Rees W. Jones
Rees W. Jones, a representative citizen of Radnor Township, where he has a farm of 175 acres under cultivation, was born at Llanafan Fawr, Breconshire, South Wales, November 13, 1845. arns is a son of Rees T. and Sarah (Williams) Jones.
The father of Mr. Jones was bom in the same section of South Wales as saw his own birth but in an adjoining parish, Llanafan Fechan, May 2, 1804, and died in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1891. He followed farming in his native land until 1861, when he came to America and in the fall of that year, purchased a farm of 175 acres, in Radnor Township, on which he lived during the remainder of his life. Almost 80 acres of his farm was timbered and he sold 20 acres in wood. In early days he was a strong anti-slavery man and later became an ardent Republican. He married a daughter of David Williams, who was born in the same parish as himself, and of their six children, the following five reached maturity: Mary, deceased, married Evan F. Jones, residing in Norwich Township, Franklin County; Thomas Williams, residing in Sugar Creek Township, Putnam County; David, who died in 1891; Rees W.; and Elizabeth, who married John A. Price, residing in Radnor Township. Rees T. Jones and wife were worthy members of the Congregational Church. The mother of the above family died in her 75th year. February 20, 1884. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Jones, lived to the age of 90 years, but never left Wales.
Rees W. Jones commenced his education in Wales and completed it with two terms in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He taught school during nine winters in Radnor Township and has never lost his interest in the educational advancement of the township. He has never sought a position on the School Board, but his fellow-citizens have elected him a member for 14 years and he has been a valuable addition to a body of very earnest men. From boyhood he has continued on the home farm, where he raises corn, and hay for feeding purposes and wheat for sale. He devotes considerable attention to stock and his fields and pastures show many horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.
On September 20, 1870, Mr. Jones was married to Margaret Thomas, who is a daughter of James Thomas of Radnor, and they have had seven children, namely; James R., residing at Roosevelt, Washington; David V., residing at Great Falls, Montana; T. Arthur. who is a member of the class of 1909 at the Ohio State University; Sarah E.; Margaret A.; John W. and R. Ellsworth. For many years Mr. Jones has been a deacon in the Congregational Church. The fine two-story brick structure in which Mr. Jones and family live, was built for a tavern about two years before the Big Four Railroad was put through this section, and it was one of the chief stopping points on the old turnpike from Sandusky and Columbus. In politics, Mr. Jones is a Republican and on that ticket he was twice elected township trustee.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908