Bannock County
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For many generations have the industrious ancestors of Mr. Jones wrought
faithfully in the iron works and on the small but fertile farms in the
south part of the little kingdom of Wales, manifesting the thrift,
integrity and independence so characteristic of the honest yeomanry of
that rugged land. His father. David D. Jones, who was a son of John
Jones. came with his wife Ann and family of six children to America and
to Utah in the first emigration of July, 1869, and locating at South
Weber, east of Ogden, in July of that year engaging in farming and
railroad construction work in Weber county, in 1875 following mining in
Bingham Canyon, Utah, thereafter passing the time in mining until 1885
on the Little and Big Cottonwood Rivers and he is now residing at Basalt
in Bingham county, Idaho, having survived his wife, whose death occurred
in Weber comity, Utah, in 1898, at the age of sixty-five years, and
seven of their children are now living.
John F. Jones, the
eldest member of his father's family, was born on June 23, 1854, in the
southern part of Wales, being fifteen years old when he accompanied the
family emigration from his native Traforest, Wales. He became connected
with mining operations in Utah and participated in the activities of
many camps from 1870 until 1883, then working one winter in the coal
mines of Rock Springs, Wyo., thereafter coming to Bingham county, Idaho,
having located his homestead the year previous in 1884.
To more
fully trace the movements of Mr. Jones we will state that from 1870 he
was engaged in mining in Bingham Canyon, Utah, until 1875, when he
changed his base of operations to Alta, where he remained more than six
months, thence going to Jacobs City and East Canyon. In the mining camps
of the state of Utah he remained until 1884, then coming to Idaho he
located his present homestead on Fall Creek, four miles southeast of
Lyons postoffice. Returning again to Utah he then went to Rock Springs,
Wyo., where, during the winter of 1884, he worked in the coal mines. In
the spring of 1885 he moved his family to Fall Creek, which has since
been his residence and seat of operations, moving, however, to Rigby
during the winters to secure the school advantages.
Since his
location as an agriculturalist in Idaho Mr. Jones has been an active and
successful operator in stock-raising, and to the duties connected
therewith he is still devoted, prospered in this industry and running a
fine raising stock of a superior quality, being herd of horses and
cattle. At the time of his settlement here he was the farthest settler
located on the South Fork of the Snake River, the whole district being
infested with lawless outlaws, horse and cattle thieves. Now where they
roamed all the available land is settled and herds of cattle peacefully
graze on the mountains. In the Mormon church he worthily holds the
office of elder and is known as one of the valuable and progressive
citizens of the county, while in political creed he is in touch with the
Democratic party and a diligent worker in its ranks.
On December
20, 1875, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Jones)
Alford, the widow of David Alford and daughter of William and Ann
(Haddock) Jones, her father being a well-known and prominent citizen of
Utah, her birth occurring in Nebraska while her parents were en route on
the trail on August 8, 1855. The first five children of Mr. Jones were
born at Riverdale, Utah, and the names of all follow: Rosalia, born
January 13, 1878, died on February 18, 1878; Marietta, born June 18,
1879, married Arthur Saxton, and resides at Rigby; Zelia, born on March
16, 1881; Reuben, born January 8, 1883; Dora, born on September 22,
1884; Benjamin, born May 2, 1886, at Rexburg, Idaho, died on June 26,
1886; Joseph, born on October 8, 1887, at Fall Creek, Idaho; Gwendaline,
born on February 20, 1889, also at Fall Creek; Martha, born on June 24,
1891, at Fall Creek, died on February 15, 1894; Rachel, born on March
24, 1893, at Fall Creek, died on April 3, 1893; Ruth, born on May 24,
1894. Mrs. Jones has a daughter by her first husband, Elizabeth Ann
Jones, born September 1, 1871, who married Jabus Peek, and now resides
at Basalt, Idaho.
William Jones, the father of Mrs. John F.
Jones was a member of the Morrisite church from its organization for
fourteen months, then withdrawing with his goods, he and his wife were
chased and captured and, with their companions, two Danish men, they
were made prisoners and were confined in chains. By digging down from
their prison and hiding the dirt under the bed one of the Danes managed
to get away and reported at Farmington that Mr. Jones was to be
executed. A company was immediately organized which ragged war against
the Morrisites until Mr. Jones was released. Some time afterward at a
round-up Mr. Jones met his old jailor who was severely punished by him
in payment for the great abuse given while Mr. Jones and wife were
prisoners. For a full and interesting history of Mr. William Jones, the
reader is referred to The Juvenile Instructor.
At his own
expense he brought twenty-one souls from Wales to Utah and all have
progressed very satisfactorily.
Extracted from Progressive Men of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont and Oneida Counties, Idaho, published in 1904, pages 269-270, contributed 2021 Jun 15 by Norma Hass
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