Wayne County IN Archives Biographies.....Jones, Washington December 8, 1816 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Glapha Cox rcoxfam@earthlink.net January 16, 2006, 10:06 am Author: History of Wayne County, Indiana;Volume II, (1884) Centre Township p. 343 - 346 Washington Jones, farmer, Etna Township, Whitley Co., Ind., postoffice Hecla, was born a mile north of Centreville, Wayne Co., Ind., Dec. 8, 1816, three days before the State was admitted into the Union. His father, Levi Morris Jones, was born in Culpeper County, Va., Oct. 10, 1785, and emigrated from Culpeper County to Kanawha County with his father, John Jones, in 1797. His mother, Mary (Thomas) Jones, was born in Buckingham County, Va., Feb. 7, 1784, and in October, 1797, moved with her father to Kanawha County, where, March, 1806, she was married to Levi M. Jones. John Jones and Joseph Thomas were both of Welsh descent; both were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, the latter directly under command of General Washington, and neither would receive a pension from the Government, saying they fought from principle, not for money. John Jones had a family of ten children, eight sons and two daughters, and Joseph Thomas twelve, five sons and seven daughters. Levi Jones and his family moved to Wayne County, Ind., in April, 1815, and bought a quarter- section one mile north of Centreville, which he afterward sold, and bought town lots in Centreville, where he erected buildings and kept public house several years. He died in Centreville, Oct. 5, 1823. His wife died Sept. 20, 1848. Their son, Eli R. Jones, born March 17, 1818, was the first male child born in the town of Centreville. Levi Jones at his death left a family of ten children, the eldest fifteen years of age and the youngest six months. After the estate was settled they found themselves $500 in debt. This Mrs. Jones paid off, in addition to rearing her family. Washington Jones worked for his three elder brothers until he was nineteen years of age, receiving no wages aside from his rough clothing and board. He then bought a quarter-section of land in Madison County, Ind., from them, for $280, paying for it in monthly payments of $9 each, losing but two work days until it was paid for. He then bought eighty acres in Tipton County, Ind., for $200, which he paid for in the same way. He then thought he had enough land, and spent his earnings in improving a lot in Centreville. He spent $1,400 on the lot and improvements, and sold it for $900. With $600 he bought a quarter-section in Whitley County, which to-day is worth $8,000. Mr. Jones’ early education was obtained in the subscription schools, but, his mother being poor, he attended very little before the days of public schools. He was obliged to stay at home and work, but he managed to keep up with his schoolmates. When in his twenty-first year he attended school three months, day and night, his brother, O. T. Jones, being the teacher, and learned more than in all his previous attendance. In his twenty-second year he began teaching, and taught the next six winters. Governor Morton's wife was a pupil in one of his schools. Jan. 20, 1845, Mr. Jones was married to Catherine Hunt, daughter of Colonel Smith Hunt, of Wayne County. They had two children---Mary Jane and Hannah Eliza, both deceased. His wife died Nov. 6, 1852, and Oct. 2, 1853, he was married to Mrs. Frances M. Hart, a sister of his first wife. They had three sons---Levi Monroe, Washington Thomas and Oliver Perry, all living. Mrs. Jones died in September, 1873, and Oct. 8, 1874, Mr. Jones married Mrs. Samantha C. Trumbull. He first settled and commenced housekeeping in Centreville, Feb. 1, 1845, and fol1owed farming and brick-making till Aug. 29, 1848, when he left Wayne County, and Sept. 5 landed in Whitley County. When he was ready to leave Wayne County he said to his brothers (six of whom were present): "Boys, this looks rather tough, that a man should be driven from his native land by poverty, but I'm going, and if any of you should ever come to see me you will find me trying to fix myself comfortable in life, and if I never get so fixed, I shall die trying. His old friend, Eleazer Malone, was present and said he would sing, "Carry me back to Old Virginia." But he told him he should stay long enough to build himself a good home, and asked him if he would come and build it (Mr. Malone was a brick-mason). He said that he would, and thirteen years from that day Mr. Jones wrote him he was ready to bui1d, telling him the day he wished him to be there, and true to his promise he was there and did the work. When Mr. Jones started in life he set a mark to work up to, and has been working to that end. He is now comfortably settled. He has served four years as Justice of the Peace, two terms as Township Trustee, one as Assessor, and was once elected County Commissioner, but did not serve. In politics he was first a Whig, and when the Republican party was organized enlisted under its banner, and continues one of its firm adherents. In religious faith he is a Baptist, having been a member of that denomination since the winter of 1849. He is opposed to all secret societies, is strictly temperate, using neither liquor nor tobacco, and is in favor of prohibition and equal rights for all. He was the first person to introduce full blooded Durham cattle into the county; put on the first slate roof in the county; put up the first artificial fountain and the first woven wire fence and automatic gates in the county. He has been a liberal, public-spirited man, and all enterprises of benefit to the county have felt the power of his influence and approval. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/wayne/bios/jones135gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb