Person:Mary Jones (317)

The family records I inherited has Mary's middle name as Martin, but proof for that name has not been found.

Mary was the aunt of Harriet Bell JONES, 2nd wife of John D. "Jack" WILKINSON. Bell's mother is said to have been Mary VORHIS (b. August 31, 1796), David Davis VORHIS' first cousin.

1860 Davis Co., IA, census, p.774, Union Twp., P.O. Troy, July 13, 1860, J. Dunlavey: 867/805 Mary M. VORHIES, 50 F, farming, $600 real, $275 personal, OH; Martha M., 22 F, IN; William R., 20 M, farm laborer, IN (cannot read/write); Lucested, 19 M, farm laborer, IN; Sylvester, 17 M, IL; Celestial J., 15 F, IL; Samantha, 13 F, IL. 1860 Davis Co., IA, census, p.774, Union Twp., P.O. Troy, July 13, 1860, J. Dunlavey: 868/806, JACOB THARP, 26 M, farm labor, $400 real, $100 personal, IL; Ithelia A., 26 F, OH; Cornelius, 2 M, IA; Cindarella, 1 F, IA.

1864 June 13, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "We have not for a long time [heard] from Aunt Mary [Vorhis?] or Uncle Joseys folks. I think it is so strange uncle Josey [Joseph?] don't write. I wrote to him the next week after I came home from school."

ca. 1866 April, At Home, Sunday Evening. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "I don’t know what has become of aunt Marys folks, / we cant get any more letters from them. I have written several to them"

1870 March 5, will of SARAH JONES, filed March 13, 1871, Hamilton Co., OH, Box 25, Case 15193: beneficiaries, niece, LUELLA JONES, youngest child of E.W. JONES; niece, MARTHA MELVINA VOORHEIS, dau. of MARY VORHIS; niece, JEMIMA WATTS, dau. of NANCY WATTS; and sister, ELIZABETH H. WIKOFF.

1870 Davis Co., IA, census, p.175B, Union Twp., P.O. Troy, June 10, 1870, Cornell Sullivan: 84/84, Mary M. VORHIS, 63 F W, keeps house, $1600 real, $300 personal, OH; Gloucester, 28 M W, unable to work, $1100 personal, IN; William R., 39 M W, labors on farm, IN; Martha M., 31 F W, assists in housework, IN. 84/85, SYLVESTER VORHIS, 27 M W, farmer, $500 personal, IL; Mary M., 25 F W, house keeping, IA; Nora U., 1 F W, IA. 84/86, HANNAH E. EARNST, 33 F W, keeps house, IN; John J., 11 M W, goes to school, IA; Cidna G., 9 F W, goes to school, IA; William S., 7 M W, goes to school, IA; Marietta, 3 F W, IA; Emma E., 1 F W, IA; Lydia R., 4/12 F W, IA.

1876 Sept. 17, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., IL. Elizabeth Jones Wyckoff wrote her brother Joel: "Sister mary and familey wor well the last we heard from her "

no date [ca. 1876 between Sept. 18 and Dec. 10], Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "it has been some time since we have heard from aunt Marys family but suppose it is because I have not written but I could only write in the evenings and some evenings I was so tired I hadnt energy enough to write"

1877 Oct. 22, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "I had a letter from Martha Melvina last week. Aunt Mary had been hurt very severely. One of her little grandsons had been endeavoring to bridle one [of] the young horses in the stable / aunt went to assist him / it shoved her against the manger / cracked three of her ribs / she was suffering quite a good deal with her side. Wm Reese had gone to Missouri to move a family there near Celeste Janes. Cemantha Bionca was going to be married very soon to a widower that lived near Gloaceaters. They have not had very good crops there / it had been so dry."

1878 Dec. 8, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Zillman Jones: "We have not heard from aunt Marys family since last Spring / Ma wrote again last September but they have not answered her letter."

