Person:Francis Jones (16)

It's not known who MARION's parents were, but Ephraim Jones appears to be the only possibility. According to the 1850 and 1860 censuses, MARION was raised by the JONES and WYCKOFF families in Hamilton Co., OH, and family letters appear to confirm this.

1850 Hamilton Co., OH, census, p.425A, Symmes Twp., August 1, 1850, N. Brownell: 73/74 Wm. C. WYKOFF, 38 M, merchant, OH; Sidney, 36 F, OH; Therese A., 12 F, OH; Lawrence V.C., 9 M, OH. Therese and Lawrence attend school. MARION JONES, 3 M, OH; with 73/75 Mary JONES, 78 F, $3500 real, NJ; Sarah, 40 F, OH; Reason, 38 M, farmer, OH; Elizabeth 34 F, OH.

Based on this census, LDS IGI (International Genealogical Index), Film 2034689, has that Reason Jones md. Elizabeth Jones, ca. 1845, Hamilton Co., OH, but the 1870 will of Francis M. "Frank" Jones clearly identifies Reason as his uncle, leading one to believe that Reason never married, as does the provision in the will to provide for Reason; the Elizabeth in the 1850 census was, instead, Reason's sister, and Marion was their nephew, orphaned son of their brother, Ephraim Jones. The 1880 census appears to confirm that Reason never married.

1860 Hamilton Co., OH, census, p.270A, Symms Twp., P.O. Montgomery, July 11, 1860, H. McKown: MARION JONES, 13 M, OH; with 956/952, R. JONES, 52 M, farmer, $3500 real, $400 personal, OH; Sarah, 62 F, OH.

1863 May 4, Cedar Villa, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her cousin Tighlman Jones: "Marion has gone very extensively into the fruit business. If he only keeps on as he has began it will prove very profitable."

1864 Jan. 21, Mason, Warren Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her cousin Tighlman Jones: "I am so glad that you have decided to go to school / come to Ohio and go to Maineville. Tis only five dollars a quarter / Marion is a going if he lives and I will go and keep house for you. Most than half the scholars that go do that way. That will be perfectlly splendid."

1864 April 4, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her cousin Tighlman Jones: "Marion is not at home now / he is learning photographing in Xenia / he likes it very well / I am really glad for he never will make a farmer in the world, he dont like it at all."

1864 June 13, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "Marion is still in Xenia / we got a letter from him last Saturday night / he was well and expects to spend his fourth of July at home"

1864 July 12, Cedar Villa, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her cousin Tighlman Jones: "Uncle Reason and Pa are pulling flax this morning. We had a flax pulling* Saturday evening, but they did not get it quite all pulled. I do wish you could have seen us, we had the gayest time imaginable. I never saw any flax growing untill this. I wrote to your PA almost two months ago and sent him Verners and Marions photographs but I have not received any answer. I dont know whether he received them or not. . . . Marion is at home now. he will go back Thursday. he has grown so much. he likes it very well in Xenia with one exception, he says they are all abolitionists [underlined] not Republicans [underlined]."

• Pulling flax through large hetchels (also known as hatchels or heckels) to separate the fibers followed harvesting the plants, soaking them to soften the stems (usually in a nearby creek or stream), then putting them through a flax break to begin the process of separating the fibers, all of which was hard, difficult work that men had to do. Only after the flax pulling that ADA refers to, could the women begin working with the flax by pulling it through smaller and finer hetchels to begin the process of turning it into linen thread for weaving. ADA's statement that she'd never seen flax plants grown before 1864 suggests a reference to the shortage of cloth during the Civil War.

1864 Aug. 10, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "Marions time will be out in September then he will have worked six months at his trade. He ought to be perfect and Mr. Galloway says he will."

