Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Jones, William 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 4:32 am

Author: Past & Present, 1907

WILLIAM JONES. Among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Florence 
township, is numbered William Jones, who owns and operates a well improved and 
valuable farm on section 1, his postoffice being Manhattan. He is one of the 
worthy citizens that England has furnished to Will county, his birth having 
occurred in Yorkshire, June 10, 1860. His parents, John and Anna (Hall) Jones, 
were likewise natives of the fatherland, where the father engaged in farming 
until 1870, when, with his family, he took passage on a sailing vessel bound 
for the United States, hoping in this country to better provide for the 
support of his wife and children. Landing in America, he at once made his way 
direct to Wilton township, Will county, Illinois, there purchasing a farm on 
which he located and made many valuable and substantial improvements. Mr. and 
Mrs. Jones were married in Yorkshire in 1855, and their union was blessed with 
three sons, all yet living: John, a retired farmer living in Joliet; Joseph, 
who is living retired in Peotone, Illinois; and William, of this review. The 
father lived and died on his farm in Will county, passing to his final reward 
in February, 1891, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, while his widow 
survived for about five years, and passed away in 1896. William Jones, the 
youngest member of his fathers family, was but a little lad when the family 
emigrated to the new world. He was reared in the usual manner of farm lads of 
the period, assisting in the work of the farm during the summer seasons, while 
in the winter months he pursued his studies in the district schools near his 
fathers home. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his 
majority, when he started out in life on his own account by engaging in the 
occupation to which he had been reared, and now owns a good farm of eighty 
acres on section 1, Florence township, on which are found all modern and 
substantial improvements. He has given close application to his farming and 
stock-raising interests, and annually feeds and ships a carload each of cattle 
and hogs for the city markets. Mr. Jones has been three times married. He was 
first wedded to Miss Emma Holmes, their marriage being celebrated in Wilton 
township, Will county, March 30, 1880. She survived her marriage for less than 
a year, being called to her final rest December 28, 18S0. For his second wife 
Mr. Jones chose Emma Geiss, whom he wedded on the 15th of November, 1884. She 
was born in Jackson township, June 30, 1865, a daughter of Hiram E. and 
Malinda E. (Whitman) Geiss, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, 
respectively, but both died many years ago. After the death of his second wife 
Mr. Jones was again married, this union being with Grace M. Cooney. She was 
born in Kendall county, Illinois, July 23, 1870, a daughter of George and 
Susan (Byron) Cooney, the former a native of the Keystone state, and the 
latter of Sheffield, England. They were married in Kendall county and became 
the parents of seven children, of whom six still survive, namely: Florence, 
Sarah, Ruby, Eugene, Mrs. Jones and Clara. Mr. Cooney passed away in 1888, 
when he had reached the age of sixty years, while his wife survived until 
February 11, 1896, when she, too, was called to her final rest, at the age of 
fifty-six. Mr. Jones has the following children: John H., Florence A., Floyd 
E., Jane, Daniel, Alice, Grace P., Harold G., Howard W., Eva Y. and Lester L. 
Mr. Jones gives his political support to the republican party, while he and 
his wife hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal church. In his fraternal 
relations he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to 
Wilton camp, No. 4338, lodge No. 1, Knights of the Globe, at Freeport, and the 
Court of Honor, at Wilton. Mr. Jones takes a deep and helpful interest in the 
cause of education and has served for one term as school director. As a farmer 
and stock-raiser Mr. Jones exercises excellent ability in the management of 
his affairs and has thereby acquired a competence that enables him to nrovide 
a good living for himself and family. He is ever known to be reliable in all 
trade transactions so that he has won the confidence and good will of his 
fellowmen. 

Additional Comments:
Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907.

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