BIOGRAPHY: Jones, William A.
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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	Honorable WILLIAM A. JONES was born August 24, 1824 at Middlebury, Schoharie 
County, New York, where the earlier years of his life were spent in attending common 
school, and in receiving a practical farm education.  The winter after he was seventeen 
he attended Jefferson Academy for four months, and then entered his father's store as a 
clerk, remaining until the Spring of 1845, when he commenced business for himself by 
opening a store at Breakabean, New York, which he successfully conducted for almost 
seven years, when he sold and removed to Benton Center, Yates County, New York, 
purchasing a general variety store of Cole & Savage.  Soon after taking charge of this 
establishment, Mr. Jones' health failed to such an extent that he was compelled to leave 
the management of his business entirely in the hands of his employees, who conducted it 
in such a manner that at the end of two years he found himself on the verge of 
bankruptcy.  He immediately went to work to close on his business, which he 
accomplished in a short time, paying every debt, which he did at a loss of about ten 
thousand dollars.  Having only some two hundred and fifty dollars work of refuse goods, 
with no other means left, he was necessarily compelled to abandon the mercantile 
business, and renting some land, he raised twenty acres of broom corn, which he 
manufactured and sold, clearing above living expenses just three hundred and ten 
dollars.
	Not having met with the success he expected in this enterprise, he then 
determined to seek a fortune in the West, and packing up his few household goods he 
landed at Independence, Iowa, in the Spring of 1855 with just ten dollars in money.  With 
his usual restless energy he immediately rented half of a very small store on West Main 
Street, and stocking it with a small quantity of goods he had bought on thirty days' time 
put it in charge of his wife, who in five months time sold over five thousand dollars' worth 
of goods.  Mr. Jones himself engaged in the lumbering business.  Commencing small, his 
first purchase being only two trees, for which he gave five dollars, he gradually increased 
so that in less than six months he had cleared over two thousand dollars.  He carried on 
this business for some three years, cutting from standing timber during that time about 
one hundred thousand feet of native lumber.
	In the Summer of 1857 he erected a large hotel at Fayette which he completed 
and furnished at a cost of over ten thousand dollars, besides engaging somewhat in real 
estate business.  In the Fall of 1857, when the panic of that year struck the state, it found 
Mr. Jones largely involved, as he was owing some thirteen thousand dollars, although 
owning property worth about twenty thousand.  He immediately converted every thing 
he had into money, and paid his obligations as far as he could, but owning to the great 
sacrifice he was compelled to make, he did not pay in full until several years later.  
Regarding his integrity more sacred than life, he did not allow this second failure to 
dishearten him, but at once went to work with untiring energy to pay his debts, which he 
successfully accomplished in 1865, paying one hundred cents on the dollar.
	In the Fall of 1859 he engaged in stock-buying with P. C. Wilcox, who furnished 
the capital and shared the profits.  He made the first consignment of stock thirteen cars 
of hogs, ever shipped from Independence, but which did not prove a success, as after 
taking them to New York he was compelled to sell them at a total loss to the firm of 
about fifteen hundred dollars.  This partnership was continued until 1865, when Mr. Jones 
was enabled to pay the last dollar of his old obligations and again commenced life out 
of debt, and with just one hundred and sixty-five dollars in money.  Since then he has 
continued the same business with varying results, though usually meeting with success.  
He now owns and operated, in connection with his stock business, a half section farm, 
with sixty-five acres of good timber land adjoining besides a good residence and other 
property in Independence.  During the last five years his stock transactions have 
amounted to not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum.
	In the Spring of 1864 Mr. Jones was elected Mayor of Independence, re-elected 
in 1865, and again in 1870 when he positively declined to be a candidate for further re-
election.
	He was married at Sohoharie, New York, January 25, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth C., 
daughter of Rev. David Poor, of the Troy Conference, by whom he had ten children, only 
two of whom are now living.  She died in August, 1868, and he was again married the 
following Summer to Mrs. Mary E. Anable, who has since made him a useful and loving 
wife, rendering his home happy, and frequently buying and shipping stock during his 
absence.