Marshall County >> 1912 Index

Past and Present of Marshall County, Iowa
by Judge William Battin. 2 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1912.

J

Thomas Johnson

Although foreign born, Thomas Johnson has ever taken an active interest in the welfare of his adopted country and given an earnest support to every movement for the public welfare.   A man of good personal traits, he is highly regarded by all who know him, and he is counted one of the worthy farmers of Marion township, Marshall county.

Mr. Johnson was born in Denmark, March 12, 1853.  He is the son of John and Marie (Jenson) Thompson, both of whom were born in Denmark, where they were educated, married, spent their lives and died.

The son, Thomas, was reared in his native country and received a good education in the common schools.  seeing that he had no great opportunity at home, he decided to come to the United States when a young man, and the year 1890 found him in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Here he worked at the carpenter's trade, at which he became skilled when a young man.  Later he rented a farm, finally buying one hundred and fifty four acres in Marion township.  Here he carries on general farming and stock raising, having developed an excellent place, and established a comfortable home.   Politically, he is a Republican, but he is not an aspirant for the honors of public office, being contented to give his attention to his farm.  Mr. Johnson and his family are faithful members of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Johnson was married in Denmark in 1875 to Mrie Peterson, a daughter of Christ and Stern (Nelson) Peterson, who came to Marshall county, Iowa, in 1890, and there the father remained a while, then went to Minnesota, where his death occurred in 1903, and in that state the widow is still living.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Johnson five children have been born, Mary, Charlie, Emma, Edward and Christine, all living and all married with the exception of Edward.

Mr. Johnson is deserving of a great deal of credit for the large success which he has achieved owing to the fact that he started in life empty handed and has made what he has unaided.

C. D. JONES

Although a resident of Independence, Iowa, C. D. Jones,, the well known and popular president of the firm of Jones & Hovey Company, is eminently entitled to a conspicuous position in a history of Marshall county, in view of the fact that he is head of one of the most important enterprises in this county and much of his time is spent here, and also because he has the material and general interests of the city and vicinity at heart, always willing to lend a helping hand in furthering any movement having for its object the betterment of local conditions. Like his associate, Mr. Hovey, who is represented elsewhere in this work, he is a twentieth-century business man of up-to-date principles and keen discernment, straightforward, cautious, far-sighted and withal plain and genial, so that he has won alike the confidence and good will of the people of this and other cities where his extensive interests are to be found.

C. D. Jones, president of the Marshalltown Light, Power & Railway Company, of this city, and one of the leading business men of central Iowa , was born in Washington county, New York , October 14, 1849 , the son of Charles D. and Fannie E. Jones, a sterling old family of the Empire state.

Mr. Jones was educated in the common schools and a business college. Early in life he began a business career. For a time he was employed as clerk in a postoffice, later as bank clerk. He then established an office and carried on an insurance and money loaning business with much success for some time. Believing that the newer West held greater opportunities in a business way, he came to Iowa when a young man and has since made his home in this state. In partnership with Mr. Hovey, he purchased the Marshalltown gas works about 1888, consolidating the same with the electric light company, and they built the street railway in 1892, at which time Mr. Jones was elected president of the company, the extensive and important duties of which he has continued to discharge in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.

The firm of Jones & Hovey are builders and operators, constructing and operating gas and electric plants, and aside from the Marshalltown Light, Power & Railway Company, they operate the Independence Gas Company, Independence , Iowa ; Creston Gas & Electric Company, Creston , Iowa , and the People's Gas & Electric Company, Chillicothe , Missouri .

They are well equipped in every respect for successfully carrying on their vast operations, having the latest approved machinery and appliances and employing only experienced and able men, consequently their business is growing by leaps and bounds. Their chief desire is to please, to give the people satisfaction.

Fraternally, Mr. Jones is prelate of Kenneth Commandery No. 32, Knights Templar. He is warden of St. James Episcopal church, Independence , Iowa . Mr. Jones was married in 1873, and he has four children, all living.

HUGH H. JONES

The little country of Wales has furnished to the United States some of our best citizens, and our only regret is that she has not sent more to our shores, for they have been, practically without exception, thrifty and law-abiding. One of this worthy number who has long honored Marshall county with his residence is Hugh H. Jones, for a number of decades one of our thriftiest farmers, but who, now that he has reached the advanced outpost of the years "where cool and long the shadows grow," is spending his last days serenely in his pleasant home in Marshalltown . Mr. Jones is one of those men who early realized the necessity for good citizenship, and with strong mind and determined purpose addressed himself to bringing about this deserved result. His influence has been for good, having always been exerted in behalf of whatever tended to promote morality, better government and improved material conditions in his locality.

