Born: Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 1795
Died: Eureka, Illinois, May 14th, 1877

In 1795, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, there was gladly welcomed into the family of Joshua Jones and his wife Eleanor Thomas, a son, who received the name of his maternal grandfather, John Thomas.

They were of Welsh descent, and young John T. grew up under the stern discipline and constant toil usual at the time.

The community was, religiously, Quaker and Baptist. The old stone Baptist church called Pennepek, that five years ago celebrated its second centennial, still stands, and here the subject of this sketch received his first religious impressions.

Soon after attaining his majority, he went to Cincinnati, where he married Miss Ann B. Lawrence, who was called home in a few years, leaving one son. In 1827 he married Miss Emily Woodward, and

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in 1831 moved to Jacksonville, Illinois. His business capacity, habits of industry and acknowledged integrity of character, gave him many positions of honor and trust. At an early day in "The Reformation," having united with the Church of Christ, he decided to prepare himself for the ministry and devoted his spare time to Bible study.

He loved the society of the children of God and was most loyal to his brethren. His house was the preacher's home, and in dispensing his generous hospitality was ably assisted by his wife, a lady of rare refinement, amiability and intellectual culture.

He was liberal almost to a fault, and the church with which he was connected ever found him one of its most reliable supporters. Mr. Jones was reticent, grave and dignified in demeanor and had an habitual reserve of manner that repelled familiarity; but his heart glowed with a fervor of affection that his exterior did not indicate.

In 1847 he moved with his family to Walnut Grove, Woodford county, Illinois. He entered with zest into all the plans for the moral and intellectual development of the place. He was chosen a trustee of the infant college and for twenty-five years never failed to be present at the annual meetings of the Board.

In so limited a sketch it is impossible even to touch upon the events of a life covering 82 years;

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but what one is is of far greater importance than what he does, and here we can only mention the prominent traits forming a character of rare firmness and conscientious activity.

Mr. Jones was progressive and never grew too old to be the friend and adviser of the young preachers. They have called him their "father."

His last years were spent in the family of his son, J. Janvier Jones, in Eureka, kindly and tenderly cared for by his son's wife, Mrs. Lucy Major Jones, until his change came, May 14th, 1877, at the age of 82 years.

Like the setting of the sun in a clear sky, his life closed peacefully and beautifully, with the firm assurance that for him a new and brighter day would dawn.

S. E. G.