John L. 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, 1898. Page 438

	Scan, OCR and editing by Joy Fisher, jfisher@sdgenweb.com, 1999.

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JOHN L. JONES is one of the leading real estate dealers of Madison, 
Lake county.  Mr. Jones, though but little over thirty years old, is 
already well-to-do, and his wealth and position in life are due solely 
to his ability, industry and straightforward business methods.  Mr. 
Jones, like many another soldier fighting the battle of life, started 
out with very short rations, hence his victory over that remorseless 
enemy, poverty, is all the more notable. Mr. Jones was born in Oneida 
county. New York, August 25, 1864.  His father, John B. Jones, was also 
a native of the Empire state.  He was an agriculturist, and in 1867 
went west with his family, locating in Cambria, Wisconsin.  Later he 
removed to Howard county, Iowa, where he remained for ten years.  In 
1879 Mr. Jones came to Lake county, where he still resides, retired 
from active life.  He is one of the oldest settlers there.  Mr. Jones 
is of Welsh descent.  Our subject's mother, Winifred (Lloyd) Jones, was 
born in Wales, and came to New York with her parents when but seven 
years of age.  She also resides in Lake county.  There were four 
children in the family, two sons and two daughters.  John, who was the 
second son, was taken to Wisconsin by his parents at the age of two.  
Three years later Howard county, Iowa, became his home, and there he 
attended the public schools.  When the family removed to South Dakota, 
Mr. Jones' entered the State Normal school at Madison, being graduated 
in the class of '87. He then secured a position with Kennedy Brothers, 
bankers and real estate dealers. In 1891 Mr. Jones with Kennedy 
Brothers and  Williamson,  organized  the  State Bank.  He became 
cashier, and retained that position until 1895, when he withdrew from 
the bank in order to engage in the real estate and loan business.  He 
handles much property in Lake and surrounding counties, and the money 
loaning department has also assumed large proportions.  Mr. Jones is a 
Republican politically, and has always taken a prominent part in public 
affairs.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of P., and the 
Modern Woodmen, and is secretary of the Dakota Chautauqua, besides 
being one of its stockholders.

Mr. Jones married Miss Jennie L. Hawkins in 1889.  Mrs. Jones is the 
daughter of A. B. and Louisa Hawkins.  Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the 
parents of three children, Merle L., E. Marie and Winifred.