JONES-Henry B. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

HENRY B. JONES, farmer, and stock raiser, Rob Roy. His Grandfather, Wright Taylor, was a soldier of 1812. His father Aaron was a North Carolinian, and his mother, Sarah Taylor a Kentucky lady. They were married in the latter state, and in February 1823 removed to Otter Creek Prairie in Vigo county and the following winter to Fountain County, settling in the forks of Coal Creek, below Veedersburg. In a year or two his father bought the land where Rob Roy stands, and afterward sold it to John I. Foster who had that town laid out. The land eventually fell back to Mr. Jones. He died here January 16 1878, aged eighty-two, and his wife July 11 1876 aged seventy-four. Mr. Jones the youngest child of these parents, was born where he lives, one and one fourth miles south of Rob Roy, October 23 1840. He was married February17 1861 to Joanna D. Meeker, daughter of Usual H. Meeker. She was born March 18 1842. Their two children are Lorenzo E. born May 13 1862, and Oliver M. January 18 1867. Mrs. Jones has been a communicant in the Methodist church eighteen years. Mr. Jones is a Mason. He owns 535 acres, 290 of which are under plow, it is valuable land, being rich alluvial soil, and lying in the Shawnee and Coal Creek bottoms. He is erecting the present year, a fine brick residence of eight rooms, at a cost of over $4000. He has been trustee of Shawnee township three terms in succession, beginning with 1870 and ending with 1876. He is a republican in politics and influential man in his community, and active and enterprising in business.

Henry B. JONES. Among the original settlers of Fountain County was Hiram Jones, who was one of it smost energetic and enterprising pioneers and succesful farmers, and reclaimed from the wilderness a large and valuable farm, lying on Sec 31, Shawnee Twp. This old homestead is now in possession of his son Henry, our subject, one of the foremost farmers and stock raiser of this section. He has enlarged his domains and now has one of the most extensive and best-appointed farms in Indiana as well as one of its fairest and most beautiful homes. The father of our subject was born in NC in 1795 and left there when he was 7 yers old, his parents moving to Tennessee and thence to Ky. In the latter state he was wedded to Miss Sarah, daughter of Wright Taylor and after marriage he resided for a time near Frankfort, Kentucky. >From there he came to Indiana with his wife and two children that had previously been born to them and they lived near Terre Haute a year. In 1823 the family came to Fountain County and Mr. Jones selected a location near where Veedersburgh (sic) now stands entering land of the Government. He was one of the first to settle in that region but 4 or 5 other families having preceded him. After a short residence at that poin thebought the present site of the village of Rob Roy and during the 10 years he lived thereon he cleared the land and made various substantial improvements. Selling that place, he bought the farm now owned by our subject in the spring of 1840, and it was his home for the remainder of his life, which was brought to a close at an advanced age in 1878, his venerable wife following him to the grave six months later. He started out in life without a dollar to his name, but he had a resolute, active nature who shrewd and far-seeing in business matter and became a man of wealth. He became the owner of 400 acres of choice land, which he developed in a practical manner into a very desirable farm. He was a man of sincere religious convictions and his name will ever be associated with the founding of the Methodist Episcopal faith in this county. He was one of the originators of the church of Rob Roy and he and Mr. Burch organized the first church of that demonination at Veedersburgh. He was Trustee of the church and gave liberally to its support. The parents of our subject had 8 children of whom 4 grew to maturity and 3 still living. John died at age 53; Louisa married Ebenezer Brandburgh and is now deceased; James G is a farmer inMo; WW who resides in Florida is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Benjamin died at age 12; Elizabeth in infancy Leonard at age 1 1/2. The subject of this biographical notice was born on the old homestead Oct 23, 1840 and it has always been his home. He secured his education in the public schools of the township and was well trained in his youth in all that pertains to agriculture. In his career as a farmer he has been eminently successful and has shown himself a master of his calling, progressive in his methods, ready to adopt new ideas, systematic and thorough in carrying on his operations and keeping well abreast of the times in all things. He follows mixed farming and raises much stock of standard breeds, including a herd of Shorthorn Cattle, Poland-China hogs and 500 sheep. HIs farm comprises 700 acres of well cultivated land and the improvements upon it are of a high order. He has one of the finest houses in the county which he built in 1881 at a cost of $10,000, it being a handsome, modern style of architecture tasteful in its appointments, convenient in its arrangements, and pleasant in it surroundings. The marriage of our subject with Miss Joanna D. Meeker was celebrated Feb 17, 1861. Mrs. Jones was born March 18, 1842 in Richland Twp, this county and was 14 years old when the family moved to Shawnee Twp. She is the daughter of Usual H. Meeker, whow as one of the earliest settlers of this county, whither he came from Butler Co Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children: Lorenzo E, who married Miss Hattie E. Hatton and resides in Shawnee Twp; and Oliver M, a grandaute of the An Arbor Law School and a young lawyer at Danville, Il. He married Miss Emma Fouts. Our subject's executive ability and other fine business qualifications, combined with his high character, render him a valuable citizen and have brought him to the front in the public, political, social and religious life of his native township. He is a strong Republican and is influential in local politics. Our subject has been identified for some time with the Anti-Horse Thief Association and has been very instrumental in bringing to justice many criminals, having helped to break up a large organizaiton of horse thieves in southern Indiana. For 11 years from 1871 he was Trustee of Shawnee Twp. He belongs to Richland Lodge #204, AF & AM and is greatly interesting in the fraternity. He is a member of the Methodist ME Church of Rob Roy and trustee of the church which is much indebted to him for its standing and usefulness in the community. Jones, Lottie E.

