HIRAM JONES

From "Past and Present of Clinton county" - 1910

Hiram F. Jones, an energetic, practical and progressive agriculturist living on section 29, Eagle township, is a native of Attica, New York, born on the 24th of March, 1833. His father, George W. Jones, was a native of Massachusetts, and a son of Sargent Jones, who came to Michigan the year after the arrival of George W. Jones in Clinton county. He located in Eagle township, where he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. While in the east, however, he had been a sailor. He was a native of Salem, Massachusetts, and his last days were spent in this county, where he died two years after his arrival in the middle west.

George W. Jones came to Michigan in the spring of 1839, settling on section 31, Eagle township. The same year he made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in the midst of the green woods, building thereon a shanty and covered it with basswood troughs. There he remained for many years but eventually sold that farm in 1876. In the meantime, however, he had added to it a tract of eighty acres and had cleared altogether one hundred and thirty acres of the farm, placing it under a high state of cultivation. On selling the property he took up his abode at Grand Ledge, where he died on the I2th of March, 1877, in the seventieth year of his age. His wife survived him for fourteen years, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-one years. She was a native of the state of New York and bore the maiden name of Hannah Niles. They traveled life's journey together for many years and she was a devoted helpmate and companion to her husband. In their family were ten children, those still living being: Lucy, the wife of Yates Bailey, of Charlotte, Michigan; Martha, the wife of John Burch, of Grand Ledge, this state; Mary, the wife of Cyrus Compton and a resident of Charlotte, Michigan; Dexter U., of the same place; Harriet, the wife of Thomas Toaz, of Grand Ledge; Nancy, the wife of James Spencer, of that place; and Hiram F. Those who have passed away are: Lucina, who became the wife of Peter Blake and died at the age of seventy years; George, who died at the age of sixty years; and Dexter, who died in infancy.

Hiram F. Jones had but little opportunity of acquiring an education, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse after the primitive manner of the times. However, experience and observation have brought him practical knowledge. His training at farm labor was not meager for at an early age he became an active assistant in the work of the home farm. In 1853 he purchased his present farm but remained at his father's home, where he worked until he was able to pay for his land. He now owns one hundred and eighty-seven acres, constituting a valuable property on section 29, Eagle township. All this Mr. Jones has cleared, chopping away the timber from the first twelve acres fifty-two years ago. He has cleared and improved land to the extent of one hundred and thirty acres, has erected modern buildings and in fact has a well equipped property, constituting one of the model farms of Clinton county. On the 27th of September, 1857, Mr. Jones secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being on that date married to Miss Miriam A. Bailey, a daughter of James Bailey, of Portland, Ionia county, Michigan. Her father was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was married there to Miss Sovina ss Sovina Pitchforth, also a native of that locality. They came to Michigan when Mrs. Jones was six years of age, settling in Eaton county, whence they afterward went to Battle Creek, spending five years there, the father devoting his time to teaching music. He then purchased land in that locality but subsequently sold out and bought one hundred and eighteen acres on section 32, Eagle township, Clinton county. He made his home thereon for nine years and at the same time engaged in teaching. At length he disposed of that property and bought a farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres in Portland township, Ionia county, whereon he lived for nine years, when he once more sold out, spending his remaining days in the village of Portland, where he died at the age of seventy seven years. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of nine children: Ephraim, who is living at Charlotte, Michigan; Mrs. Jones; Cyrus, who is in the Black Hills, South Dakota; Joseph N., of Lansing; and James, of San Diego, California. Those deceased are Asenath; Jesse; Manasseh; and Mary, the wife of James Webster.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have become the parents of three children: Jesse, of Eagle township; Mamie, of the same township; and Minnie, the wife of Esmond Frost, of Eagle township. Politically Mr. Jones is independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He has been township treasurer for one term but has preferred that others should hold office, while he gives his attention to his private business interests whereby he has become one of the substantial citizens of his community.