Vermilion county Illinois, EDMUND P. JONES ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 210-211 EDMUND P. JONES has a valuable farm in Danville Township, pleasantly located four miles southeast of the city in the center of a rich agricultural region. He is a fine type of the sturdy, intelligent, self-reliant natives of Vermilion County who were born here in the early days of its settlement, reared amid its pioneer scenes, and after attaining a stalwart manhood, took their place among its practical, wide awake citizens and have ever since been active in developing and sustaining its many and varied interests. The subject of this sketch comes of good pioneer stock, and both his paternal and maternal ancestry were early settlers of Kentucky, and there his father and mother, William and Jane (Martin) Jones were born, the former in Harrison County, Feb. 24, 1796, and the latter April 15, 1795. They were united in marriage Jan. 23, 1816, and continued to reside in their native State till 1828, when with their six children they came to Illinois with a team and cast in their fortunes with the early pioneers of Vermilion County, locating near Danville, in Danville Township. They lived a short time on section 16, and then the father bought a tract of land on section 11. It was heavily timbered, and the family lived in a rail-pen for a time as a temporary shelter, and then Mr. Jones built a log house on the place, and in that humble abode the subject of this sketch was born Jan. 18, 1830. The father improved a part of his land, and a few years later removed to another place, and resided in different parts of the town till his demise, Oct. 30, 1859. A faithful citizen was thus lost to the community, one who had led an honest, sober-minded life, and was deserving of the respect accorded to him. His worthy wife survived him till Sept. 10, 1867, when she too passed away at the home of our subject. The following is recorded of the eight children born to them: John P. is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Sallee, of Oakwood Township; Joseph M. is deceased; Sarah A. married Dennis Olehy. and is now deceased; William Perry and Mazy J. are deceased; Edmund P. is the subject of this sketch; Thomas J. lives in Oakwood Township. The subject of this sketch remembers well the wildness of the country around about as it first appeared to him when he became old enough to observe his surroundings, and the beautiful scene presented by the virgin prairie and primeval forest before civilization had wrought its marvelous changes, is indellibly impressed on his mind. Deer, wild turkeys and other game were plentiful and roamed at will, unless brought down by the unerring aim of the hunter anxious to replenish the scant larder in his humble pioneer home. There were no railways for many years after our subject's first recollection, and the nearest market was at Chicago, 125 miles distant, till after the canal was finished, and then produce was taken to Perrysville, Ind. The farmers of those days had to conduct their agricultural operations in the most primitive manner, and Mr. .Jones says that when he was young grain was cut with a sickle, and when the cradle came into use that was considered a great improvement, and the present harvesting machine was undreamed of. Threshing machines were then unknown, and the grain was either trampled out by horses or else whipped out by flails. The plows in use had wooden mold-boards, and all corn was dropped by hand and covered with a hoc, while grass was cut with a scythe and hay was pitched with a wooden fork. Nor was the work of the busy housewife lightened by modern improvements. The good mother cooked the food before the fire in the old-fashioned fireplace, and used to spin, weave and make all the cloth for the family. The intelligent pioneers early sought to give their children educational advantages, and the first schools were conducted in rude log school-houses provided with seats made of puncheon with wooden pins for legs, and the window comprising an opening from which a log had been removed and greased paper inserted through which the light had to penetrate, and a large fireplace, the chimney of stick and clay, for heating purposes. In such a structure our subject gleaned his education. He commenced in his boyhood to assist his father on the farm, and gained from him a thorough practical knowledge of farming in all its branches, he remained an inmate of the parental household till he attained man's estate and then started out in life for himself by renting land and carried on agriculture thereon for a while. At the time of his marriage he went to Iroquois County and settled on a tract of wild land there, remaining till 1859, when he returned to Vermilion County, and in 1861 he bought forty acres of land on section 13 of Danville Township. It was partly fenced and a few acres had been broken, but aside from that no improvements had been made, not even any buildings had been erected. He built a frame house on forty acres adjoining his original purchase, and has since bought other land, till he now has 220 acres, under excellent cultivation and capable of producing large crops. His residence, a well built house, is located on section 12, and he has other substantial buildings, and everything about the place is conveniently arranged and well ordered. Mr. Jones has been twice married. He was first wedded Oct. 19, 1851, to Sarah A. Cox, who was, like himself, a native of Danville Township, born May 5, 1831. She closed her eyes to the scenes of earth after a brief and happy married life, dying in Iroquois County, .Nov. 11, 1858. Mr. Jones was married to his present wife, formerly Mary E. Villars, Feb. 21, 1861. Mrs. Jones is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, born Dec. 11, 1810, to William and Ruth (Whitaker) Villars (see sketch of William Villars for parental history). Mr. And Mrs. Jones have had six children, four of whom are living, as follows: Rosa Belle married Joshua Olehy, of Danville Township; John W. married Mary J. Rouse, and they live in Danville Township; Lillie A. married Albert E. Villars of Newell Township; Clark S. is at home with his parents. Mr. Jones is a man of self-respecting, energetic character, well dowered with firmness and decision, and his conduct in all the various relations of life is such as to inspire the trust and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact either in a business or in a social way. He and his wife belong to the Pleasant Grove United Brethren Church, and are active in aiding their pastor and fellow-members in any good work, and they are always to be found on the side of the right. In him the Democratic party in this section of the country find a stanch ally.