LEE COUNTY ILLINOIS BIOGRAPHIES

Lee County Biography

WILLIAM V. JONES

One of the leading business enterprises of Amboy is the Jones Berry Lumber Company, of which William V. Jones is the president. He has conducted business in this connection since March 1, 1909, and the patronage of the firm has constantly increased as a result of enterprising and progressive methods on the part of Mr. Jones and his associates. He was born near Woodbridge, New Jersey, October 7, 1842, and was a lad of twelve years when he arrived in Lee county. His parents were J.A. and Margaret (Sleight) Jones. The family is of Welsh origin and was founded in America by the great grandfather of our subject. The grandfather served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The father, J.A. Jones, was one of the early settlers of Bradford township and continued a resident of Lee county until 1903, when he passed away at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife died in 1885 and they are both laid to rest in Lee Center cemetery. In the Bradford district school William V. Jones began his education and after putting aside his textbooks he assisted his father in the work of the farm. He was actively identified with agricultural pursuits for forty-five years and still owns the old homestead on which he has made various substantial improvements. Turning from agricultural to commercial interests he became organizer of the lumber company of which he is the president. He is director of the Farmer's Insurance Company of Bradford, Lee county, to which position he was called in 1878 and has served as president for the past eight years. He is likewise a director of the First National Bank, but concentrates his energies chiefly upon the lumber business in which connection he has developed an important enterprise. The firm carries a large stock of lumber and building material and owing to reasonable prices and honorable methods its sales are constantly increasing. In Bradford township on the 15th of January, 1867, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Viola Stark, a daughter of E.W. and Almeda (Camp) Stark. In both the paternal and maternal lines
Mrs. Jones is descended from old families of the county, both the Starks and Camps arriving in the early '30s. They were worthy respected farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have three children: Augusta, the wife of Dr. Everett of DeKalb; William E. Jones, who is farming on the old homestead; and Margaret, the wife of D.L. Berry. Mr. Jones is a republican and has tilled the office of drainage commissioner, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he does not care to occupy political positions to any extent. In Masonry he has attained the Royal Arch degree and he belongs also to the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Modern Woodmen Camp. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county and he has been a witness of its growth and development for six decades. Throughout the entire period he has made a record that is commendable and his circle of friends is today an extensive one.
Transcribed by Karen Holt - 1914 History of Lee County Illinois Vol 2 by Frank E. Stevens.
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WILLIAM E. JONES
William E. Jones is a member of one of the well known families of Bradford township and represents the third generation of his line to live upon the farm which he now operates. He was born upon this property October 3, 1875, and is a son of William V. and Viola (Starcks) Jones, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Lee county, Illinois. The mother passed away in December, 1913, and is survived by her husband, who makes his home in Amboy. They had three children: Augusta, the wife of Dr. Everett Dekalb; William E., of this review; and Margaret, the wife of D. Berry, of Amboy.
William E. Jones was reared upon his father's farm and at an early age assisted in its operation, learning the details of farm operation and becoming familiar with the best agricultural methods by practical experience. When he was twenty-one years of age he took charge of the homestead and he still operates this property. It comprises two hundred and twenty acres on sections 20 and 29, Bradford township, and has been in possession of the Jones family for three generations. Mr. Jones of this review has carried forward the work of developing and improving it in a progressive and able manner and has won for himself a place among the representative agriculturists of this vicinity. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has extensive interests along this line.
On the 27th of January, 1896, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Mss Emma Hoover, a daughter of James and Minnie Hoover. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have six children, Viola, Alta, Dorothy, James W., Esther and Margaret. The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Jones gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He belongs to Lodge No. 1004, I. 0. O. P., and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His life has been such as to give him a high standing in the eyes of the community and his record is a credit to a name that has long been an honored one in his locality.
Transcribed by Karen Holt - 1914 History of Lee County Illinois Vol 2 by Frank E. Stevens.