Ezekiel Jones
The first carload of ice and the first carload of coal that came to Upland for distribution and use in the community were shipped to Ezekiel Jones. The shipment of ice was made on August 1, 1900, and the first car of coal came to him in January, 1903. Mr. Jones records those facts as important points in his commercial history, and from a beginning when a car of coal meant a very large transaction to him and also to the community he has developed both lines of business for summer and winter, until at the present time he handles annually about forty carloads of coal and some twelve carloads of ice. The business has been built up on a basis of fair dealing, and courteous and reliable treatment of his customers.
Ezekiel Joes was born in Wells County, Indiana, September 15, 1847, but has lived in Grant County since early boyhood. His parents were Oliver and Catherine (Miller) Jones. The father was born in Ohio, and the mother in Virginia, and both went to Wells County early in life, where they met and were married. Grandfather Daniel Jones was the founder of the family in Indiana, entering land on Salmonia River in Wells County, during the thirties and with the aid of his older sons he went vigorously to work and cleared up a wilderness and converted it into a productive farmstead. Mr. Jones spent all the rest of his life on the land for which he had secured a patent direct from the government and his death occurred when eighty-one years of age. His wife also died when quite old. In all that section of Wells County, his was renowned as the first brick home and it is interesting to note that the clay was dug from pits on the farm and was burned in kilns as a local and native industry. Oliver Jones was a Baptist in religious faith, and in politics he followed the policies of the Whig party. Oliver Jones and wife finally moved from Wells County to Grant County, and spent many years in the active pursuit of farming in Jackson Township. Later they returned to wells County where Oliver Jones died in August, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years, survived by his widow, who passed away September 13, 1912, when eighty-four years old. She was a Methodist Protestant in faith, had for sixty-four years lived an worked in that church, and was on e of the first of the denomination in her part of the State. Oliver Jones later in life joined the same denomination. He was in politics a democrat. Oliver Jones and wife had three sons and five daughters, and three of the daughters are still living and all are married.
Ezekiel Jones was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Grant County. After his marriage he moved to Marion and was for three years employed in the glass factory there, after which he returned to Upland, and has since been one of the active business men in this community.
Mr. Jones was married in Huntington County, Indiana, to Miss Emma Layman, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Peggy) Layman. Her parents lived and died on a farm in Huntington County, her father having entered the land from the government. Both were quite old when death came to the, about eighty years of age. They had moved from Ohio in the early days to Huntington County, and lived honorable and upright lives, and were strict members of the Baptist faith. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of the following children.
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Nora A. is the wife of Theodore Trout, of Mill Township, and they have five living children.
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Sarah Leola is the wife of Thomas Hewitt, of Mill Township, and they have a son and two daughters.
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Joseph Lloyd is employed in the Upland Flint Glass Works, and is married and has one daughter.
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Oliver Floyd is assisting his father in the coal and ice trade, and is married and has a son and daughter.
Three of the sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones died young. Mr. Jones and wife both worship in the United Brethren Church, of which he is a Trustee. He and his sons vote the Democratic ticket.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914