John R. Jones
John R. Jones, who is living in retirement near Gomer, this county, after many years of business activity, was born August 21, 1835, in Llanbrynmair, Wales. He is a son of Richard and Anna (Roberts) Jones, both natives of Llanbrynmair, where the father became a prosperous farmer and lived until his death, at the age of 67 years. Mrs. Jones died when our subject was five years old, being then in the 43rd year of her age.
At the age of 21 years, John R. Jones set sail for America, landing in New York City, July 7, 1856, after a voyage of five weeks and three days;. Remaining in that city but a few days, he made his way to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence to Allen County, where he remained a short time. He then resided three years in Tennessee, superintending a tract of land, which he and a party of his friends had previously bought. They had purchased some 100,000 acres in that State, of which about one-third, rich in oil and mineral deposits, remains in the possession of Mr. Jones and a brother at the present time. At the end of three years our subject returned to Gomer and purchased a general store of W. W. Williams, which he conducted successfully for 20 years, when he sold to Dr. C. A. Evans, of Delphos. Since that time Mr. Jones has resided on a farm making his home with a cousin, William G. Jones, a prominent farmer whose homestead is located near Gomer.
Mr. Jones has never married. He is well known throughout this section, and has long been a member of the Welsh Congregational Church at Gomer. In politics, he has been an ardent Democrat and has held some minor offices, although he has never sought political preferment.