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ALEXANDER J. JONES - The lithographic portrait on the opposite page represents a prominent citizen of Sangamon County, who has had marked influence in developing its agriculture and in forwarding its material prosperity. He is one of the largest landowners and most extensive farmers in this section of the State, and is numbered among the most popular and wealthy citizens of Ball Township.
Our subject is a son of one of the best pioneer families of the State. His father, Robert Jones, was born in North Carolina and was an early settler of Tennessee. While there he took part in the War of 1812 and then removed to Hart County, Ky., where he married Tabitha Lard, a native of North Carolina. He was engaged in farming there on a small scale, but decided that he could better his condition by obtaining land in Illinois where the soil was much richer and more productive. Accordingly, in 1820, he came to this State and located in Wayne County, where he farmed until 1828. In that year he came with his family to the wilds of Sangamon County, and settled on a tract of Government land on section 9. He was reasonably successful in his farm work, and later located on section 12, where he bought land and farmed until his wife died in 1861. After that sad loss, he made his home with his son Drury, until he closed his eyes in death in 1874. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, and in every way a man worthy of respect and consideration, and his memory is cherished as that of one of the early pioneers of this county.
The following is the record of the eight children born to the parents of our subject: Mahala died in 1838 when twenty years old; Alexander J. is the subject of this biography; Joab died in 1844; John in 1838, and Madison in 1849; Drury is a prominent farmer in Ball Township; Calvin died in 1855, and Wiley in 1845.
He of whom we write was born January 9, 1820, in the humble pioneer home of his parents near Fairfield in Wayne County, this State. He was eight years old when his parents brought him from the place of his birth to this county in a wagon drawn by oxen. The remaining years of his boyhood and youth were passed here and it was with difficulty that he obtained an education, for there were then no free schools, the few schools in the county being taught on the subscription plan and the parents having to pay $2.50 a quarter for each scholar. In those days money was a rather scarce article with the early settlers, who could not therefore give their children good educations. Our subject remained with his father and assisted him on his farm until 1852. In that year they went to Brush Creek and bought a farm of two hundred and ninety acres on section 12, which they worked together until our subject went to Christian County in 1871. He there bought one hundred and eighty acres of land and this he farmed until 1874 when he returned to Sangamon County. After he came back here he located on the old homestead and after operating it until 1881 rented it and removed to his present place of residence.
Mr. Jones has accumulated a valuable property. His homestead comprises two hundred acres of choice land on section 9, township 14, range 5, and he owns seven hundred and twenty acres of land in Pawnee Township, which is divided into three different farms; he has eight acres of land on section 36, Ball Township, two hundred and fifty acres on section 12, that township, and in all has twelve hundred and fifty acres of land all improved and supplied with the best of buildings. Although Mr. Jones has never been in very robust health he has always attended closely to his business and his farms are among the best managed in this part of the State. He has accumulated his wealth by the exercise of exceptional business talents and good executive ability, seconded by great tenacity of purpose, and indomitable will power.
Mr. Jones was first married in Christian County, in 1871, to Miss Elizabeth C. Hunt. She was a native of Williamson County, this State, and a daughter of Gishom Hunt, an early settler of Christian and Sangamon Counties from Kentucky. A pleasant wedded life of four years was brought to a close by the death of Mrs. Jones in 1875. Of that union one child is living, Melissa, who is attending the Ursula Academy at Springfield. Our subject was married to Mrs. Artelia Bozarth, at Springfield in 1888. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Jonathan Petticord, a native of Kentucky, who came to Illinois in pioneer times. Mrs. Jones was born in Ohio County, Ky., and her first marriage was with Eli L. Bozarth, also a native of that county and State, and a son of William Bozarth who was an early settler of Sangamon County. Mr. Bozarth died in 1868 leaving his widow two children to care for - Viola, who lives with her mother and step-father, and Phoebe L. now Mrs. A. V. Jones, of Ball Township. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two sons, Robert A. and William C. Their home is one of the most attractive of the many pleasant dwellings in this township, as Mrs. Jones understands well how to manage her household affairs and cordially unites with her husband in extending a genial hospitality to their many friends. Mrs. Jones is a member of the regular old Baptist church and her life is in conformity with the precepts of Christianity.
Mr. Jones is a potent factor in the prosperity enjoyed by Sangamon County, and has been of great assistance in developing and extending its agriculture. His is the record of an upright life and he is an influence for good in the community with whose highest interests his name is associated. He is a man of wealth and popularity and is generous in the disposition of his means and his public spirit is never called in question. Our subject is a stockholder in the Chatham Bank and is also interested in the Farmers' Bank at Springfield. He is a sound Democrat in politics.