|
Of those whose names appear
in this work there are some who are native-born residents of the county,
and on that account if for no other these deserve more than a passing
notice. Among them is Mr. Jones, now actively and successfully engaged
in farming and coal mining. His birth occurred April 8, 1858, in this
county, and here his entire life has been passed, a period still less
than 30 years. Very naturally he was taught in youth the rudiments of
farm life, his father being a farmer, but after attaining to manhood he
followed in connection with this pursuit the profession of teaching.
Steadily pursuing his way, attending to those duties which lay in his
path, and by practicing close economy, he became enabled after a time to
purchase property of his own, and this he is now engaged in
cultivating. He owns 209 acres, upon which are valuable coal deposits
that he is now operating. Below the surface some 18 feet is a vein of
excellent coal, 30 inches in thickness; further down, after passing
through a 12-inch strata of fire clay is another 12-inch vein of coal,
underlying which is a vein of fire clay, six inches in thickness. Still
another vein of coal, 24 inches through, is next found, then a six-inch
strata of fire clay, and finally a four-inch coal vein. This coal, all
of it, is of good quality and portions are adapted to the use of
blacksmiths. Surely one could not ask for more favorable prospects than
Mr. Jones enjoys, but he thoroughly merits his good fortune. April 8,
1883 he was married to Miss Amanda Hill, also of Missouri. They have
two children: Maud and George.
|