Mr. Jones was born in Wales on January 19, 1826 , and he is the son of Hugh and Jane (Williams) Jones, both born in Wales . There they grew up, were educated and married and there spent most of their lives, finally emigrating to America , and she died in New York in August, 1841. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living in 1911. The father devoted his life to farming; politically, he was a Republican and a member of the Methodist church. He died July 23, 1876 , at Utica , New York , aged eighty-one years, eight months and twenty-two days. He married, in 1842, Guen Jones, who also died in Utica , New York , December 13, 1876 .

Hugh H. Jones was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools and he spent his early life in his native land, emigrating to America with his parents in 1841. He began his career on the new continent by farming in the state of New York . In 1854 he moved to Delaware county, Ohio, where he farmed a few months, then came to Greencastle township, Marshall county, Iowa, on May 12, 1855, and here bought one hundred and sixty acres. He began life as a pioneer, for the country was not thickly settled and improvements and conveniences were few, and he was compelled to undergo a number of hardships until railroads could be built, stores established and mills erected. But he saw that the country had a great future and he went diligently to work to do his part in improving the same. Prospering from year to year, he added to his original purchase until he became the owner of four hundred acres of excellent land which he placed under improvements and high cultivation and on which he lived for a period of forty-seven years, becoming one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of his township. Having accumulated a competency, he sold out and moved to Marshalltown in March, 1902, where he has a beautiful modern residence at No. 502 East State street . He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred and ninety acres in Taylor and Liscomb townships.

Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican, but in early life he was a Whig. His wife was a member of the Presbyterian church.

On September 2, 1854 , Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Eleanor Williams, who was born in Wales on December 24, 1835 , the daughter of John and Mary Williams, both natives of Wales . They emigrated to America in 1839 and located in Delaware county, Ohio , where they spent their lives on a farm, dying there during one of the epidemics of cholera that swept this country in the early days. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones seven children were born, namely: Mary Jane, wife of William Hartman, of Wenatchee, Washington; Hugh H., deceased; Margaret Ann, who resides with her father and keeps his home, and John Edward, twins, the former being the widow of the late Francis L. Cooper; John Edward lives at Highland Lake, Colorado; Emma Alice Jones married Henry E. Motteler and they live at Wenatchee, Washington; Loretta Elizabeth married Adolphus Taylor, of Hoprig, Emmet county, Iowa; Myrtle Estella is the wife of Nelson Hilsabeck, and they live in Greencastle township, this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh H. Jones have twenty-one grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Jones was called to her rest on October 29, 1902 . She was a good, useful woman and had a host of friends.

SOLOMON M. JONES

One of the honored citizens of Marshalltown is Solomon M. Jones, who, after a useful and industrious life, is now enjoying a well earned respite. His career might well be cited as an example worthy for the younger generation to follow for it has not only been replete with material success, but with duty well and conscientiously performed in all the walks of life.

Mr. Jones is a product of the old Hoosier state, his birth having occurred in Montgomery county, Indiana, March 30, 1837 , and he is the son of William and Mary (Miller) Jones, the father born in Winchester , Virginia , June 20, 1813 , and the latter in Warren county, Ohio . Early in life they came to Indiana , finally returning to Ohio and in 1855 they came to Hardin county, Iowa , and both died at Iowa Falls , in 1898, only a month apart. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. The father was a blacksmith by trade. Politically, he was a Republican and he ably discharged the office of justice of the peace for a period of twenty years. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist church.

Solomon M. Jones grew up in Indiana and Ohio , and he accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1855. He received a common school education. He took up railroading in 1859 on the Illinois Central as fireman, later becoming engineer, remaining a faithful employe of that road for a period of two years. In 1871 he came to Marshalltown , Iowa , and entered the employ of the Iowa Central road, on which he worked as engineer for a period of twenty-five years, his long service being an evidence of his ability, sobriety and close application to duty. He has been living in retirement in his cozy home in Marshalltown since 1899. He saved his money and judiciously invested the same, now owning a number of valuable properties in Marshalltown .

Politically, Mr.. Jones is a Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for official positions. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and has carried an insurance policy since 1874. Mrs. Jones, who died October 12, 1908 , was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Jones was married in 1862 to Mary A. Caldwell, a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Sarah Caldwell, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they came to Hardin county, Iowa, in 1852, and they both died in Hardin county, where they spent their latter years on a farm. They were members of the Methodist church and politically Mr. Caldwell was a Republican.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely: Alice is deceased; Bella married S. W. Myers and they live in Washington township, this county; Charles is deceased.