Madison County - Paint Township

JOHN JONES, a well-known retired merchant of London, was born in that village October 31, 1818, and is probably the oldest native-born resident in it. His father, William Jones, was born and reared near Knoxville, Tenn. He accompanied his father, Solomon Jones, to Ohio, at a very early day. William Jones was a blacksmith and a pioneer in that trade in London, where he settled in November 1814. He was also engaged in various occupations through life, such as buying property, dealing in grain, buying and selling goods, etc., and became very wealthy. He was a very liberal man, giving a great deal of money to assist those who needed financial help and for various charitable purposes. He was familiarly known as "Dad Jones," and was "everybody's friend." He suffered severely in the "crash of 1837," by paying security debts, and removed to his farm. A few years later, he died at London. John Jones was reared in the village of London, and the entire period he attended school would probably not exceed two years. He assisted his father in the store till of age, and was then employed as clerk in the store of William Warner, remaining in that position two years. In February, 1841, he married Jane H., daughter of John and Sarah Melvin, and a native of this county. After marriage, he rented a piece of land near London, where he farmed that following summer. The same fall William Warner was elected Sheriff of Madison County, and Mr. Jones was made his Deputy, removing to town, and serving in that position for four years. He was then elected Sheriff of the county on the Whig ticket, and served one term of two years. He refused a re-nomination, and since then has retired from official life, with the exception of serving twelve years as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Jones, like his father, has engaged in various occupations, and has accumulated a good property. He purchased a stock of groceries and started his three sons in business, and about 1875 retired from active business labor. He took charge of a younger brother, sent him to school. started him in business and subsequently studying law, and he is now a resident of Champaign, Ill. Mr. Jones was once a member of the Sons of Temperance, and on September 15, 1846, became a charter member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (I. O. O. F.), of London. Six children have been born to himself and wife, four living -- Frank, Horace, Dollie (wife of V. H. Wilson of Lafayette), and Emma, wife of Harvey Chandler, of London. Frank. of Jones Brothers, wholesale and retail grocers, was born in London, February 26, 1847. He obtained a good education in the public schools of his native village, and in early life was engaged in farming. He then entered the employ of his father as a clerk, and subsequently farmed one year in Illinois. Upon the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad, he made a trip to California, being absent eight or nine months. In 1874, with his elder brother, Lucien, he purchased his father's stock and trade, and they remained together until the death of Lucien in 1876. A younger brother, Horace, then became a partner, the firm name still remaining "Jones Bros." The brothers have built up a very large trade, and no firm in London stand higher in the estimation of its citizens than they. Mr. Jones is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (I. O. O. F.), and is Republican in politics. He was married, September 30, 1875 to Lizzie Koogler, a native of Champaign County, Ill. They have one child -- Nina K. Horace, the junior member of the firm, was born in London, September 6, 1852. He received a good education, and early in life was employed in his father's grocery. He subsequently clerked for his brothers. Lucien and Frank, and upon the death of the former became a member of the present firm. He resides in a neat and pleasant frame cottage on East High street. Mr. Jones is connected by membership with Mystic Lodge, No. 36, Knights of Pythias, and Madison Lodge, No. 70 I. O. O. F. His political views are decidedly Republican. He was united in marriage, September 10, 1879, to Lizzie, only daughter of Dr. J. T. Houston, of London.84



John Jones, retired merchant and capitalist, was for many years one of the leading businessmen of this, his native county, and is still closely identified with its interest as the proprietor of a fine farm, and as Bank Director, etc. The village of London, which is his birthplace, is still his home, and he has a fine brick residence on North Main Street, with extensive and beautiful grounds, adorned by shade and fruit trees.
