My Genealogy Hound

MRS. ELMIRA JONES, farmer; P. O. McLean; was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1817; her father’s name was McLaughlin; she remained in Ohio until 16 years old, when she came with her sister, Mrs. Cantrell, with whom she had been making a home since her mother’s death in 1827, to Sangamon Co., Ill., staying there one winter; from there she again moved with her brother-in-law and sister to McLean Co., now in De Witt Co., and settled on a farm; there she remained until married, in 1831, to Isaac W. Jones, who was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1811, where he remained until 10 years old, when he moved to Indiana, and remained about eleven years, after which he came to Illinois by wagon, as was customary, and settled in McLean Co. The first summer after marriage, they settled on his father’s farm, moving from there to what is now the “Frisby Farm,” which they began improving; while building, they occupied an Indian’s home, living in a little tent built out of poles. During the time Mr. Jones was on this farm, he had the brick made with which they built the present house that Mrs. Jones now occupies. In 1857, they moved to their present farm of 250 acres, earned entirely by their own labor and management. They began improvement by erecting a beautiful mansion and cultivating the soil, which was then a raw prairie. Sept. 18, 1868, Mr. Jones died, and the management of affairs devolved upon Mrs. Jones. He held the office of Justice of the Peace up to the time of his death; he worked at carpentering and sawing lumber. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and had spent many happy hours talking of the future with his companion, who had been an active member of the M. E. Church since she was 15 years old; he died in 1868, leaving a family of twelve children, viz., Jennie J. (deceased), Ann E., Cyrus H., Silvira, Louis S., Emma (deceased), Lucian W., Isaac A., William W., Ella, Eli (deceased), and Percival G.; four of the children have taught school, Lucian W. and Isaac A. are physicians; they took a course in Louisville Medical College; Lucian is practicing in this State.