Biography - Allen Cty, Ohio
Llewelyn Jones
Llewelyn Jones, funeral director and undertaker at
Gomer, and also engaged in farming in Sugar Creek township, resides on
his farm of 65 acres located in section 32, 45 acres of which belong to
the old Jones homestead. Mr. Jones was born on this farm, March 17,
1856, and is a son of Josiah and Mary (Hughes) Jones.
Josiah Jones, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was
born at Braichodnant, Llanbrynmair, North Wales, July 4, 1807. Prior to
coming to America in 1850, he was a large woolen manufacturer in his
native land. He settled in the town of Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, where
he engaged to some extent in farming. His main business, however, was
undertaking. His death took place October 15, 1887, at the age of 80
years and three months. In North Wales he married Mary Hughes, who died
in September, 1889, aged 80 years. They had a family of eight children,
as follows: Thomas, who died in infancy in Wales; Thomas Henry, the
present treasurer of Allen County, whose sketch appears elsewhere in the
work; Mary M., who married Israel Jones and died April 13, 1872; Annie
C., who married Lewis Hughes, of Cincinnati, and died October 17, 1879;
Josiah E., deceased April 13, 1886; Martha E., who resides with her
brother Llewelyn on the old homestead; Margaret Lydia, deceased January
1, 1893; and Llewelyn, the subject of this sketch. Josiah Jones was for
45 years a deacon of the Welsh Congregational Church, of Gomer. He was
very well educated, being especially conversant with the Welsh language
and literature. He was also gifted as a poet and composed in Welsh a
number of hymns, some of which are still being sung in the Gomer church
and in many other Welsh churches in this country and in Wales. He wrote
under the nom de plume of " Josiah Brynmair" his history of the Gomer
church and settlement, written in Welsh and dating from the organization
of the church to 1867, has been translated by his nephew, John R. Jones,
and appears in the history of Sugar Creek township in Chapter VII of
this work.
Llewelyn Jones has always lived on the homestead farm and for
the past 35 years has carried on undertaking. He is the only funeral
director in Sugar Creek Township and his calls come from all over the
northern portion of Allen County and from neighboring counties as well.
A part of the present farm of 45 acres belonged to the old homestead and
Mr. Jones and his sister Martha bought 20 acres additional in section
33. They reside together, neither having married, and in the old home
keep up many of the old Welsh customs of their parents. The large
family has been reduced to three members. All are well and favorably
known and are among the leading members of the Welsh Congregational
Church of Gomer, of which the subject of this sketch as been a member
since he was 12 years of age. He has never taken a very active part in
politics, but votes with the Republican Party.