Jones - Robert S.
Source: Unknown (possibly HW Beckwith History of Montgomery County?)
ROBERT S. JONES (Colored), farmer, Crawfordsville, was born September 2, 1818, in Butler County, Ohio. His father, John Jones, was a native of Kentucky (and a slave until twenty-two years of age, when his master, removing to Ohio, gave him his freedom). His mother was born in Maryland and a slave also until she was eight or ten years old. Her master coming to Ohio freed her. Her name was Dorthy K. Sampson. John and Dorthy were married in Ohio, and in 1840 immigrated to Montgomery County, Indiana, and bought six acres of land three-quarters of a mile east of Crawfordsville, where they lived until death. He died in 1853, and she in 1855. Both were Old School Presbyterians, and he was a Republican. Robert S. attended school sufficiently to enable him to read, write, and cipher, which little learning he prizes highly. He was married in Ohio, March 10, 1836, to Dilly Henderson, who had been a slave until eight years old, in North Carolina, and had come to the west with her master, with whom she lived until her marriage, at the age of twenty years. In 1839 Mr. and Mrs. Jones moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, bringing two children: John F. and Silva A. They rented eighty acres west of Crawfordsville twelve years.
He then bought forty acres in Walnut Township, and sold that
and bought ninety acres northeast of Crawfordsville. He has since
sold seven and one-half acres, rents out part, and farms the
balance. His first wife died September 9, 1842, leaving two
children, William P. and Abby M., besides the two mentioned. She
was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Jones
was next married to Susan McKee, of Crawfordsville, who died
April 5, 1871. She was also a Methodist. There were eight living
children in the second family. Mr. Jones was a member of the
first African Methodist Episcopal class in Montgomery County,
contributed the first timber toward the Church, has been trustee
over twenty-seven years, and class leader three years. He is a
Mason and a warm Republican and lover of Lincoln.