1864 Sept. 19, Cedar Villa, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Wyckoff wrote her cousin Tighlman Jones: "Our health is good with the exception of Marion. He is lying very ill with fever, Typhoid. He thinks he is rather better although his pulse still beats 100 to the minute. . . . I have not heard from your father for a long time. I sent him a letter containing Verners and Marion's photos. I don't know whether he ever received them or not."

1865 Jan. 27, MARION JONES, age 18, enlisted as a Private in Co. H, 83rd OH Infantry Regiment; transferred to Co. A, 48th Inf. Reg., July 24, 1865; mustered out Jan. 27, 1866, Houston, TX. (Ancestry.com)

83rd OH Infantry Regiment; consolidated with 48th OH Infantry Jan. 17, 1865; moved to Kennersville, LA, Jan. 28, thence to New Orleans and to Barrancas, FL; campaign against Mobile, AL, and its defenses March-April; march from Pensacola, FL, to Blakely, AL, March 20-April 2; occupation of Canoe Station March 27; siege of Fort Blakely April 2-9; assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9; capture of Mobile April 12; march to Montgomery and Selma April 13-25; duty at Selma until May 12; moved to Mobile May 12, thence to Galveston, TX, June 13, and duty there until July 24; veterans and recruits transferred to 48th OH Infantry Battalion; mustered out July 24, 1865, and discharged at Camp Dennison, OH, Aug. 10, 1865. 48th OH Battalion Infantry, organized July 24, 1865, by consolidation of the 48th, 83rd and 114th OH Infantry; duty at Galveston and Houston, TX, until May 1866; mustered out May 9, 1866. --Dyer's Compendium <http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unohinf4.htm#48th>

ca. 1865 May, At home, Sunday morning. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "if Marion should be killed or taken prisoner I believe I would go crazy. His regiment is stationed as provost guard at Selma. I dont think they will need guards for anywheres much longer." and to her cousin Jane C. Love: "Marion was at Selma Alabama the last letter we received"

no date [ca. April 1866], At Home, Sunday Evening. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "Marion and I have just returned from church where we heard a splendid sermon . . . Marion came home the fourteenth of February and the twenty sixth of March he started to Maineville to school / he comes home every Friday night and goes to school on Monday morning"

1866 Dec. 16, Sunday Morning. Ada Wyckoff wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "Marion is still going to school at Maineville, / I cannot come out next summmer to teach for you but Marion says if you want him too he will come out in March and teach all summer for you. I hope you can secure a school for him / I[t] would do him to be under your influence for about a year, it would be beneficial to him I think. He is a good hearted boy and will do anything for a person that is kind to him and he will listen to conversation on religion occasionally but not to be ding donged at all the time. I have a great deal of influence over him but I understand his nature."

1867 Sept. 16, Conkeys Store, IL. Marion Jones wrote his "respected" cousin Jane Love: "With pleasure I attempt to pen you few lines to let you know how I am flourishing since I left Egypt [Jasper Co., IN]. I had to lay over at Tolom [Tolono, Champaign Co., IL] until three oclock and then run up to Fairmount [Vermilion Co., IL] / got there about four oclock and found a hotel and went to bed where I staid until they called me to breakfast, / after Breakfast I came out here / found the folks all well and hearty. I have gave up all thoughts of going to Ohio until next fall. I think I will get a five month winter School here for I am well acquainted with the directers. I like this neighborhood well. and am having a bunkum time. Uncle Jo and Aunt Polly are gone to Springfield on a visit and we young folks are running the She bang. I Saw Jemimia Watts yesterday / She has not had very good health for some time / she is Staying at Saml. Dalbys at presant. We had a party here last teusday evening and had a splendid time. I have not heard from Home since I left Hazel Dell. I am going over to Shawnee one day this week and expect to be gone about two weeks. I wish you were here to go with me I know you would enjoy yourself How did you and your cousin get home. How did you find all the folks and how are you enjoying yourself and how is your health have you still got that troublesome cough. Do you intend going South to spend the winter."

