I have done a series of posts about the trove of old photographs in my possession that came from the attic of their home in Hankinson, North Dakota. And I have done blog posts about their children. Links to those posts can be found HERE.
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| John Roberts Jones |
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| John Roberts Jones (standing) and unknown |
At the age of 6 years, he went to live with his maternal grandparents, John G. Roberts and Mary Davies and he lived with them until he turned 21 years old. He enrolled in Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin in 1877 and graduated in 1882.
In May 1886, he was a manufacturer living in Phillips, Wisconsin, when he married Victoria Amelia Hamilton on 17 May 1886 in Ontonagon, Michigan. Victoria was the daughter of James and Susan Hamilton and was born in 1861 in Kingsey, Canada. John R. was 29 and Victoria was 25 years old. Victoria is found with her parents on the 1880 census in Ripon, Wisconsin, so it seems likely that John R. met her while he was going to college there.
On 6 September 1886, John R. moved to Fort Hankinson, North Dakota. He was one of the first settlers there. His wife, Victoria, joined him there in January 1887.
On 16 February 1888, Victoria gave birth to a daughter, Margaret Victoria Jones, in Hankinson. Victoria, however, died of complications of childbirth shortly thereafter. I have not found a grave for Victoria, nor any photograph. She was 27 years old.
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| John R. Jones as a young man |
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| Margaret Jones |
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| Margaret Jones |
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| Margaret Jones |
Mary Elva Stilwell (called "Minnie" by her family) was born 14 August 1861 in Metomen, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin to Lonson Stilwell and his wife, Mary K. White. She is found on the 1870 census with her parents and siblings in Metomen. She was the next to the youngest of Lonson and Mary's 8 children; her oldest brother, Lucien, was 17 years older than she was.
I have a number of letters written to Minnie that I have not transcribed. One written by her brother Lucien, dated 23 August 1870, is posted here. Another, written to Minnie from her sister, Hannah, dated 24 November 1870, is posted here. I have a box of these letters to transcribe, but since these are not written BY Mary Elva, I will save them for other posts.
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| Mary Elva Stilwell, age 16 |
The 1880 census shows her living at home with her parents in Metomen, Wisconsin. She apparently worked as a librarian in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before her marriage.
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| Mary Elva (Stilwell) Jones |
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| Mary Elva (Stilwell) Jones |
In Hankinson, John R. owned a store that sold lumber, coal, hardware, machinery and such items. He also owned quite a lot of land that he rented out to local farmers. He was the president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Hankinson. He became a very successful businessman.
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| Mary E. (Stilwell) Jones |
The family attended the Congregationalist Church in Hankinson. John R. was described as a very large man, almost a giant.
According to a family story, about 1925, Edith, John R., and Mary Elva traveled to California via the Panama Canal. While on board ship, Edith met her future husband, Bill Born, who was a seaman on the ship.
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| John R. Jones |
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| John R. and Mary E. Jones |
He was buried 17 December 1938 at Hillside Cemetery in Hankinson.
An obituary appeared on 15 December 1938 in the Hankinson News: It reads:
"John R. Jones, Hankinson Pioneer, Died Wednesday -- Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon -- Congregational Church 2:00.
John R. Jones, Sr., one of North Dakota's leading businessmen for fifty-two years, died at his home in this city Wednesday afternoon, after an illness of over five years' duration most of which was spent in a wheel chair or his bed. Deceased was 82 years 4 months and two days of age at the time of death.
In the death of Mr. Jones the city and entire community loses a man of ability and vision who, during his over half century residence here, has had a most important part in the building up and encouraging of agriculture and business. Hundreds of people throughout southeastern North Dakota have been established in business and farming through the assistance of John R. Jones. All during the many years of his residence here any man with industry and character could depend upon Mr. Jones to see that he secured the necessary credits to start a successful farming career, and throughout the community there are many evidences of the success of his assistances.
Even during his long illness he maintained a close association with his varied business interests and his interesting conversational talents resulted in many long and pleasant chats with his countless friends throughout the city.
The philanthropic nature of Mr. Jones not only was extended to business and agriculture but to all civic and religious activities in the community. He was a charter member of the Congregational church, and until his illness a leader in its activities who gave of his time and money in advancing the faith.
While death was not unexpected nevertheless his passing leaves poignant sorrow in the hearts of countless friends and relatives throughout our community, which is lessened only by the knowledge of the great good he has accomplished for the community, and a certain assurance that in death he will find reward for his well spent life.
