Biography - OWEN E. JONES
Owen
E. Jones, one of the leading merchants of Murdock since 1893, and the second
son of Abram Jones, was born in Murdock township, January 31, 1862. After
leaving, the common schools, he took a course at the commercial college at
Terre Haute in 1897. In 1899 Mr. Jones took in as a partner Percy Welliver,
and the firm is doing a thriving business.
In 1894 our subject was married to Miss Nora B. Dever, of Murdock, Illinois.
.Mr. Jones is a member of the Modern Woodmen; he and his wife are members of
the Methodist church; he is classed as one of the progressive and successful
business men of the county.
William Jones, eldest son of Abram, and a well-known grain buyer and hotel
keeper of Murdock, was born in Newman township, this county, April 4, 1858,
and was reared on the farm one and one-half miles from Murdock. His
education was received in the neighborhood schools, and at the age of
twenty-one started in merchandising at Hume, where he continued to do
business for three years. In 1882 he engaged in the same line of business at
Murdoch, and remained there until 1889. In the latter year he, with John W.
Burgett, of Sargent township, formed a partnership in buying grain at
Murdock. They continued to do business for two years, when the firm was
succeeded by Fred I. Rush & Co., of Indianapolis, Mr. Jones acting as the
buyer. He buys about three hundred thousand bushels of grain annually, which
is purchased principally from Murdock township farmers. In October, 1899, he
took charge of the Jones House, which was previously managed by his father,
Abram Jones.
In 1880 Mr. Jones was wedded to Miss Victoria Dever, of Clark county,
Illinois. They have two children, Asher C. and Nellie B. From 1893 to 1898
he served as postmaster at Murdock, and is now serving his twelfth year as
justice of the peace. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and himself and
wife are members of the Methodist church. He is one of the substantial
citizens who has done well his part to add stability to to the business and
social life of Murdock.
Abram Jones, father of William W. and Owen E., was one of the early settlers
of what is now Douglas county. He came in the fall of 1853 and located on a
farm southeast of Tuscola, where he resided with his cousin, Owen Jones,
until his marriage in 1855. He married Miss Elizabeth Eagler, of Macksburg,
Ohio. In 1857 he became a tenant farmer in what was then called Coles
county, and in 1863 moved to what is now known as Murdock township, Douglas
county, where he has lived since and become the owner of one hundred and
twenty acres of land, which he has only recently sold and retired from
active business. He was born October 16, 1826, in Monroe county, Ohio, and
is a son of Samuel Jones. His grandfather, Ephraim Jones, was born in Wales,
and his maternal grandfather, Patrick Hamilton, was born in Ireland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Abram Jones were also born four daughters. (1) Anna Belle
was born September 5, 1856, and became the wife of Hugh M. Wilson. To them
were born two children, one of whom died in infancy; and Marvin A. Mrs.
Wilson died June 26, 1898. (2).Mary Frances was born November 4, 1860, and
died January 2, 1861. (3) Carrie was born November 6, 1864, and on March 19,
1885, became the wife of Samuel Baxter. Their children were Samuel H. and
Gertrude. (4) Lulie Iowen was born September 25, 1867, and on September 4,
1895, married John Horne. The death of .Mrs. Abram Jones occurred July 8,
1893.
Extracted 22 Jul 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 242-243.
