Biographical Sketch of

Norman Jones

Transcribed by Joan Benner

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, 
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 353 - 354


Continued prominence in any sphere of life is evidence of a superiority of mind and integrity of purpose, 
force of character and courage, that fit men to be leaders and teachers of their fellow men. Without 
exaggeration these characteristics may well be applied to him whose name introduces this review, and who 
is well known throughout Adams county for his integrity, high sense of justice, his industry and business 
acumen. His home in Jackson township showls all the evidences of his careful provision and superintendence, 
and is supplied with those improvements and conveniences which go to make modern farm life desirable.

Norman Jones was born in Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, July 31, 1840. His parents were Asa Kingsley 
Jones and Mercy (Streeter) Jones. The father was a native of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. His grandfather, the 
great-grandfather of our subject, is supposed to have established the family in America, he being a Welsh 
sea captain, and settled in Rhode Island at an early day in its history. Asa K. Jones' father, Income Jones, 
removed to Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1799, where he carried on farming and blacksmithing, and where he died 
when over eighty years of age. His family record, which is still carefully preserved, gives the date of his 
birth as June 16, 1757. Income Jones married Mary Kingsley, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Kingsley. The 
former died April 19, 1769, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Five sons and two daughters were born to 
Income and Mary Jones, of whom Asa Kingsley Jones, our subject's father, was the sixth chil and fourth son. 
Asa was four years old when the family moved to Vermont, and grew to manhood, and in 1819 located at 
Rockingham in that state. Thence in 1851 he came to Adams county, Wisconsin, and settled in that locality, 
which has ever since been known as 'Jonesville.' He died there December 9, 1858, aged sixty-three years. He 
was a most exemplary citizen, and to  his activity and influence many of the factors of civilization in Adams 
county's early history owe their existence. He helped organize the Congregational church near Oxford, soon 
after his arrival in the county, and its first meetings were held at his home. He was never an active 
politician, though he served as chairman of the board fo Jackson township. He was an Abolitionist in 
sentiment, and predicted the Civil war as an inevitable result of the conditions existing in this nation, 
but did not live to see the realization of his prophecy and of his faith in the eventual emancipation of 
the slaves. His wife, Mrs. Mercy Jones, was born in February, 1800, in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and 
died March 31, 1888. Her father, Jeremiah Streeter, died in New York, and her mother, Cynthia (Snow) 
Streeter, died in Brattleboro, Vermont, at the age of ninety-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Asa Kingsley 
were born five sons and five daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy. The names of the other 
children are as follows: Cynthia, afterward Mrs. L. B. Osgood, deceased. Her home was in Garden City, 
Minnesota. Chester, of Kilbourn, Wisconsin. Clement, a farmer of Springville township. Love, now Mrs. A. M. 
Kendall, Garden City, Minnesota. Mary, now Mrs. Henry J. Hubbard. Fanny, now Mrs. J. R. Vroman. Nelson, and 
Norman, the subject of this review. The last four named are all residents of Adams county.

Norman Jones lived with his parents until after his father's death, the mother continuing to live with our 
subject for ten years. She then resided with her son, Nelson, and afterwards made her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Hubbard, in whose home she died. At the age of eighteen years he took charge of the homestead farm, which 
consisted of three hundred and fifty acres. in company with his brother, Nelson. He now owns one hundred and 
eighty acres of the original home farm, and in all owns a total of three hundred and forty acres of land, one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of which is in a state of cultivation, and the balance is timber and pasture. In 
1894 he erected one of the largest and most commodious residences in Adams county, and his farm is fitted with 
a fine set of buildings, including barns and sheds for his stock and for the preservation of his crops. He carries 
on grain and stock raising, and has made a marked success of both.

Norman Jones was married May 12, 1859, to Mathilda Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of LaFayette and Hannah Maria (Frank) 
Rogers. Mrs. Jones was born in Kirtland, Ohio. Her father was a native of Vermont, and when a young man removed to
Lake county, Ohio, and afterwards came to Wisconsin, and was employed for a time in the mills at Oxford. A few years 
later he located on a farm near Waterloo, Wisconsin. His death occurred at Portland, Wisconsin, December 28, 1881, 
when he was suxty-two years of age. Mrs. Jones' mother was a native of Chautauqua county, New York. She died at the 
residence of her daughter, Mrs. Norman Jones, in Adams county, Wisconsin, January 27, 1899, in the eighty-first year 
of her age.

To Mr. and Mrs. Norman Jones the following children have been born: Ella Matilda, deceased, was born July 1, 1861. 
She became the wife of Dr. Adelbert Edwards, and her death occurred at Kingston, Wisconsin, March 17, 1886. Asa 
Norman, a physician of Hillsboro, Wisconsin, who married Margaret M. Worden. William LaFayette married Frances L. 
Phillips and resides on the home farm. Franklin Joseph, a physician of North Freedom, Wisconsin, married Edith 
Henry; and Nellie Love, now the wife of Dr. Adelbert Edwards, a prominent physician of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, 
mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Jones and family are connected with the 
Jonesville Congregational church, which the member sof this influential family helped organize, and of which Mr. 
Jones is a deacon. In politics he has generally supported  the men and measures of the Republican party, and he 
is a Prohibitionist in sentiment. He has served several terms as town treasurer, and his son, William L., now 
holds that office. 


Transcribed by Joan Benner






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