FUNERAL SATURDAY
Funeral services will be held at the home at 1:45 and at the Congregational Church at 2:00 Saturday, the Rev. W. M. Osborn conducting the services.
Stores in the city will close during the services as a mark of respect.
The men who will be pallbearers are those who have been closely associated in business with the deceased, namely: Bill Bellin, Wilmar Tiegs, Robert Grohnke, Karl Wolfe, Martin Eberhardt and Robert Bladow.
OBITUARY
John R. Jones was born Aug. 12th, 1856 at Neenah, Wis., the first child in eleven of Evan and Harriet (Roberts) Jones. At the age of 6 years he went to live with his grandparents, where he remained until 21 years of age when he entered Ripon (Wis) College. After his graduation five years later he went into the north woods where he supervised the operation of the woodmen.
In 1886 Mr. Jones came to Hankinson where he started in business, one of the first businessmen in the city. At that time there was no railway service and Mr. Jones often walked on Sunday to Campbell, Minn., for his mail. R.H. Hankinson and Mr. Jones owned the townsite of Hankinson. With the growth of the community Mr. Jones took a lead in the development of the city as a business center, and endured without complaint the hardships of the early pioneers of the community.
In 1886 he was married to Victoria Hamilton, one daughter being born to this union, Margaret. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Stilwell, in Wisconsin and the union was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters.
Surviving to mourn their loss are: his wife, Mary E.; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Hofmann, Wooster, O.; Edith Born, Hammond, Ind.; Mary Carol, Klamath Falls, Ore.; three sons, John S., Fox Lake, Ill., Dan L. and H. M. Jones, of Hankinson; also one sister, Mrs. K.R. Novak, White Rock, S.D.; and two brothers, Ben Jones, Hankinson and Robert Jones of Neenah, Wis.; also by six grandchildren."
The following undated article seems to have come from the Hankinson newspaper:
"Jones rated as business giant. John R. Jones is part of city's history. The history of John R. Jones is pretty much the history of Hankinson. At one time he was rated as a millionaire, but in protecting his business, accommodating his friends and customers, he lost much. Jones was a tremendous worker as well as a physical giant, and had qualifications which developed in the people who worked for him, loyalty, and the qualifications which go to make up a perfect working business organization. Born in 1856, he was of Welsh Rippon College in 1882. He was persuaded by his uncle not to enter the legal profession and worked for his uncle in a lumberyard until 1886. He arrived in Fort Hankinson in September of 1886. Hankinson then consisted of two elevators, one partly completed, the tent home of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Wawers and a blacksmith shop operated by Christ Meyers. On Lake Elsie was R. H. Hankinson, where Mr. Jones rented a room until his wife joined him in January, 1887. He then moved into rented rooms over Wawers store. Mrs. Jones died giving birth to a daughter, Margaret. In 1892 Mr. Jones married Miss Minnie Stillwell of Milwaukee, and to this union were born John S., Edith, Harold, Mary Carol, and Daniel.
With William Grawe and Charlie Hein he served as a member of the first volunteer fire department in Hankinson. He has told of many serious fires, one of which was threatening the Matt Jost home. The home was saved by the quick wit of the fireman who called for dampened blankets which were nailed to the side of the house, saving it, though the barn was lost.
John R. Jones sold lumber, coal, wood, hardware and machinery. He drove a white horse to get from his business place to the starch factory and wood yard. Pioneers remember this horse in particular. Wood was shipped in as cord wood and then sawed. One time the wood was disappearing. Wm Grawe was marshall, and one night stood watch. A fellow stopped to steal some wood. Grawe called John R. John R. pulled on his trousers and appeared at the lumber yard and helped the man load wood. The thief noticed the extra wood falling into the box. When the thief had finished loading, John R. said, "That will be fifteen dollars." (About twice the price of the load.) The man paid the price and as he left John R. said, "Next time don't come so early."
John R. was quite a collector. The story was told of a fellow passing by with a horse and wagon. John R. asked for money on his account. The fellow said he had no money. John R. took him down from his seat, took him by the legs and shook him. Some change fell out. John R. counted it, gave him a receipt for the same, and went about his business."
Mary Elva continued to live in the family home with her son, Harold. She died 11 June 1955 at St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital in Hankinson. Cause of death was listed as "mesentern thrombosis." She was buried in the Jones family plot in Hillside Cemetery, Hankinson.
