The David Jones/ Margaret James Jones Family
This photo is from Aunt Nellie (copy via Dean). The following is based on notations from the back of this photo.
The David Jones/ Margaret James Jones Family
This photo is from Aunt Nellie (copy via Dean). The following is based on notations from the back of this photo.
David Jones, born near Cardiff Wales, 1835. Died Lake Crystal, MN 1913.
Margaret James Jones, born near Cardiff Wales, 1840. Died 1902, Lake Crystal, MN
Children of David Jones Born Birthplace
Margaret (Claussen) 1859 Wales (From 1st Marriage of David) Mary (Williams) 1865 Wales Catherine aka Kate (Roberts) 1866 Akron Ohio Thomas Jones 1868 Akron, Ohio David Jones 1870 Akron, Ohio Moses Jones 1872 Akron, Ohio Jane Jones 1874 (Died of diptheria @ 15 yrs.) Elizabeth (Lloyd) 1876 LeMars, Ia James Jones 1879 LeMars, Ia Lydia (Roberts) 1883 Lynn Grove, Ia Susie (?) ???? Lynn Grove, Ia (info cut off my copy)
Ella Lydia Jones, Grandma Roberts, was born and raised near Linn Grove, Iowa as was Grandpa. In many ways Grandma’s family situation was in contrast to Grandpa’s. The family included: James, Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, Susie, Lydia, Moses, Dave, Katie, Maggie and another girl (I think her name was Jane) who died at 18 of Scarlet Fever. Great Grandpa Jones was considered a prosperous/successful farmer. Aunt Mable once commented that he wasn’t as rich as people thought he was. He apparently left enough to fight over when he died. Only James (Uncle Jim) remained in Iowa. It is my understanding that it was Grandma who acquired some of the land by Laporte.
Mary: Aunt Mary was one of the oldest in the family. She was married to R.P. Williams and they farmed just southwest of Judson. They had one daughter - Jenny (Mrs. Fred Jones). Fred and Jenny had two daughters Mary (Mrs. Elsworth Kelley) and Helen (Pederson). Fred Jones and Uncle Edwin Jones were brothers. This family was very significant to Dad and Mother particularly the first years that they were in southern Minnesota. In the late 1930’s either Aunt Mary or Jennie on Aunt Mary’s behalf inquired whether Dad and Mother wanted to rent Aunt Mary’s farm. This led to the move from Laporte to Judson. I was born the first winter they lived on Aunt Mary’s place and my earliest memories are of that farm.
Elizabeth: Aunt Lizzie Lloyd married William Lloyd. They farmed west of Lake Crystal. They had three children, Lula, Gladis and Leslie. I remember Aunt Lizzie as an old lady who lived with Gladis and Jess Hanson. In my memory she was usually sitting in a rocking chair sewing.
Mose: Was one of the younger children and in today’s terminology would have been a ‘special needs student in school’. My only memory of Mose is of the old man who lived with Aunt Mary but kept to himself. I don’t know if I heard Grandma say it or if Mother told me that she said it, but Grandma Roberts said at one point that she and her sisters begged their mother not to send Mose to school because he embarrassed them. Mose could not read or write.
Aunt Susie lived her later years with family in Lake Crystal. My only personal recollection is waiting in the car with Linda outside the church during ‘Aunt Susie’s funeral.’ She apparently had land in Missouri. I heard Les Lloyd tell a story about having to drive his Aunt Susie to Missouri to attend to some business. The trip usually took two days each direction. He was driving his parents Dodge car which was normally driven 50 mph. As Les told the story he started the trip driving 70 mph and Aunt Susie made no mention of the speed so he kept on. It was mid afternoon when they got to the place they usually stayed - so they went further. By dark they were almost there so there was not much point in taking a hotel room. The return trip went the same way. Sometime later Les overheard his Aunt Susie telling someone that it is “suprising how far you can get driving a steady 50 mph.
Uncle Tom spent his life between Colorado and Minnesota. He owned a farm near Taunton but spent his later years in Lake Crystal. The family was never quit sure what Uncle Tom had done or how he acquired his money but he didn’t have to work for a time. He farmed three times for one year each time. He owned rental houses in Denver and spent the winter in Denver. He never married and never drove a car. By the time I knew him he was working as a painter and handy man. Dad hired him on occasion to do fixing up and painting around the farm and occasionally for jobs such as riding the binder or mower while Linda or I drove the tractor. He worked for Dad when the house was built. He was not a fast worker. I recall Uncle Tom and Dad talking in the kitchen at night after I was in bed. One of the memorable exchanges was when Dad claimed that married men lived longer, to which Uncle Tom responded ‘No - it just seems longer!’ The only other subject that I recall was who had really killed Lincoln. Dad was appointed guardian of Uncle Tom in his last years. When Uncle Tom died there was a dispute over who should be administrator of his estate. Uncle Jim (his brother) applied for the position. About half of the family objected and went to court to have an outsider appointed. The animosity generated at that time was never fully overcome even though the farm near Taunton was the major asset.
South Dakota relatives: Dad’s cousin Everett Roberts (the Judge). I only remember meeting Everett one time in the 1950’s when he was visiting his Lake Crystal relatives. The only conversation I recall was Dad and Les Lloyd talking about reaching 50 years of age to which Everett said something to the effect that he left that a long time ago. Since living in South Dakota I have not met anyone who knew Everett but have seen his name mentioned in a context that implied that he was influential in the state’s politics.
Iowa cousin Ray Clausin. Ray was a very pleasant man who visited quite often. He was a staunch Republican. I recall him responding to a comment that the 1930’s and the depression was that "it was the last time a dollar was worth a dollar.” He was retired but had run a furniture store in LeMars, Iowa.
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