My Genealogy Hound

DAVID JONES, a prominent farmer and early settler of Eaton township, Kearney county, was born in Wales, February 16, 1820. His father, Jenkins Jones, came to America in 1830 and his wife came ten years later. David came in 1832 and settled at Philadelphia, where he found employment, and while there served an apprenticeship at wagon-making. He was but a young man when he moved to La Salle county, Ill., in 1843, and worked at his trade there until 1854, when he went to farming. He came to Nebraska in the spring of 1875, and settled in Eaton township, Kearney county, where he has since resided. He had his entire corn crop destroyed by the grasshoppers the second year, but aside from that he has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity. February 22, 1880, however, he lost by fire all his buildings, except his house; all of one year’s crops, and machinery to the amount of $1,500, carrying no insurance. Mr. Jones was married April 8, 1848, to Lucitia Peck, a native of New York, born May 10, 1829, and a daughter of David and Levilla (Hawkins) Peck, both of whom were natives of New York and members of the Baptist church.

Mr. and Mrs. David Jones have five children, viz. — Margaret, born February 28, 1849; John, born March 1, 1851; India, born January 27, 1854; George D., born July 21, 1860 (deceased) and Ida May, born February 6, 1864. Mr. Jones was elected county commissioner of Kearney county in the fall of 1875, and served three years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1881 and served until a change of township representation was made. During his offcial term as commissioner, the county seat was changed from Lowell to Minden. Mr. Jones is one of the substantial farmers of Eaton township, and one of the best known men in the county.