Person:Strother Jones (1)

JONES, STROTHER G., was born Dec. 18, 1813, in Lincoln county, Ky., and was taken by his parents in 1818 to Shelby county. His grandfather, Josiah Jones, was born in Wales, and was married there. His wife was of Scotch descent. They emigrated to America before the Revolution. Strother G. says they were both sold to pay for their passage across the ocean; that they were both in the battle of Bunker Hill, and that his grandmother received a wound in the breast.

They afterwards settled in Rappahannock county, Va., and raised a family. Four of their sons emigrated to Kentucky. One of them, Josiah, walked the whole distance, without shoes or hat. His entire wardrobe consisted of a single garment, a sack made of tow linen, and fastened by a draw-string around the neck. He was married in Mercer county to Nancy Finley, a daughter of Col. Obadiah Finley. Mrs. Finley's maiden name was Gaines. She was a sister to the mother of President Harrison. There is a family tradition, that in the early troubles with the savages, in Kentucky, Mrs. Finley slew four Indians.

Strother G. Jones was married July 10, 1834, in Mercer county, Ky., to Lucy Newton, who was born in that county March 5, 1817. They embarked at Louisville, on a steamboat, and came by the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Beardstown, and from there by wagon road, stopping at the house of John B. Broadwell, at a place then called Clayville, one mile south of the present town of Pleasant Plains, arriving in Springfield March 16, 1836. They had four living children in Springfield, namely--

ELIZABETH A., born June 12, 1836, in Springfield, married, Sept. 4, 1853, to Nimrod Nooe. They have eight children, and live near Mattoon.

MARY E., born Sept. 2, 1839, in Springfield, married Daniel Pottle.

JAMES W., born July 15, 1846, in Springfield. He enlisted June 28, 1862, in Co. F, 70th Ill. Inf., for three months; served until Oct. 23, 1862, when he was honorably discharged. He enlisted in the 11th Mo. Inf., but was taken out by his father because he was under age. He was married, Oct. 12, 1865, to Sidney E. Taylor. They have two children, MAGGIE and WILLIAM A., and live one and one-half miles northwest of Dawson.

LUCY E., born Aug. 30, 1850, in Springfield, married to Wm. A. Burns.

Strother G. Jones married, June 14, 1865, in Logan county, for his second wife, Lucy E. Cass. They have four children--

MORRIS A., born at Morris, Grundy county, Illinois.

SHIRLEY A., EARNEST, STROTHER J. and JESSIE MAY; the three latter born in Sangamon county, and all four live with their parents, at Dawson.

S. G. Jones was City Marshal of Springfield, under Mayor John Calhoun. He was justice of the peace and Postmaster at the same time, in Dawson. He took an active part in organizing the Old Settlers' Society, and was President of the same for two years--1868 and '9--and vice-President and acting-President the year after.

Pioneer Resident of the County Expires at His Home at Forest Hill - Died, at 11:20 p.m., Monday, March 18, 1901, at his home at Forest Hill, one mile west of the city, of senility, Strother G. Jones, aged 88 years. Mr. Jones was one of the oldest settlers of the county, having resided here for seventy-five years. He was born in Lincoln county, Ky., Dec. 18, 1913, coming from a hardy ancestry of Scotch-Welch grandparents, who emigrated to America before the war of the revolution.

Mr. Jones was twice married. He was first married to Lucy Newton in Kentucky, July 10, 1834. Two years later she accompanied him to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Jones came to the state by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Beardstown, and thence by wagon in Springfield, arriving here March 16, 1836.

Mr. Jones moved to a large farm which he owned near Dawson, and afterward removed to Dawson, and went into the mercantile business. He was elected justice of the peace and later appointed postmaster. He was a staunch Democrat.

The funeral probably will be held Thursday afternoon. The remains will be interred at Oak Ridge cemetery.