James Jones

Laura Keith Llewellyn

James Jones was born in Georgia 15 October, 1795.

Laura Llewellyn was born 1 December, 1807, in Kentucky.

James Jones came to Illinois from Alabama in 1814. He had met Laura Llewellyn in Alabama, and they were married in Keysport, Clinton County, Illinois, 23 September, 1823. Prior to his marriage, he had worked as a guard escorting government survey teams. He served in the War of 1812 in Captain Schurtz's Company. In 1826, James Jones' mother, Mary, known as the widow Jones, and at least four of her other children, settled in Marion County. James and Laura followed them there in 1827. In 1828 they moved to Missouri for one year. James was a Democrat until President Pierce, then became a Republican. He was anti-slavery, and an exhorter in the ME (Methodist Episcopal) church. He was the oldest son.

James and Laura had eleven children. Only five are known:

Meshach Llewellyn b. 1835 d. 10-14-1914

m. Mary Bullock

Eli W. b. 4-20-1838 d.

m. Mary Ryman 8-26-1860

Laura Ann b. 1-16-1843 d. 3-30-1894

m. Benjamin Doolen

Rose Evaline b. d.

m. Isham Doolen (& William Arnold?)

Nancy b. d.

m. John Wesley Arnold

James Jones died on his farm in Foster Township in 1865. He is buried at Sandy Branch Cemetery, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois. Laura Jones died 26 December, 1881. She was the oldest lady in Foster Township at one time.