John was the son of David and Margaret (Duckworth) Jones and was born on December 31, 1821 in Hamilton County, Illinois. His parents had come to Black Township, Posey County, Indiana around 1807 and established a farm north of the town of Mount Vernon. The Jones and Duckworth families were early day settlers of southwestern Indiana Territory and John's grandfather, the Reverend Sanuel Jones, was the first minister to preach in Posey County. He had established the Farmersville Primitive Bethel Baptist Church around 1807. John was a member of this church. His mother was the daughter of John and Mary (Hill) Duckworth and the Duckworths arrived in the area in 1815 where they also established a farm in the county. John married Elizabeth M. Green on March 30, 1842 (one source mentions April 4). John was eighteen and Elizabeth was sixteen years of age. By 1850 he had established a homestead and was farming in Black Township, Posey County, Indiana and had a boy, Silas P., who was five months old. The 1860 Census shows John was farming in Black Township and his farm was valued at $2,250. He was living with his wife Elizabeth (34), Silas (10), Harriet (8), John T. (5) and Nancy Ann (2/12). By 1870 the family was still living on the farm and two of the children were still living at home: John T.(15) and Nancy Ann (10). Farming next door were his parents. Living nearby was his son Silas (who was married and now had one child) and his sister Harriet and her husband Isaac Thomas, where both families had established farms. John died on August 20, 1870, the same day that the 1870 was taken. One source mentions that he passed away "after an illness of fourteen years." His wife Elizabeth passed away on October 20, 1894. His gravesite has never been located, but the grave of Elizabeth has been identified and is located in the David Jones Cemetery just north of Mount Vernon so it is assumed he was also interred here. 

Source: Ancestry.com “St John/Jones Family Tree”