HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      347

life record covered more than seventy-three years. His parents, Reece
and Celia Jones, were also natives of Wales, where they spent their entire
lives.
    William R. Jones was reared and educated in his native country,
where he remained to the age of twenty-two years, when attracted by the
favorable reports which he heard concerning opportunities in the new
world, he resolved to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic and engaged
passage on a sailing vessel, which in due course of time bore him to the
American coast. Five times he crossed the Atlantic in order to visit his
people, who remained in their native land.
    When Mr. Jones made the long voyage over the briny deep he de-
termined not to tarry in the east and made his way to Clay county, Indiana,
where he began farming. He was also engaged in the butchering busi-
ness for many years, purchasing stock which he killed, selling the meat
throughout the country. In 1880 he was joined by his son Thomas in a
business partnership. The father purchased and killed the beeves, while
the son conducted a market in Brazil, building up a good retail trade. Mr.
Jones remained an active, energetic and successful business man until
1899 and as the years passed accumulated a handsome competence. He
then retired and spent his remaining days in well earned rest, enjoying
the fruits of his former toil.
    It was after coming to this country that Mr. Jones was married on
the 21st of April, 1862, to Miss Susan Crabb, their marriage being
celebrated near Brazil, Indiana. Mrs. Jones was born in Clay county,
December 4, 1844, and is now living in Brazil. She is a daughter of,
Silas B. and Eliza (Wallace) Crabb. Her father was born in Ohio,
October 18, 1805, and is now living in Dick Johnson township, Clay
county. His wife, who was born in Ohio, December 15, 1825, passed
away in 1896. They were pioneers of this county, where they arrived
in 1835, the father spending his life as a farmer here. He worked
industriously and untiringly to secure success and provide for his family
and was respected as a thoroughly reliable and energetic business man.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones was blessed with sixteen children,
six sons and ten daughters, of whom eleven reached years of maturity.
Nine of the children are yet living and eight of the daughters reached
womanhood and were married. Those who still survive are: Thomas P.,
Eliza, Sarah, Mary, Daniel H., Lemuel, Ethel, Ida and Emma V.
    Mr. Jones was an exemplary member of Brazil Lodge No. 264, F.
and A. M., and received the honors of a Masonic burial by this lodge.
He was true to the teachings of the craft, which are based upon mutual
helpfulness and brotherly kindness and was also a valued member of
Brazil Lodge No. 215, I. 0. 0. F. His political views were in harmony
with the principles of the Republican party and his position on any ques-
tion of vital importance was never an equivocal one. He stood loyally
in defense of what he believed to be right and over the record of his life
there fell no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He reached his
seventy-fourth year and ever maintained the good will and confidence of
his fellowmen, while to his family he left a comfortable competence and
the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.

    JOSEPH D. ARMSTRONG.—Prominent among the native-born citizens
of Perry township, Clay county, is Joseph D. Armstrong, a man of cul-
ture and talent, who has long been an important factor in advancing the