaged in milling and conducted an extensive lumbering business for seven years. Upon selling out that enterprise, he purchased four hundred and seventy acres, com- prising his present farming property. He also owns large interests in mines in Lake City, Colo., and makes frequent trips to that State.