Bios & Family Stories > Misc. Bios > Jones, Thomas J.

Dr. T.J. Jones was an interesting character. My grandmother Esther Jones b.1902 claims he was a drunken, heartless monster. Not sure how she would know, he died in 1911 and she never met him. My dad, claimed that while he was a hard man, he was a man of honor and compassion. I tend to believe my dad, over my grandma, because she didn't like her mother-in-law.

T.J. as he was known was born March 3rd, 1854 and baptized by Edward Mathews. He married Jimimah Walker (b. June 21st 1856) in Treforest Wales on June 29th, 1874.

He started in the mines at about age 10, helping to bring in money for his widowed mother and younger sister. Both older brothers & T.J. had to go to work early in life. At 16, he went to work for his brother-in-law as a grocery clerk, which lasted almost 2 years, when his older sister passed away. At age 18, he states in his diary that he "Began my trade with Joseph Roberts, Oct 20th 1871", he then "Went to the Society Nov. 21st 1872, became a full member May 11th 1873". This job was as an apprentice carpenter, he made about one shilling a week, plus board for the first year. This was about 2/3 cut in pay from working in the mines. It was during this time that he married Jimima(h). At 21, he became a contractor and started working for himself, making enough money he could to purchase books to study to become a physician, and start raising a family.

By the time T.J.'s brother Samuel, his family & their sister Hannah emigrated from Wales to the US, the oldest brother Daniel was already living in the Des Moines area and was using the name Daniel John Jones. Samuel, Hannah & T.J. all took the last name of Jones. They all began using the John name as their middle names or just using the initial J.

Thomas & Jimima(h) had the following children:

Margaret John b. July 1st, 1876 at Tredlow. She was christened in Ebenezar Dinas March 4th 1877 by Wm. Evans. She married John R. Henry (b. July 19, 1873 Boston, Mass. d. Jun 13, 1961 Indianola, IA) Margaret died Apr 7, 1928 in Madison Co. IA.
John & Margaret had the following children:
  Clarence b/d abt 1895
  Robert b/d abt 1896
  Raymond b/d abt 1899
  David b. 1901 d. ? m. Hattie
    Children: John Henry, Ellen Mae Henry
  Jemima b. 1902 d. 1903
  Arthur b. abt 1905 d. ?
  Blanche b. abt 1907 d. ?
  Thomas J. b. abt 1909 d. ?
  Dessamond b. abt 1910 d. ?
  Marie b. abt 1911 d. ?
  William b. abt 1913 d. ?
  Velma b. abt 1914 d. 1915
  Francis b. 1916 d. ?

Maria Jones b. 1879 at Birds Terrace, Pontyfrid, Wales married Mote C Newman (b. Jul 20, 1879 d. 1937) on June 18, 1900, in Des Moines, IA. She died on June 17, 1940 and both are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Des Moines.
They had the following children:
  Virdell b. 1905 d. ? m. Emma Erickson Virdell became a physician.
  Billie b. ? d. ? m. Donald Glenn

David J. b. Dec. 16, 1880 in Wales d. Oct 21, 1946 married Niota Mae Emerson on Jan 8, 1905 They are buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.

Agnes b. Sep 18, 1882 in Wales d. Apr 3, 1956 married Ralph Masser (b. Sep 18, 1876 d. Mar 8, 1973) They are buried in Spokane Memorial Garden, Spokane, WA
Their children are:
  Ward
  Ralph
  Grace

Hannah (Anna), the only child born in the US, was b Jul 21, 1884 in Des Moines, IA. She married Steven Hammer (b. abt 1888 d. ?) on Jun 3, 1912 in Spokane, WA. Anna died Jan 4, 1977 in Spokane, WA
Their Children are:
  Maurice
  Arthur
  Dorothy
  Helena

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When Jimima died in 1893, she left T.J. with 5 children, including Agnes, at less than a year old. T.J. was going to medical school in Des Moines, paying his bills by being a carpenter, but came back at Jemima's death, to take care of the children, and the farm. 2 years after her death, T.J. married Maribe (Steele) Bell, a widow with 9 children. To this marriage, my grandfather Arvon was born on May 14, 1897. Giving my dad, an only child father, aunts & uncles. There is 21 years difference between the oldest children of both families and Arvon.

Arvon b. 14 May, 1897 d. 20 May, 1955 married Esther Peterson b. 8 Dec, 1902 d. 20 Sept, 1989 in Des Moines, Iowa. They met in the hospital. Grandpa Arvon was there having his apendix removed. Grandma Esther was his "private" nurse. Family rumor has it that Arvon had been dating and was planning to marry my mom's aunt when he up and married grandma after knowing her less than a month.