Obituary - Died in Brooklyn Sunday March 28 th 1875. Mrs Lois Jones, aged 84 years and five months. Mrs Jones was born in Peru, Berkshire Co, Mass Oct 19, 1790. In the year 1812 she removed with her father's family to near Painesville, Ohio, at which place she soon after married Benaiah Jones. Early in the year 1828 Mr. and Mrs. Jones with their family of five boys - four of whom are yet living-came to the then sparsely settled territory of Michigan and in the fall of that year settled on the banks of the St.Joseph River at the place that Jonesville now stands. Mrs Jones was the first white woman settler in Jonesville and second in all of what is now Hillsdale Co. Mrs Jones was blessed with a vigorous constitution and was well calculated to bear the privations, toils and hardships of pioneer life. In 1834 Mrs Jones was left alone with the cares and responsibilities of a large family upon her, and the toils, grief and sorrow which she endured would have crushed an ordinary woman. and how faithfully and patiently she struggled and toiled for her family, her own children can rise up and testify and call her blessed. The last 13 years of her life were spent in the pleasant home of her third son, Dr.L.M.Jones of Brooklyn, where she succumbed with all the comforts of life and where she received the care and sympathy of a greatful son, her last years being peaceful and happy. Mrs Jones remained hale and vigorous until near the close of her life but a cancer of the chest brought an end to her eventful life.. She was a faithful believer in the religion of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and through him she found much peace and comfort and upon him she leaned heavily whether in sickness or in health in Christ was her trust. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for about 40 years but now she has left the church militant and joined the church triumphant and blessed is her memory. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From JONES, MOORE, ALLEN FAMILIES by Vivian Lyon Moore a traveling man wrote in his journal after traveling 60 miles without seeing a white person. " here at Jones' I found Mrs Jones only. She was in a small cabin with only half the floor laid no other person except Indians nearer than Allen's Prairie ( 5 Miles ) All houses were used as taverns at that time, floor or no floor.. A fine dish of venison and hot johnny cake and some cold beans composed the meal. With a few blankets and a saddle for a pillow, I laid down in the corner of the cabin for the night, hearing my pony chewing his scanty bundle of stalks and a few ears of corn as he was tied to the corner of the cabin outside. I had a sound sleep and in the morning fed my pony, then built a fire in one end of the cabin for there were no fireplace or chimney in the half finished dwelling. After eating as good a breakfast as the cabin afforded I called for the bill, when the noble and venturesome wife of the first pioneer of Jonesville said " not anything. We too are pioneers. " ----------------------------------------------------------------- From a typed page found in the Hillsdale Library To one of the brave women we shall offer honor today as we gather at the grave of Lois Olds Jones, cofounder with her husband, Benaiah Jones 3 rd of the village of Jonesville 100 years ago..Which of us can contemplate unmoved the courage displayed by a woman who, frail in health, and with five small children was not daunted by the prospect of a life in a virgin forest with its attendant perils, hardships and loneliness? Lois Olds, product of a stock and tradition which made for such traits of character, was born in Peru, Mass. on the 28 th day of October 1770. she was the fourth child and oldest daughter of Daniel Olds and his wife, Lois Stanley who, immediately following their marriage in 1780 in Ashfork, Conn. made their first trek in their immigration career into western Mass. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CONTINUATION OF THE RECORD OF BENAIAH JONES 111 from Materials by Vivian Lyon Moore Materials were a repeat of previous materials on the family but will outline so of materials. Los Olds Jones had her 6 th child, Curdus Mutus Jones, in Allen's corn crib where they were living.. He was the first white child born in the County. Two months later the Allens had a baby girl. Now there were 14 persons living in the county. If it had not been for the help of the Indians the two families probably would have not survived the first winter. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From notes by R.M.Power Jr. Family tradition tells that money was missing from the operation of the post office while Benaiah Jones 111 was postmaster. Further, while he may not have personally taken the money he was responsible for its security even if taken by an employee. Also, that his friends in town wanted him to stay and fight the charges and prove his innocence but Benaiah decided that he had fought too long and hard so he departed the area instead of fighting further, Court records show that Benaiah 111 was indicted for embezzlement from the U.S. mail and that upon a change in his plea from not guilty to guilty he was given a suspended sentance. Benaiah Jones waited till the Mexicans were defeated by the Texans before he went to Texas in 1838 two years after Texas was an independent country. Benaiah Jones 111 lived from Feb 1838 until his death in 1861 at his homestead-Inn on the 177 acres be bought Feb, 1838, located at the corner of Fields Store - Waller Road and Joseph Road. The 1840 Census of the Republic of Texas on July 20, 1840 showed him owning 1830 acres. 1860 census shows Benaiah Farmer aged 62. $3,300 in real estate and 2,500 personal Amanda aged 49, Thomas P aged 23,Ecicurus aged 12, Fannie G. aged 8 William Hutchinson aged 19 and a hired man. Texas were having problems. They voted to secede from the Union.and were for slavery. Benaiah wanted them to stay in the Union and was against slavery. All persons against secession were to register as aliens. He must have suspected what may happen as he registered all his his land and made a will. Various tales of his death were evident. He was outspoken against tha Confederacy, for the Union ect. and unruly mob hung him. Others said that he was involved in a murder He probably was not politically correct and this was a way to get rid of him.
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Shirley and I visited his grave on his farm in the fall of 1999. There is a good stone there telling of his two families.