Her obituary, dated 16 June 1955, follows:
"Funeral Wednesday for Mrs. John R. Jones. Mrs. John R. Jones, who would have reached her 94th birthday August 14th, passed away at St. Gerard's Hospital on Saturday evening, June 11th. She became ill on Friday evening and was taken to the hospital on Saturday morning. Funeral services were held from the Congregational Church in Hankinson on Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm, with the Rev. Frank T. Hirons, pastor, officiating. Services from the home were held at 1:30.
Mary Elva Stilwell was born at Metomen, Wisconsin, August 14th, 1861. She attended Ripon College at Ripon, Wisconsin, and then worked as a librarian in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
She was married to John R. Jones at Metomen, Wisconsin, on December 28th, 1892. He had established his business at Hankinson some years prior to their marriage and she came here as a bride.
Mrs. Jones is survived by six children, three sons and three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Hofmann of Wooster, Ohio; John S. Jones, Wilkes Barre, Penn.; Harold and Dan Jones of this city; Mrs. Wm. Born of Hammond, Ind., and Marycarol Jones of Livermore, California. She has seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Her husband preceded her in death in December, 1938. Her four surviving sisters-in-law, Mrs. James Novak and Mrs. Ben Jones of this area, Mrs. David J. Jones of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. J.J. Jones of California.
She was a pioneer member of the Congregational Church and taught the adult Bible class for forty years. She was a faithful member of this church serving in every capacity over a period of many years. She has held both State and National offices in Missionary and Temperance work.
Out-of-town relatives attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. David H. Jones of Grand Forks, N. Dak.; Mrs. Edith Born of Indiana; Miss Marycarol Jones of California; Mr. Stanley Greene of Rutland, N.Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. James Novak of Rosholt, S.Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones of Fargo, N. Dak. Pallbearers were Messers Maurice Aker, John Green, David McIlwain, Jerry Hipp, Leonard Kretchman and Rudy Hoefs. Interment was in the family lot, beside her husband, in Hillside Cemetery. Wiperman Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. "
According to her daughter, Marycarol, Mary Elva was totally blind during last years of her life and had several cataract operations. "She remained mentally alert and strong of voice until her death. She was very well-read and had a flair for writing. She was never bedridden until the last few days of her life. She was still the leader of the household. She attended Ripon College in class of 1880-81 (middle class) in English Academy. She met John R. Jones there."
In March 1979, when I was just beginning research into the Jones family, I received the following letter from Rudolph Hoefs of Hankinson, who worked for John R. for many years:
"Hankinson, N.D. March 19, 1977.
Mr. John R. Jones came to Hankinson in 1886 to start a lumber yard and a coal & wood yard. Then in later years he had lumber yard, sold John Deere machinery and a Bank at Rutland N.D. He also had a lumber yard at Hammer So.Dak and a lumber yard at New Effington So. Dak. He had a Bank at Hankinson N. Dak and a bank at Wyndmere No. Dak. and in the early years he had a General Store at Vernon S. Dak as well as the U.S. Mail Route to Vernon So. Dak 2 times a week. He also had 11,000 acres of land located in Richland Co., N. Dak, Robert Co. So Dak, Sargent Co., No. Dak. Some of it stretched up into Canada. I managed his farms & also bought live stock cattle & hogs and sold I.H.C. Machinery and also done some collecting. All of the land was share cropped. We some times had threshing machines going at 5 different places the same day. It took a lot of No. 2 teams and grain [unreadable word] to haul the grain to town. The last teams cam in about 11 o'clock in the evening, had to get unloaded that evening, & start out at 5 or 6 o'clock the next morning. Those days that the hired help that worked had no overtime or any time limit, got no pay for Sunday work that was all the month wages. Wood was shipped in car load lots, 6 ft long, had to cut in his wood yard....(some of letter omitted from his transcription) ... I think his first wife was Victoria Hamilton. She died when Margaret was born In 1892 Mr. Jones married Mary Stilwell. They had 5 children John S., Edith, Harold, Marycarol & Daniel. Mr. Jones died Oct 14, 1938 at his home. The last year he came down in a wheel chair, wheeled him home just before 6 o'clock in the evening. A year ago before he died he rented a Hearse which I drove and went to the county to collect. [several unreadable words] Banking at Wyndmere where he had a Bank, finally all his banks closed but he saved quite a few of his farms. Harold & Dan took over the business, he had one of the finest lumberyards in No.Dak and Harold could have made a lot of money, he never drove out to his farms and let the lumberyard run down in 1963 he sold it to Wes Tiller His son John S. was well liked here by the farmers, he talked German to them, this was a German settlement. Too bad John S. got in trouble here. I think he would have made a go of it.... Rudolph H. Hoefs."
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