1868 Dec. 29, Sixteen Mile Stand, Hamilton Co., OH. Ada Hopkins wrote her uncle Joel L. Jones: "We received a letter from Marion a short time ago / he is teaching near uncle Joseys."

1870 Putnam Co., IN, census, p.157B, Jefferson Twp., P.O. Mt. Meridian, July 29, 1870: FRANCIS JONES, 23 M W, farm laborer, OH; working for an apparently unrelated family, John and Mary Bryant (b. KY and VA respectively), and 8 children, ages 25 to 5. [Marion was probably boarding with this family while teaching at a nearby school.]

1870 Nov. 30; Will of Francis M. JONES filed March 13, 1871, Hamilton Co., OH, Box 25, Case 15194 In the name of the Benevolent Father of all I FRANCIS M JONES of the Township of Symmes County of Hamilton and State of Ohio do make and Publish this my last will and testament First it is my will that my just debts and all Charges be Paid out of my Estate item I give and devise All the Residue of My Estate to ELIZABETH H WIKOFF My Aunt To be to her and her heirs for Ever Provided that She Sees My unckle REASON L JONES is Properly Provided for during his Natural life item I appoint and Make unckle WM. WIKOFF Executor of this My last will and testament in testimony hereof I have hereunto Set My hand and Seal this the thirtieth day of November 1870 [signed] FRANK M JONES { seal } Signed and Acknowledged by said FRANCIS M JONES as his last will and testament in our Presence and Signed by us in his Presence [signed] Helen W HARPER [signed] LUELLA JONES

16 Mile Stand Dec. 26th [1870] Dear Uncle / It is with a sad heart I sit down this afternoon to write you / our darling Marion is no more / he died the 7th of this month of throat consumption. / He took with hemorrhage of the lungs June 23rd / bled a gallon before they could get it checked on him / he was in Putnam Co. Indiania [sic] near Cloverdale, / Pa went after him the first week in July, / he brought him as far as Cincinnati / there he rested 3 days before he could bring him home. / We employed three different physicians but none of them could do any good / the last one we employed was an eminent consumption Dr from the city / he: also a Baptist min[ister] / He told us he could ease but could not cure him. / He suffered beyond all imagination, but uncle we have an inward joy in our great sorrow [for] he died trusting in his Savior / not more than an hour before he died Pa says Marion you will soon be home / he says yes soon be asleep in Jesus. / He frequently told us that he had cast all his care on God that Jesus was precious to his soul. / Oh uncle it is so hard to give him up. / I dont know how we could bear up under our great afflictions if we had not the assurance that we would meet them "beyond the skies where the fields are robed in beauty and the sunlight never dies" / Whom the Lord loves he chastens it is only to bring us nearer to him / Marion is only one link more in the golden chain that bind us to heaven / Our neighbors were very good to us in our great Trouble, we owe a big debt of gratitude to all of them. / Uncle Reason keeps well but Marions death is a sore trial / so it is to pa but they both bear it with Christian fortitude, / We are very lonely / Pa's business keeps him very closely confined in the city / we sent for him when Marion got so bad and he came home and remained with us untill a week after Marions death but he had to go back / he came home once a week for several weeks before Marion died. / Pa feels the trial sorely for Marion in a great measure made up the loss in his affections that Verners death had caused. / pray this affliction be blessed to his good. / Remember us in your prayers. / . . . / Dont be as long answering this as I have been but I kept waiting thinking Maybe Marion would get better, but God knew best his work was done. / . . . / We all send our love to all. / May God bless you all is my prayer / Your afft niece / Ada Hopkins. [to] Mr Joel L. Jones & family.

1. ↑ Union Cemetery records, Symmes Township, Hamilton Co., OH
   Section 2, Lot 53, Space 4.
2. ↑ Lois E. Hughes, comp. Wills Filed in Probate Court, Hamilton County, Ohio, 1791-1901, Volume 1, A-K. (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1991).

   (Lois Hughes' work is said to be very accurate)