JONES, EBENEZER PAUL, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., as well as one of the most worthy and highly respected, was born near Utica, Oneida County, N.Y., April 12, 1830, a son of Ebenezer and Martha (Hughes) Jones, natives of Wales. Ebenezer Jones was a farmer by occupation.
In his youth Mr. Jones attended the district schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and assisted the latter in his agricultural labors. When he reached the age of twenty years, he went to Hartford, Conn., where for four years he was engaged as farmer for the Hartford Retreat for the Insane. He was economical during this period, and invested a portion of his earnings in Wisconsin timberland which he purchased at a low price, and sold in a short time at a profit of $35 per acre. In 1859, he moved to Morgan County, Ill., and secured the position of farmer at the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane, at Jacksonville. He continued in this connection for thirteen years, in the meantime becoming the owner of four farms - of 160 acres, 130 acres, 40 acres and 20 acres, respectively. On the last named property he now resides, having subdivided it into valuable building lots. In 1873 he resigned his position in the employ of the State, and has since devoted his attention to the supervision of his farms and other property interests.
John Jones, an uncle of Ebenezer P., was a soldier in the War of 1812, having enlisted from the vicinity of New York City, and Mr. Jones' mother, who was at that time but twelve years of age, retained during her lifetime a vivid recollection of the United States forces, as they marched past her home in Utica, on their way to Sackett's Harbor, where an engagement with the British was expected.
On July 26, 1864, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Margaret Anna, a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Scott) McKelvey. Mrs. Jones is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she was born November 24, 1837. Six children have resulted from this union, as follows: Fletcher Lincoln, a resident of Kansas City, Mo.; Clara Anna, who died at the age of thirteen years; Sidney Paul, who operates his father's dairy; and Emma Lois, Mary Margaret and Blanche Luella, who live with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Jones has always been identified with the Republican party, but has never sought political preferment. Religiously, he is a member of the State Street Presbyterian Church, in Jacksonville, in which he and his family have worshiped for many years. Their comfortable and attractive residence is at No. 1457 South Main Street, Jacksonville.