JONES, William Clark
Date of death: 10 Sep 1898 – Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa
The Franklin Democrat, Friday, September 30, 1898,
Volume XXXIX Number 12, page 1 column 2
LOCAL and PERSONAL.
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The news has reached Franklin from Fairfield, Iowa, of the death of Wm. C. Jones on Sept. 13. Jones was formerly a citizen of this place, having come here from Wythe county, Va., in 1831. During his residence here he held the offices of assessor, county commissioner, collector, sheriff and in 1840 he was made United States census taker. Mr. Jones was a man of high character and was widely known.
Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry
Fairfield Ledger, Wednesday, September 14, 1898,
page 3 column 5
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In His Ninetieth Year.
Another old citizen is gone. He lived long and honorably for nearly three times the length of life of the average human being. For almost ninety years he has dwelt among the people of this earth, and now we can only hope and believe the he has gone to that place where only good and honorable men find a resting place. For years he has been prepared for the final summons, and his wish was that he might be taken. He has now been gathered as a ripe sheaf, and the days of his suffering are ended.
William C. Jones died in Fairfield, Iowa, September 10th, 1898, at the residence of his son, Isaac D. Jones, at 11:00 o’clock a.m. He was born July 9th, 1809, in Surrey county, N. C. In 1816 his father emigrated to Wythe county, Virginia. There Mr. Jones was marred February 20th, 1831, to Miss Permelia A. Vaughan [sic]. They emigrated to Johnson county, Indiana, where their six children were born to them. In March, 1845, he came to Jefferson county with his family. His only daughter died October 14th, 1864, and his wife died October 18th, 1889. Three of his sons—William A., Cornelius A., and Martin V. B.—died in Jefferson county and left families. His only surviving children are his sons Isaac D. Jones of this city, and Dr. Wiley A. Jones of Cantril. He has nineteen living grandchildren and eighteen great‑grandchildren, having great-grandchildren in all the families of his five sons. He was a farmer in Cedar township for many years. In Indiana he held several county offices, and in Jefferson county was school fund commissioner. He was assistant United States marshal in Indiana in 1840, and in this county in 1860. In his younger days he took great interest in the establishment of common schools. In politics Mr. Jones was a conservative democrat, but never offensive or discourteous. During the last twenty-two years of his life he had been feeble and did not engage in business. He had been confined to the house for several weeks, and had been sick for the last three weeks, suffering much pain, but retaining his mental powers to the end. He was probably the oldest citizen in Jefferson county. Mr. Jones was a good husband, a kind father and an exemplary citizen. He was esteemed and respected by all who knew him. His troubles are ended.
Religious services were held at the residence of I. D. Jones, conducted by Rev. Leander Lane, pastor of the Christian church and Dr. J. F. Magill. The remains were taken to Bethesda cemetery and deposited by the side of his wife.
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Fairfield Tribune, Wednesday, September 14, 1898,
page 7 column 3
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Death of William C. Jones.
After a long and useful life, William C. Jones, one of the early settlers of Jefferson county, passed away at the home of his son, I. D. Jones, in this city, last Saturday, September 10th. He was eighty-nine years, two months and one day old.
Mr. Jones was a son of Horatio Jones and was born in Surrey county, North Carolina, July 9, 1809. When a boy of six years he moved with his parents to Wythe county, Virginia, where he grew to manhood, and on the 20th of February, 1831, he married Permelia A. Vaughn. In November of the same year they moved to Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana. During his residence there he held the offices of county assessor, county commissioner, collector, sheriff, and in 1840 he was United State census taker for that county. A family of five sons and one daughter were born in Johnson county, and I. D. of this city, the oldest, and W. A., of Cantril, Iowa, the youngest son, are the only ones of the family remaining. William H., Cornelius A., Martin V. B., and Elizabeth all died in Jefferson county. His wife died on October 10, 1889.
Mr. Jones came to this county in March, 1845, and located in Cedar township, where he entered land. Since that time this county has been his home, except during the years from 1867 to 1876, when he resided in Winchester, Van Buren county, and was engaged in mercantile business. In 1876 he came to Fairfield and it was then that he retired from active business life.
Mr. Jones was a man of high character, and was widely known, especially among the old settlers in this county. In his early days he was a school teacher and during all his life was actively interested in educational matters. In 1849–1861 he was school fund commissioner for Jefferson county, and in 1860 was census taker under Buchanan for the east half of the county. In politics he was a democrat, liberal in his views, but constant and loyal to his party. He was a member of the Christian church, with which he united in 1854, and remained a member until his death. He had been in feeble health for twenty-five years and for three weeks before his death suffered greatly. A large, tall and commanding man, patriarchal in his appearance, and kindly and benevolent in his nature, he always attracted attention and was universally esteemed for the wisdom of his intellect and the kindness of his heart. To the very last he took an active interest in the news of the world.
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Submitted by Richard Thompson of Fairfield, Iowa on Find A Grave.