My Genealogy Hound

AMBROSE JONES. For the long period of forty-seven years Mr. Jones has lived at the farm which he now owns and occupies, and which comprises a fine body of land embracing one hundred and forty-five acres in Jefferson Township, Greene County. Running past it is the Xenia & Hussey Pike, a pleasant public highway along which vehicles are constantly passing, while the country around is unexcelled in the fertility of its soil and beautiful scenery.

Mr. Jones came to Greene County in 1832, but did not purchase land until 1843, when he secured that which he now owns and occupies. He is a native of the Buckeye State and was born in Clinton County, June 12, 1817. He there spent his boyhood and youth attending the common school and being carefully trained by pious parents. His father, the Rev. Ambrose Jones, Sr., was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and born in Mansfield County, N. Y. The elder Jones was reared to manhood in his native county and learned cabinet-making, which trade he followed for a number of years, also engaging as a general mechanic. He was from boyhood seriously inclined and finally felt it to be his duty to devote his life to the Master’s work. He, however, was never regularly ordained nor did he have any stated charge, but simply labored as a local preacher, accepting little or nothing for his services. The paternal grandfather of our subject, likewise named Ambrose Jones, was born in Wales and emigrated to America when a young man, settling in New York State where he occupied himself as a mechanic and carpenter. There he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-five years. He possessed all the substantial qualities of his nationality, became well-to-do and a man of prominence in his community.

The father of our subject was married in New York to Miss Hannah Barnum, a distant relative, and who belonged to the same family from which the famous showman, P. T. Barnum sprang. Mr. and Mrs. Jones lived in New York State until after the birth of three children, then determining to seek their fortunes in what was then the far West, set out with teams overland for Ohio. They located in the wilds of Clinton County, where Mr. Jones occupied himself as a carpenter and preacher, erecting some of the first buildings in the county. In due time he became the owner of a farm in Chester Township, but in 1832 he removed thence to Jefferson Township, Greene County, where with his good wife he spent the balance of his life. The father died when about seventy-two years old. Mrs. Jones survived her husband many years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-two. She with him had been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

There was born to the parents of our subject quite a large family of children, the most of whom lived to mature years. Ambrose, like his brothers and sisters, was carefully reared to habits of industry and sentiments of honor and acquired such education as was afforded by the common schools. He improved his opportunities for reading and observation and taught school successfully for a number of years. January 6, 1839, he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Eliza Jones, who although of the same name, was no relative. She was born in Clinton County, this State, in 1818, and is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They came at an early day to Ohio, settling first in Clinton County and then removing to Greene County where they died. The family consisted of five children, Mrs. Jones being the only one now living.

To our subject and his good wife there has been born a family of eight children the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary Louisa, became the wife of James D. Brown, and they live on a farm in Jefferson Township. Maria is the wife of Dr. Charles Moorman, a physician of Abingdon, Iowa; Lucretia is the wife of L. D. Jones, a retired farmer now living in the city of Xenia; Anna J. married H. F. Jackson, who is a farmer and operates the old Jones homestead; Addison M. married Miss Sarah Stevens, who is now deceased and he lives on a farm in Jefferson Township. This son fought in the Union Army during the Civil War, was captured by the rebels and for a time experienced all the horrors of Libby prison; he receives a pension from the Government. Edward A. married Miss Jane Turner and is farming in Silver Creek Township. Alvena and Rose B. are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are Spiritualists in religious belief and politically, our subject affiliates with the
Republican party.

Portraits* of Mr. Jones and his wife are shown on another page of this volume.

*Portraits were included in the original printed volume.