Thomas Jones Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 485-486

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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THOMAS JONES. Quite a number of the leading and prominent citizens of 
Hand county are of alien birth and have transported to this land of 
fertility and plenty the thrifty habits of their native country. Among 
these there is none more highly respected than the gentleman whose name 
appears at the head of this sketch. 

He is one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Florence 
township, his home being on section 27. 

Mr. Jones is a native of Ireland, born in County Fermanagh, June 8, 
1856, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Knox) Jones. The father was by 
occupation a miller and farmer and conducted a grist mill on the 
Emerald Isle for many years. He died there in 1867, and one son also 
departed this life in that country. The widowed mother, with her 
family, then consisting of six sons and two daughters, sailed for the 
New World in 1868, and first located in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, 
where she purchased a farm. There her children were reared and 
educated. Later she removed to Montgomery county, Iowa, and there spent 
the remainder of her life, dying in 1884, honored and respected by all 
who knew her. Two of her sons, our subject and James, now reside in 
Hand county, South Dakota. 

Thomas Jones is indebted to the public schools of Illinois for his 
educational privileges, and after laying aside his books he worked as a 
farm hand in that state until 1881, when he removed to Iowa. It was in 
the fall of 1883 that he came to Hand county, South Dakota, and took up 
a claim on section 27, Florence township, where he at first engaged 
only in raising grain, but has since added to it the stock industry, 
his time and attention being given now to both occupations. He has made 
many useful and valuable improvements upon his place, which add greatly 
to its attractive appearance, including the erection of a fine 
residence in 1889, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars- one of the 
best country homes in the county. 

On the 18th of May, 1887, Mr. Jones married lilies Sarah Reed, a native 
of Illinois and a daughter of William and Catherine (Reed) Reed, and of 
the five children born of this union four are still living namely, 
Sarah C., Lizzie B., William R. and Florence L. In his political 
affiliations Mr. Jones is a stalwart Republican, and he has been 
honored by his fellow citizens with a number of local positions of 
trust and responsibility, the duties of which he discharged with 
promptness and fidelity. He has already served as township supervisor 
for seven years and again has been elected for a three years' term. He 
has also filled the office of school clerk of the township for eight 
years and again elected for three years in 1899, and as road overseer 
for some time.