1880 March 9, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousins Jane Love, Lillice Jones, and Zillman Jones: "We had a letter from Aunt Marys last week / they were all well"

1880 Davis Co., IA, census, p.55B, Union Twp., June 9-10, 1880, W.H. Rofser: 93/95, MARY M. VORHIS, head, W F 74, widow, keeping house, OH Wales NJ; William R., son, W M 40, single, farmer, IN OH OH; Martha M., dau, W F 42, single, at home, IN OH OH; Ada THARP, niece, W F 8, IA IL OH; Cornelius THARP, nephew, W M 22, single, farm laborer, IA IL OH. 94/96, SILVESTER VORHIS, W M 36, head, farmer, IL OH OH; Mary M., W F 34, wife, keeping house, IA IN OH; John B., W M 6, son, at school, IA IL IA; Eva M., W F 4, dau, IA IL IA; William C., W M 1, son, IA IL IA.

1884 Aug. 31, New York City, 79 East 10th. Luella Jones wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Ma* is away again this Summer . . . and has been visiting a sister of hers in Iowa, since May. I had a letter some two weeks ago from her . . . said she thought of leaving there about the first of Sept. but thought she would go to see aunt Mary Voorhis while she was there, if the distance was not too great / She had written to them, but up to that time, had received no answer."

• Phebe Palmer, third wife of Evan W. Jones, brother of Mary Jones Vorhis; Phebe's sister was Mary Jane Palmer Pettichord in Mahaska Co., IA.

1885 Jan. 27, New York City, 7 Waverly Place. Luella Jones wrote her cousin Jane Love: "When I wrote to you last, ma was away and in Iowa. . . . Ma also visited aunt Mary Vorhis while she was in Iowa, said she never had such a pleasent time. She enjoyed her stay there so much."

1885 Aug. 2, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "We have not heard from aunt Mary for quite awhile as we were not able to write"

ca. 1885 Dec. 28, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "We have not heard from aunt Marys for a long time / its a long long time since we wrote but they have not answered."

1889 Jan. 9, Mason, Warren Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote Jane Love: "I have not heard from aunt Marys family for a long time but I am going to write again / I suspect my letter got miscarried / so many of the letters do."

1890 Oct. 23, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma says the bible isnt worth sending / the time the old house blowed away it got rained on and Spoilt"

1891 Jan. 29, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma is smoaking. She fell down today but it did'nt hurt her only alhurt her face for a while. . . . We had a pleasant time at Grandmas dinner / they was'nt anybody here only relations. Aunt Cemantha gave her apron. Aunt Cemanthas man gave her a nice flanel skirt. Aunt Jane apron. Aunt Melisa [Melvina?] apron. Mary Shield apron / Garrett Tharp ahnkerchief. Tilda & Cindarilla Tharp a pair of shoes. all of the children and Soninlaws was here. except Uncle Glocester Vorhis. and Aunt Hannah E. Ernst / she lives in Missouri. . . . Grandma keeps real stout and harty this winter / I hope she will keep stout. I do dread sickness. She had a good apitite to eat."

1891 March 24, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma is still smoking. She says she don't know what she would do if she could'nt smoak."

1891 Sept. 1, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma said tell you she was well and hearty and could eat as much as any body"

1891 Oct. 18, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "We gathered our apples yesterday. We did'nt have very may. Last year we had so many and some of our neighbors had large orchards had'nt any. We have'nt our apple butter made yet / want to make it this week. and also some plum butter, and Tomato butter, / We have been diging potatoes. Will have an abundant crop of them. . . . We want to make our kraut this week. Aunt Jane Lanman and her oldest daughter was over last week and got some. We would like to sell some more but allmost every person have all they want. . . . Grandma is singing. She very often sing the old songs of long days gone by. I love to hear her sing"

1892 Jan. 6, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma said to tell you she thanks you kindly for your nice present. she has not woren them yet / She says they will last as long as she last. Grandma hardly ever sing any more / her teeth being out she can't hardly sing."

1892 Feb. 4, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma thinks your presents are awful nice / many thanks to you / she got them the day before her birthday the 30 of Dec. / she was 85 yrs old. We had a little dinner / my two sisters & sisterinlaw / Grandma youngest daughter and her little girl were here. How thankful we are that she is still spared with us / it would not seam like home with out her. These many years she has been with us / how many more we can not tell / it may be several / it may be none. She got a chair tidy chair cushion / a can of peaches and some beef for birthday present. . . . Grandma is smoking / she cant do with out tobacco to smoke. "

1892 April 16, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Aunt Cemantha / [Grandma's] youngest daughter / had a carpet tacking and brush choping and want her to come up to her house but she always think home is the only place for her. She says she never wanted to go any place since Grandpa died." [Mary's husband died in 1857.]

