W. Forest Jones Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1019-1020 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				W. FOREST JONES.  

	Faulk county lost a worthy and valued citizen when W. Forest 
Jones was called to his final rest. He was but a young man and it 
seemed that many more years of activity and usefulness should have been 
allotted to him. His birth occurred in New York, near Syracuse, March 
10, 1878, his parents being D. Ray and Elizabeth (Humphrey) Jones, who 
were natives of New York and Wisconsin respectively. The father was a 
farmer and followed that occupation throughout his entire life. He 
became one of the pioneer settlers of Dakota territory, taking up his 
abode in 1882, near Cresbard, whence he afterward removed to Faulkton, 
where he passed away on the 6th of November, 1912. His widow survives 
and still resides in that city.  

	W. Forest Jones had a twin sister and they were the first born in 
the parents, family. The father was an invalid and therefore at the age 
of fourteen years W. Forest Jones left school and began working for 
other people in order to provide for his own support. After a few years 
he began learning the carpenter's trade and developed expert skill 
along that line. He then engaged in contracting and building on his own 
account and gained an extensive patronage, continuing in the business 
until his death, which occurred September 10, 1906. Many evidences of 
his skill and handiwork are still to be seen in Faulkton and the 
surrounding country. As he prospered in his undertakings he made 
judicious investment in property and became one of the landowners of 
the county, a part of his land being still in possession of Mrs. Jones, 
who derives a good rental therefrom.  

	In his political views Mr. Jones was a republican, but while he 
always exercised his right of franchise in support of the principles in 
which he believed, he never sought nor held public office. He guided 
his life according to the teachings of the Christian religion, being a 
member of the Congregational church. On the 15th of December, 1900, he 
married Miss Octavia Nanney, who was born in Perry county, Missouri, a 
daughter of T. R. and Hannah E. (Robertson) Nanney, who were of eastern 
birth. In early life the father began farming and they became pioneer 
settlers of Missouri, where they lived until 1898, when they came to 
South Dakota, settling in Faulkton, where they still make their home. 
The father is now practically retired from business. Mrs. Jones is the 
youngest of their three children and the only one now living. She was 
educated in the schools of St. Marys, Missouri, completing a high-
school course. Prior to her marriage she acquainted herself with the 
newspaper business in Faulkton and in 1913 she purchased the office and 
equipment of the Faulkton Advocate and has since conducted this paper, 
which she publishes weekly. She possesses excellent business ability, 
unfaltering enterprise and keen sagacity and has made the Advocate a 
popular journal.  

	To Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born two children: Harry Robert, born 
October 21, 1902; and Olive Evelyn, born January 2, 1905. Mr. Jones 
belonged to the Masonic lodge of Faulkton and his widow is connected 
with the Eastern Star. He was also identified with the Knights of 
Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Jones is 
identified with the Rebekah lodge, of which she is now conductor, with 
the Degree of Honor, in which she is chief, and with the Modern 
Brotherhood of America, of which she is marshal. She is also identified 
with the Ladies of the Maccabees. Her business and social connections 
have brought her a wide acquaintance and she has an extensive circle of 
warm friends throughout Faulk county.