Our subject was born October 31, 1818, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Droke) Jones, who were native of Tennessee, descendants from the early settlers of the old Volunteer State, and they were there reared and married. His father was a blacksmith and he was a pioneer in that trade in this village, whither he came in the fall of 1814. He rose to prominence in the business and public life of this section of Madison County, was known far and near, was a general favorite, and was familiarly known as “Dad Jones.” He sold goods often as an auctioneer, and he owned three hundred acres of farmlands near the village. In politics, he was a sturdy Jackson man. He had a family of eleven children, of whom four are living: Mrs. Sarah Lotspeich, John, Mrs. Margaret Sidner, and Mrs. Lydia Sidner. The first that died was Mary E., and the others deceased are Job, Isaac, Mrs. Evans, William, Martha J., Mars Rachel Clark, and James. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Solomon and Lydia (Sill) Jones, who were natives respectively of Wales and Tennessee. They came here with the father of our subject, and remained here until death. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Peter and Margaret (Foust) Droke, who were lifelong residents of Tennessee, where Mr. Droke was engaged as a farmer. They were married in 1786.
John Jones, who forms the principal subject of this biography, was educated in the village schools of London, and early gained an insight into the mercantile business, as a clerk in a store. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, February 27, 1842, and then he and his bride went to keeping house half a mile from London, and he devoted himself to cultivating a tract of land. The same fall, the newly-elected County Sheriff, William Warner, for whom he had formerly clerked three years, came to hem, and said: “Tomorrow I want you t move into the county jail.” He did so, and for four years he was Deputy Sheriff. So well did he fill that office, that he was then elected Sheriff of the county, and served in that capacity one term of two years. After that, he assisted in the Deputy Sheriff’s office. He was elected Justice, and held that position twelve years, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He has been variously engaged in the commercial world as a dry goods dealer, a grocer, and a dealer in furniture; he has also handled harness and saddles, and has conducted the livery business, having had different partners in each new venture, and for two years he dealt in stock. In 1873, he retired from business, selling his interest to his sons, who are now conducting a fine wholesale and retail grocery in London, and have the reputation of being one of the best first in the county. When in active business our subject displayed marked enterprise, and his management of his interests was characterized by superior business methods, by unerring judgment, and a sound policy in money matters. He accumulated wealth, and besides a fine farm in the country, has a valuable estate in the city, upon which he reside, the grounds around his swelling comprising ten acres of land, planted with fine fruit and shade trees. Mr. Jones is connected with the finances of the county as one of the organizers of the Central Bank of London, and as one of its Directors. In politics, his is a loyal Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. William H. Harrison. In his social relations, he has long been an Odd Fellow, he being the only surviving charter member of the lodge that was organized in this city in 1846.
Mr. Jones’ wife’s maiden name was Jane Melvin, and she was born in Madison County, four miles east of London, in what is called the Lower Glade, February 2, 1819, a daughter of John and Sarah (Inger) Melvin. Her parents were natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee, and were married in the latter state. Her father, who was a farmer, came to Ohio with his father’s family, and they were among the early settlers of Union Township, this county, where they lived and died. The parents of Mr. Melvin were Joseph and Phebe (Van Vacter) Melvin. They had a family of eight children. Mrs. Jones’s father and mother had ten children, of whom she, her brother Benjamin, and her sister Phebe (Mrs. Isaac Jones), are the only survivors. Mrs. Jones is a lady whose many womanly attributes place her high in the estimation of all who know her. She has been a Methodist since childhood, has taken an active part in church matters, and belongs to the Woman’s Christian Aid Society. Her pleasant wedded life with our subject has brought to them six children, of whom these two are deceased: Mary E., who married Alverd Stutson, and died, leaving one child, Harry, who married Jesse Allen, and they have one child, Donald. Lucien, who was a merchant in London at the time of his death, married Alice Kennie, and left three children: Kennie, Nora, and Lucien. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones are Frank, a merchant in London, who married Lizzie H Koogler, and has one daughter, Nina K.: Dollie R., who married V. H. Wilson, a stock-dealer, and has two children, Mabel and Helen; Horace G., a merchant in London, who married Elizabeth Houston; and Emma, who married H. F. Chandler, a clerk in a book-store in London.