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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of William D. JONES 

[Surnames: ABBOTT, JONES, MORGAN] 

JONES, WILLIAM D. 

    
A well-known and prosperous merchant of Canton, he is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1848, the son of Lewis L. and Elizabeth (Morgan) Jones, also natives of that country. When he was an infant of one year, Mr. Jones was brought to the United States. The passage across the Atlantic was made in a sailing vessel, and after of voyage of 17 weeks the family landed in New Orleans. They thence proceeded up the Mississippi River, and continued their journey up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, during the memorable cholera epidemic. Then crossing the plains in a wagon drawn by ox-team, they finally reached Salt Lake City remaining there for 18 years. Returning East in 1867 they came to Illinois, locating in O'Fallon, St. Clair County. There the father was a mine operator until he moved to Fulton Co., where he was likewise engaged at Rawalt for a number of years. 
    
William D. Jones received his education in the common schools of Utah, and accompanying his parents in their different removals, applied himself to farming on reaching Fulton County, on a place which his father had bought in Orion Twp. This he continued until 1893 when he established his home in Canton and spent three years in the ice and soda water trade. In the Spring of 1891 he bought the DeWolfe concern and has since conducted this business on North Main Street. The farm in Orion Twp., consisting of 160 acres is still his property. 
    
In 1875, Mr. Jones married Libbie Abbott, who was born in Fulton County, and four children have resulted, namely:
Frederick and Albert, deceased, and Anna and Blanche. 

Transcriber's note: There might be an error on the dates in the book, concerning: "This he continued [farming] until 1893 when he established his home in Canton..." and then it has: "In the Spring of 1891 he bought the DeWolfe concern..." Perhaps the date of 1893 should have been 1883?