Henry B. JONES, who spent his last days in Danville and enjoyed the respect and good will of all who knew him, was a representative of one of the old pioneer families that settled in the district now included in western Indiana and eastern Illinois. The maternal grandfather was Wright TAYLOR, a soldier of the war of 1812. Our subject's father, Hiram Jones a native of NC who, after arriving at maturity, wedded Sarah Taylor, a native of Ky. They were married in the Blue Grass state in 1819 and soon afterward crossed the Ohio River into Indiana and took up their abode on Otter Creek, Vigo Co. The following winter they removed to Fountain County, Indiana settling at the forks of Cold Creek and two years later Hiram Jones purchased the land upon which the town of Rob Roy now stands. he afterward sold that property to JI Foster but was for some time there engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He lived to witness much of the growth and development of his part of the county and continued a respected and valued resident of the community until his death, 16 Jan 1878. His wife survived him a brief period and passed away 11 July of the same year. Henry B. Jones was born in Fountain County, Indiana upon the home farm on which he spent the greater part of his life. He was educated in theschools there and through the periods of vacation worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. As the years passed on he began farming on his own account and throughout his active life was identified with the work of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops. He kept in touch with progressive methods of farming and his property gave evidence in its thrifty appearance of his careful supervision and practical methods. On 17 Feb 1861, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Joanna D. MEEKER a daughter of Usual H. Meeker. She was born March 18, 1842 and by her marriage became the mother of two sons, Lorenzo, now living in Danville, and Oliver M, who is a graduate of the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. he also lives in this city with office in the McDonald Building. The father of Mrs. Jones was Usual h. Meeker, a native of Tompkins County, NY born 12 oct 1811. In the early days he puchased some government land in Fountain County, Indiana and in 1832 made a trip on horseback to the west to look at his property. In 1836 he removed to that county and as the years passed by invested more and more largely in land until he had extensive property interests. He also become one of the prominent men of the county and was more or less active in public life. For the last 20 yeaers of his life he engaged in loaning money and bought and sold much land, his investmenets being very judiciously made. On 27 Nov 1831, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie DUDLEY and they reared a large family of children, including Joanna d. Meeker, now the widow of Henry B. Jones. In his business affairs, Henry B. Jones displayed sound judgmentand unfaltering industry and became a very successful farmer and stock raiser. He owned a productive and valuable tract of land of 535 acres situated in Shawnee Twp, Fountain County. Ther ehe lived for some time and his carefully controlled interests brought him substantial prosperity. He kept everything upon his place in good repair, had substantial buildings there and utilized the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. At length he removed to Davnille in 1903, retiring from active business, his remaining days being spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest. In politics Mr. Jones was ever a stalwart republican, giving unwavering support to the party and its principles, for he believed that its platform contained the best elements of good government. He served as trustee of Shawnee Twp from 1870 until 1876 and his duties as such were discharged with promptness and fidelity. His fraternal relations were with the Masons and he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His life was in many respects exemplary and when he passed away 29 March 1904, the community felt the loss of a worthy citizen and one who merited the high regard in which he was uniformly held.