My Genealogy Hound

HON. CALVIN JONES, editor and proprietor of the Rockport Democrat, was born May 25, 1821, in Daviess County, Ky., being the eldest of two surviving members of a family of six sons and five daughters born to the marriage of James Jones and Rebecca Kirk, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, where they were raised and married. Previous to 1820 these parents removed to a farm in Daviess County, Ky., with their family, but in 1827 or 1828 came to Ohio Township, Spencer Co., Ind., locating on a farm two miles south of Rockport, now owned by Sheriff E. M. Payne. The father resided on this place engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1847. He was well and favorably known throughout this region, and was identified with the early prosperity of the county, having served as county commissioner, and in other positions of trust. The mother died in Rockport in 1860. Calvin Jones, the immediate subject of this biography, was raised in Spencer County, receiving but a meager education at subscription schools. He was engaged in farming until 1850, then he went South with corn, horses and cattle to New Orleans, which he disposed of to a good advantage. The spring of 1851 he settled at Rockport, and for two years clerked, then opened a family grocery establishment on a small scale. In 1855 he began his journalistic career by assisting R. S. Hicks in establishing the Rockport Democrat, and two years later purchased the paper, although still retaining Mr. Hicks as editor for about five years. Since that time he has conducted the Democrat with ability and success. In 1858 he was elected by his party to the State Legislature, serving in the called session of that year and the regular session of 1859. Mr. Jones is at present wholly engrossed in the management of the Democrat, being ably assisted by his three youngest sons who are efficient compositors and newspaper men. He was married July 23, 1850, to Susan Caroline Cavin, a native of the same county as himself, and by her is the father of five living children: Franklin G., McClellan, Royal S., Thomas L. and Mattie C., now Mrs. M. N. Cortner, of Terre Haute.