Polk county Oregon Biographies

     William Jones, an Oregon pioneeer of 1853, now deceased, was, during his life, one of Polk counties' most successful and reputable farmers. He was born in the State of Kentucky, March 29, 1833, and his parents were John Jones and Rebecca (Ricketts) Jones, both natives of Kentucky. He was the second in a family removed to Iowa, and there our subject remained until 1853, when he crossed the plains with oxen to Oregon.
     Mr. Jones was in his twentieth year when he reached the Territory of Oregon, a poor young man, with no capital but his courage, energy and industry, and with these he grasped difficulties and overcame them and made his way in the world. Engaging at work for wages, he was very economical, and soon saved enough to purchase 150 acres of land three miles north of Independence, and on his property he built a cheap house, and this was in preparation for an event of importance in his life. The marriage of Mr. Jones took place November 19, 1857, with Miss Susan Fudge, a native of Illinois, born December 11, 1840. She came with her father, Adam Judge, to Oregon, in 1847. He was a Virginian and went to California in 1848, to dig for gold, but took a cold, from the effects of which he died, leaving a wife and ten children.
     After a marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jones settled on the farm, on which they both worked hard, and their industry met with success, enabling him from time to time to purchase tracts of land until he had 500 acres. He was a man possessed of much business enterprise, and when he saw the need of a large and commodious warehouse at Eola, he built it, and in addition to his farming purchased and shipping grain for a number of years. He also saw the profits to be made out of the hop business and engaged in it to a considerable extent.
     The political opinions of our subject were Democratic, and while he did not take a very active part in political affairs he was twice chose by his fellow-citizens to fill the important office of County Commissioner in his county. It was thought that he regulated his own business so well that he was one who could be trusted with the business of the public, and this duty he discharged faithfully.
     Mr. Jones was a prominent member of the I.O.O.F. and belonged to the encampment at Salem. Eight children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jones: Charley, died when twenty-seven years of age, at their home, of heart disease; Newton, resides at Independence; Jennie R. married Mr. James C. Richards, and reside at McCoy; Mary Belle is the wife of Mr. Sherman Parker, and resides at Independence; Rosa is the wife of Mr. George Utter, and resides at Independence; Georgia, Kate and Grace, reside at home with their mother.
     Mr. Jones died on the 18th of December, 1891, of some stomach difficulty. He had many warm friends, was a loving husband and a kind and indulgent father, and his loss was deeply felt by the county, and by his bereaved wife and family. Mrs. Jones now resides with the younger portion of her family in a nice residence in Independence, to which they had removed in 1888. The property was willed to her to be the children's, after she is through with it. She is a intelligent and generous lady has a large circle of friends, and is a good representative of the noble women, who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1847.