Excerpted From 1884 History of Cumberland, Jasper, and Richland Counties, Illinois p.499-500 (Village of Newton and Wade Township)

WILLIAM B. JONES was born, in 1837, in Randolph County, Ill. He came with his parents to Jasper County in 1849, and was reared upon his father's farm, where he yet resides. He married, November 22,1860 Miss Anne Rogers, daughter of Marcellus and Dicy (Barret) Rogers, natives of Virginia. The fruit of this union was seven children, viz.: Adelaide C., John G., Nellie L., Anna M., Charlie, Harry R. and Curtiss. At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Jones entered the service as a private in Company D, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and served in the Department of the Mississippi under McPherson. During his service he lost a foot by a circular saw while sawing timber to repair a road leading from Vicksburg to Jackson. His father, Slaughter Jones, was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1802. When young, he left his native State to seek his fortune in the West, and while on his way met Lavina Kelley, in company with her parents, on their way West from Kentucky. He subsequently married her in Randolph County, Ill. He served as a private in the Black Hawk war under his brother Gabriel, who was a Colonel of a regiment. After the war he entered land here, from a warrant issued to him for his services. He continued to reside in Jasper County until his death, in 1882, his wife having preceded him in 1873. They reared a family of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. Mrs. Jones' father [sic] [should be grandfather], Rev. Samuel Barret, preached in Rush County, Ind., for forty-five years. He married Clarissa McComas, daughter of Col. William McComas, who served in the war of 1812, under Harrison. Mr. Jones is a Republican in politics, a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Honor.

-Submitted by Minga (Buckle) Stivers