Person:Conley Jones (1)

"Jones, Conley, farmer, son of Stephen and Lyda Lanphere Jones, the former of Vermont, the mother of Pennsylvania, was born in Cayuga County, NY, June 26, 1819. His early life was passed on farm, and has always followed farming; came to Maquon Town ship when 19 years old. He was educated in common schools of New York; January 2, 1838, married Mary Fink, who has borne 11 children, 9 living, 5 sons and 4 daughters. Republican. In September, 1875, went to California on a pleasure trip, spending a year on the Pacific slope. While there, traveled all over the state. He now resides in Maquon, but still conducts his farms. He has 800 acres of fine land." History of Knox County, 1878 pg. 685 (Barbara McCoy copy).

From the ATLAS MAP OF KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, 1871, 91pages is the following reference to Conley Jones who was a subscriber: Name: Conley Jones, Township, Haw Creek, Residence, Sec. 33, Occupation, Farmer, Nativity: Oswego, Arrived in Knox Co.: 1839, Arrived from New York

In 1840, the federal census reported that Illinois had a total population of 476,183. Knox Co. had 7,060. There were 331 slaves in the entire state.

1840 Census, IL, Knox, misc. twps, page 71, roll M704_62, image 141 shows Conley Jones with 1 male under 5, 1 male 20 to 30, and 2 females, 20 to 30. Comment: We do not know who the other female age 20 to 30 might be.

1850 census, IL, Knox Co. Haw Creek Twp 10N 3E, page 339, roll M432_113, e.d. 13 Sept 1850. Image 260 at Ancestry.com JONES Conley 29 KY Farmer $1600 Mary 34 KY Julia 8 IL Charles 4 IL Melvill 4 IL Melvina 3 IL Clarince 1m IL Caroline 20 NY (sister of Conley) Seth 16 NY (brother of Conley) Sarah Fink 65 WI (This is Mary Ann's mother, widowed in 1841 and her daughter) Ester Fink 17 NY

1855 Illinois State Census, Knox, Haw Creek Twp, roll ILSC_2191, online at Ancestry.com: Conley Jones: males: 3 under 10; one 10-20; two 20-30; and one 30-40. Militia 3 (Here the three under 10 should be four because Lafayette, Marion, Clarence, and Melville are all under ten, the one 10-20 would be Charles, and the two 20-30 are unknown, perhaps hired men, Conley is the one 30-40.) females: 2 under 10; one 10-20; one 40-50. (Here, Melvina is under ten, but the second one is unknown. The one 10-20 is Julia, and the one 40-50 is unknown. Where is Mary who would be 38?) livestock value is $1202.

1870 Census, IL, Knox, Haw Creek Twp, P.O. Maquon, page 24, on 9 July 1870 Jones, Conley, age 51, m, w, farmer, value of real estate is 36,700, and personal estate is $7,000., born New Yor Mary, age 53, f, w, keeping house, born NY Melville, 22, m, works on farm, born in IL as are all the rest of the children Melvina, 22, f, at home Clarence B., 21, m, works on farm Marion, 18, m, works on farm Lafayette, 16, m, works on farm Viola, 14, f, attends school Rosa, 10, f, attends school

1880 Census, IL, Knox Co., I.D. #219-222, JONES, Conley, Farmer, age 65, b. NY, father b. Vermont, mother b. PA, Mary Fink, Keeps house, age 63, b. NY , and both parents born in NY, Melvina, At home, age 33, bo. in IL, and Charles, Farmer, age 34, b. IL

WILL: This long document is dated 26 February 1883 and is signed Conley his + mark Jones indicating his inability to write his name. It is witnessed by John W. (?) Wayne and Joshua B. Boynton, both of Maquon. He is in Maquon, Knox Co., IL and is sixty five years old. Named in the will to inherit are: 1. Rose Owens, 2. Julia Johnson, 3. Marion Jones, 4. Malvina McWilliams, 5. Lafayette Jones, 6. Viola West, 7. Charles Jones, 8. Clarence Jones, and 9. Melville Jones. See copy in file.

1. ↑ Bible of Viola Helen Jones family in collection of Barbara McCoy
   "Births" section.
2. ↑ ILlinois Census, 1810-1890 @Ancestry.com
   p.339.