1892 July 1, Mason, Warren Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "I have written to aunt Mary / I directed to Troy Davis County like I used too / they never spoke of changing their P.O. address."

1892 July 6, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Grandma has finished eating her supper and is smoking now / she said tell you she had a tin of corn bread and butter milk."

1892 Nov. 22, Mason, Warren Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "To aunt Mary Vorhis P.O. still Troy / I wrote a long time ago to them / directed to Troy but have not received any answer."

1893 Feb. 13, Troy, Davis Co., Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "Well Jane you ask why I hadn't answered Adda's letter / I will tell you the truth / Grandma thinks they treated her mean and wants us to write one way and I don't want to / so you see I haven't answered it yet but intend too."

1893 Feb. 20, Mason, Warren Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff Hopkins wrote her cousin Jane Love: "I have written to aunt Mary a long, long time ago and directed to Troy, Davis, Co Iowa but have received no answer / please dont forget in your next letter to send me her address and I will write again."

1893 May 17, Troy, Iowa. Ada Tharp wrote her cousin Jane Love: "This leaves Grandma in the very best of health as well as the rest of us. . . . Grandma is smoking." Correspondence from the family letters and papers of Jane Love and her cousin, Lillice Jones Harper, courtesy John, Danny, and Dave Harper in 2001 and 2004, transcribed by Brenda Boyer

Obituary. Through the decrees of an allwise Providence, an honored and respected citizen has passed the threshold of the grave to the great beyond. / Grandmother VORHIS, at her old home near Troy, terminated her earthly pilgrimage December 20, 1894, after almost reaching the 88th mile-stone. She, formerly MARY M. JONES, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in the year 1806. She was married to DAVID D. VORHIS May 9, 1833, and came with him to Illinois in 1842, and to Davis county in 1846. With strong hands and courageous hearts they came among the earliest settlers to make by honest toil a home for themselves and children. In their heroic struggle they endured all of the privations and hardships incident to a life in the new West. Losing her husband June 11, 1857 she exhibited a mother's devotion in a fierce single-handed struggle battling for her children. Of that union had been born nine children, two of whom preceded her to the better land. Of the living W[illiam]. R. VORHIS, Hannah E. EARNEST, Glocester VORHIS, Martha M. VORHIS, Sylvester VORHIS, Celestia J. LANMAN and Samantha B. TAYLOR and also many grandchildren, great-grandchildren together with many neighbors and friends bore the remains of this beloved mother to the long resting place in the Rouch graveyard and there consigned them to the care of Him who gained the first victory over death and who hath said, "I am the resurrection and the life." In the hour of bereavement and deep sorrow, blessed in the consolation that none of our loved ones will perish from the heart of Him who hath redeemed us and promised us an eternal abiding place in the palace of our God. Mother VORHIS united with the Baptist church at old Stringtown near Troy in the year 1848. She lived the life of a faithful and devoted Christian and in triumph has gone to the reward of the faithful. While she had been somewhat an invalid for the past two or three months during her last hour she seemed to be enjoying almost if not quite her usual health. In a moment through painless death she entered the port of paradise. She was spared to a ripe old age to become a joy and a comfort to those to whom her hands had so often ministered in the solicitude of an unselfish and devoted love. Deliverance from pain and sorrow and toil and earthly care has ushered her into the joys of heaven to receive the crown which the righteous Judge shall give. May the remembrance of her kindness and exemplary character cheer many on to a better life.

 Rest sweet darling one,
   Naught shall disturb thy sleep
 Thy Father's holy will be done
   Though we are left to weep.
 Shed not a holy tear;
   Why should thy heart despair?
 The darling hovers near
   And whispers, "Meet me there."
                                         M. V.   (Photocopy of original clipping courtesy Deborah Barker.)

1. ↑ correspondence, 19th century
   letter from Mary M. Jones Vorhis, Davis Co., IA, dated Jan. 29, 1891.

   "Mary Jones. was born Dec. 30th. 1806." She was the 8th child

2. ↑ Grave Stone Records of Davis County, Iowa. (Graves Registration W.P.A. Project)
   136.

   DAVID D. VORHIS, b. 1796, d. 11 Jun 1857, Rouch Cemetery, Union, row 16; wife MARY M., b. 1806, d. 20 Dec 1894