Humphrey Jones
It can not be other than interesting to note in the series of personal sketches appearing in this history the varying conditions that havee compassed those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case to throw well focused light onto the individuality and to bring into proper perspective the scheme of each respective character. Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving of recognition. whatever may be his field of endeavor, and it is the function of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those represented in its pages, and tlie value of such publications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come. The beginning of the career of him whose name heads these paragraphs was characterized by hard work and conscientious endeavor, and he owes his rise to no train of fortunate incidents or fortuitous circumstances. It is the reward of the application of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, the combining of keen perceptions and mental activitty that enabled him to grasp the opportunities that presented themselves. This he did with success and. what is more important, with honor. His integrity is unassailable, his honor unimpeachable. and he stands deservedly high with all who know him.
Humphrey Jones, well known lawyer, farmer and banker. of Washington C. H.. is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born on a farm near Jeffersonville, Fayette county, on the 31st day of January, 1857. He is the son nf William H. and Olivia (Hidy) Jones, who were born, he in Wales about twenty miles south of Liverpool, and she in Fayette county, Ohio, near Jeffersonville. To these parents were born six children, namely: Mary J., wife of Luther M. Irwin, of Jeftersonville, Ohio: Emma O., the wife of Richard McCormack, of Columbus, Ohio: William H., of Sullivan county, Indiana; Humphrey, the immediate subject of this sketch; Gary, of London. Ohio; Minnie J., the wife of Dallas Reading. of Jeffersonville, Ohio. The subject's father, William H. Jones, was in early life by trade a cabinetmaker and stair-builder. He remained at his home in northern Wales until nineteen years of age, when he went to Manchester. England, where he followed his vocations, all of the work in those days being done by hand. When twenty-six years of age he came to America and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in stair building and also did considerable general contracting in the building line. During this period, ambitious to better his condition and following a natural inclination, he applied himself to the study of medicine in the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati. Upon completing his professional studies, he located at Oak Hill. Jackson county, this state, where for two years he practiced medicine, and then came to Jeffersonville, where he applied himself to the practice of his profession up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1894, when eighty years of age. He was survived several years by his widow, who passed away in 1898, aged sixty-seven years. Religiously, Doctor Jones was, in early life, identified with the Calvinistic and Presljyterian churches, but later he and his wife identified themselves with the Universalist church. Doctor Jones was greatly interested in educational matters, was public spirited to an eminent degree and during the early sixties he served as a member of the board of county commissioners. He was also a successful business man, having become the owner of several valuable farms in the county.
The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were William and Jane Jones, natives of Wales, where the father followed farming and milling, and there spent his entire life and died. His widow, with three of her children, then started for the United States, following her son William, who was already established here. However, the mother died at sea. and the orphaned children were compelled to complete their journey alone. They reached Cincinnati, where their brother William tenderly cared for them until they reached mature years. These children were David and Jane, later Mrs. Burnham. Two other children remained in England. On the maternal side. Humphrey Jones is descended from Joseph and Mary (Carr) Hidy, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Virginia. He was of German descent and she sprang from Irish antecedents. They located in Fayette county. Ohio, where he became an extensive land owner and successful farmer in the early days. They both died here at advanced ages, he being ninety-seven and she eighty-seven at the time of their deaths. They became the parents of ten children, Joseph, Humphrey. Urban, Isaac, William, Olivia (Jones), Margaret (Beatty). Louisa (Tway), Sidney (Brock) and Clarissa (Wendle).
Humphrey Jones was reared on the paternal farmstead near Jetfersonville and received his educational training in the district and village schools. He remained at home until attaining manhood and then successfully engaged in teaching school—that vocation which for thousands has been but a stepping stone to higher things. In the meantime, Mr. Jones was applying himself diligently to the study of the law and in 1883, after two years study in the law office of Hon. Mills Gardner, at Washington C. H.. was admitted to the bar. He at once opened an office in Washington C. H.. and has been closely identified with much of the important litigation in the local courts as well as in the courts of other counties in the state and in the federal courts during the subsequent years. He has not only won a wide reputation as a successful and able lawyer, but he has also been successful in his private business affairs, so that today he is counted among the wealthy men of Fayette county. He is the owner of much valuable farming land, which demands considerable of his attention. His farms lie in Wayne. Union. Madison, Marion and Paint townships, this county, and in Sullivan county, Indiana. Mr. Jones has always taken a special interest in upbuilding and developing his farm lands and in improving the methods of farming and stock feeding. Some fourteen years ago he conceived the idea of building silos for use in steer feeding operations and erected several very large concrete silos on his lands. These silos are believed to be the first in the United States built on any considerable scale for steer feeding purposes. Since then this method of steer feeding has been very greatly extended and is now rapidlv coming into general use throughout the corn belt of the country. Mr. Jones has also been a strong advocate of thorough tile ditching and soil upbuilding by the rotation of crops and handling of live stock, and much of his lands have been doubled and trebled in their productiveness by his systematic handling and their value greatly increased. In 1895 Mr. Jones was one of the reorganizers of the People's and Drovers' Bank, at Washington C. H.. one of the solid and influential financial institutions of Fayette county and has since served efficiently as president of that bank, the other officers being William U. Thornton, vice-president, and Roy T. McClure, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is one hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus of thirty-five thousand dollars.
On June 19, 1888, Humphrey Jones was united in marriage with Laura B. Willis, the daughter of James M. and Emily (Southward) Willis, of Boomingburg, this county, where Mrs. Jones was born and reared. Her parents were both natives of Ohio, and both are deceased, her father dying in 1888. aged eighty years, and her mother passing away at about the same age. They were the parents of three children. William R., James W. and Laura B. Mrs. Jones' paternal grandparents were Nathaniel and Mary (Parker) Willis, who, in an early day. came to Ross county, Ohio, from Boston, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Willis is deserving of specific mention as the founder of the Youth's Companion, and after his location in Ohio he founded the Scioto Gazette, said to be the first newspaper established in Ohio and which is still being published. This worthy couple passed away in Ross county, this state, and were buried near Bainbridge. By a former marriage Nathaniel Willis was the father of two children, "Fannie Fern," the noted novelist, and Nathaniel Parker Willis, well known as a poet.
Politically, Humphrey Jones has been a supporter of the Republican Party and has taken a keen and intelligent interest in public affairs. His ability and integrity received substantial recognition when, in 1912. he was chosen a member of the constitutional convention, in which he rendered effective service to his state. Mr. Jones having in his professional life always been much connected with and interested in real estate law and land titles, was the author of and secured the adoption by the constitutional convention of an amendment to the state constitution clearing the way for the adoption in the state of a system of land title registration. The amendment was ratified by the people, receiving the second largest vote of any of the forty-one amendments submitted. By reason of his special knowledge of the subject Mr. Jones was selected to draft the law, which was, in May. 1913. enacted by the Legislature pursuant to this constitutional amendment providing for the system, and he also drafted the forms of record and procedure under this law which were approved and prescribed by the attorney-general for the guidance of officers and attorneys having duties to perform thereunder.
Fraternally, Mr. Jones is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the lodge at Bloomingburg, as well as the lodge of Kniglits of Pythias at the same place. and Washington Lodge No. 129, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His religious sympathies are with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which society Mrs. Jones is a member.
Personally, Mr. Jones is genial and easily approached, possessing to a marked degree those qualities which win friends. He has always stood ready to identify himself with his fellow citizens in any good work and extend a co-operative hand to advance any measure that is calculated to better the condition of things in the community. He is a great lover of music, possesses several fine old violins and ohtains his greatest recreation in playing upon them.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)