My Genealogy Hound

AUGUSTUS H. JONES. Miami Township, Greene County, is the home of many men of the highest respectability, the most industrious habits, great intelligence and usefulness. Among them all, none receive a greater degree of respect or have a better aim in life than he whose name introduces this sketch and who is numbered among the agriculturists of the township. He possesses more than the ordinary degree of intelligence, is a great reader and a close observer of human nature, which has become to him like an open book and affords him much instruction and enjoyment. His principal aim has been to fit his children well for their chosen occupations and to be useful to his fellow-men. It is a pleasure to record that he has been successful in his efforts and that his children are doing credit to the parental care and training.

The father of our subject was Stephen Jones, who was born in Cincinnati in 1802, and whose first occupation was that of a wagon-maker, and his subsequent one that of a farmer. He was a son of an early settler in the Buckeye State who was a native of New Jersey, and who was drowned at Cincinnati, in which city an uncle of Grandfather Jones built the first mill. Stephen Jones married Elizabeth Ball, who belonged to an old Virginian family but was herself a native of Ohio. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. After their marriage, which took place September 8, 1830, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones settled two and a half miles west of Yellow Springs, remaining in that location about eight years. They then removed to a farm now owned by William Brewer, but after some years became the occupants of the farm now owned by their son, our subject, which became their permanent home. The father died in Dayton in 1881, and the mother at the home place in 1875. Their family consisted of two children, our subject and a sister Lydia, who is the wife of Charles McCullough, and the mother of two children, her home being in Gage County, Neb.

The gentleman with whose name we introduce this biographical notice was born December 12, 1832, in the township which has been his home from that day. Having a decided bent toward civil engineering, he took up the branches of study which pertained to that occupation, in the Swedenborg College at Urbana, Champaign County, returning to the farm, of which he took charge at the age of fourteen years, and upon which he has since remained with the exception of a period devoted to the service of his country. The farm is one mile east of Yellow Springs, and originally belonged to the Mills tract. It comprises one hundred and twenty-four and a half acres, all now improved, and still carried on by its present owner. It is devoted to the cultivation of grain and to the raising of stock, the cattle kept being Polled Aberdeens. The estate is conducted in a manner which indicates to even a casual observer something of the character of the owner, the improvements upon it also indicating the tastes of the occupants.

The lady who presides over the household economy was born July 30, 1837, and became the wife of our subject, November 12, 1861. Her maiden name was Lydia Sheller and she is one of the eleven children born to Adam and Mary (Hiestand) Sheller, natives of Lancaster County, Pa., who came to Clark County, Ohio, at an early day. Her mother died there October 26, 1874, and her father May 21, 1883, aged ninety-four years. She possesses the noble character which merits and wins esteem, and the cultured mind which affords personal pleasure and opens up an extended field for usefulness. She attended Antioch College when the famous educator, Horace Mann, was President of that institution and could hardly have failed under such guidance to have imbibed grand ideas of the use which should be made of knowledge.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Jones comprises five sons and daughters, whose record is as follows: Augustus W. is a civil engineer, his home being in Columbus, Ohio; his wife was formerly Miss Hattie Goodman; Herbert R. is unmarried and is now attending the Ohio State University, fitting himself for civil engineering; Eva is the wife of Gano Reeder Baker, a civil engineer whose home is in Denver, Col.; Llewellyn and Clarence B. are students at Antioch College. A. W. Jones, G. R. Baker and Mrs. Eva Baker are all graduates of Antioch College.

The family of Mr. Jones attends the Christian Church. He has been a member of the School Board for years and was Trustee of Miami Township about twelve years. Last fall he was elected Land Appraiser for this township, but because of ill health was obliged to resign and appoint a substitute. He has been an active Republican all his life; his ancestors were old-line Whigs. In 1864, he became a member of Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio National Guards, and while at the front took part in the battle of New Creek, W. Va. He was discharged at Camp Dennison the same year. He belongs to the Grand Army Post at Yellow Springs.