Hiram A. Jones
One of the fine old pioneer citizens of Grant County was the late Hiram A. Jones, who died at his home in Section 24 of Fairmount Township on March 31, 1908. He was born on the old Jones farm in the same township, on October 17, 1843. The date of his birth indicates the early settlement of the family in this county. Mr. Jones was long a successful farmer, held a high position in the esteem of his community, and besides providing liberally for his immediate household was always helpful and liberal in his relations to the general welfare and advancement of the locality.
The founder of the family in Grant County was Grandfather Ellis Jones, who was born in Ohio, and it is believed that he came to this county with his family from Ohio, and after arriving did the pioneer work of establishing a home, and lived to a good old age in Jefferson Township. The parents of the late H. A. Hones were Joseph and Catherine (McCormick) Jones. They were probably married in Ohio, and moved to grant County and settled on a farm in Fairmount Township. There they continued their useful career until death. Joseph Jones was born April 15, 1811, and died September 15, 1856. His wife was born January 4, 1816, and died December 4, 1889. They were people of the highest character, and were active members of the Methodist Church. The Methodist religion was characteristic of all generations of the family, while in politics the male representatives first supported the Whig ticket and later the Republican cause. In the family of Joseph and Catherine Jones, Hiram A. was the second among five sons. They were George; Burton, who lived in Marion and was first married to Jane Duling, by whom he had one daughter Minnie A., and afterwards married a sister of his first wife, Sina Duling, and their children are Edith and Ralph. Robert L. Jones was a former sheriff of Grant County, and was killed by a prisoner, while performing his duties. He married Louisa Gadden who lived in Marion and has two sons, Clinton and Paul. The youngest son was Joseph A., who died after his marriage to Malinda Whitson, a sister of R. L. Whitson, editor of the Grant County History.
Hiram A. Jones was a lifelong resident of Fairmount Township, with the exception of three years spent in the army during the Civil War. He served three years in Company C, 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and had his right eye shot out in battle. After his education in the local schools, he found farming to be his best vocation in life, and from that time until his death followed the industry with thrift and energy, and steadily prospered. In 1874 he bought a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, and kept increasing his estate by judicious investment until at the time of his death he owned four hundred and seventy acres, all good land and divided into six different farms. These farms all lay in Fairmount Township, excepting eighty acres in Washington Township of Delaware County, and all of them were well improved with farm buildings, except one. The home place now occupied by Mrs. Jones, is an unusually attractive rural home, and the house sits in the midst of well kept grounds, and a large red barn is itself and evidence of the prosperity which has always been a feature of this homestead. The late Mr. Jones was very domestic in his tastes, and lived entirely for his family.
He was married in Jefferson Township on April 21, 1867, to Miss Anna Hardy. Her birth occurred in Jefferson Township January 28, 1844. She was reared and educated in that vicinity and proved herself a most competent wife and mother, having done her share in the creation of the prosperity which has been described and having given careful attention to the rearing and training of her children. She now occupies the old homestead where she and her husband located nearly forty years ago. Her parents were Walter and Jane (Dowden) Hardy, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born August 27, 1820, and her mother May 4, 1821. Their marriage was celebrated in Grant County, March 26, 1843. They began their careers as farmers in Jefferson Township, and to begin with had a tract of almost raw land. They made it a highly improved and well cultivated farmstead, and there spent all their active lives. Her father died in 1887 and her mother on May 9, 1860. They belonged to the Methodist Church and in politics he was Republican. The Hardy children were: Anna, Mrs. Jones; Henry, who died in infancy; David, who died after his marriage to Mollie Moore, who is still living with her two children; Noah, who died after his marriage in Jefferson Township, and left a family; Celina, who died young; Elizabeth, who died after her marriage to Joseph Boey without children; Lewis, who lives on the old homestead in Jefferson Township, and has one son and two daughters; George, a resident of Indianapolis, and the father of two sons and one daughter.
To the marriage of Hiram A. Jones and wife were born eight children, whose names and brief mention of whose careers are as follows:
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Charles P. educated in the common schools, is a farmer in Fairmount Township, and by his marriage to Nora Foster, ahs five children, Harry, Wilbur, Myrtle, Emerson and Albert.
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Nettie J. is the wife of Elwood Rich, a farmer in Huntington County, and has three sons, Robert, William and Ralph.
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George C. is a farmer in Delaware County, and by his marriage to Clara Haynes has three children, Inez, Everett and Francis.
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Della S. who is a well educated young woman, has given all her love and affection to her parents, has for a number of years had charge of the home and lives with her mother.
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Dolly C. is the wife of Wick Leach, a son of Charles Leach, a Grant County family, whose history will be found on other pages. Wick Leach and wife lived in Fairmount Township, and have children, Hazel, Adelbert, Kenneth and Robert.
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Arthur O., is a farmer on his grandfather's farm, in Fairmount Township. He married Tura Skinner, and their children are Ray and Vera.
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Emma E. is the wife of Louis Needler, a farmer in Jefferson Township and trustee of that township. Their children are Joseph and Harvey.
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Robert L., a farmer in Fairmount Township married Lena Neal, and has a son Ralph.
Mrs. Jones and family are all members of the Methodist faith.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.