ELI W. JONES. Marion County sent many brave men to the the front during the Civil War, in those times that tested a man's loyalty and devotion to his country. Among them was Eli W. Jones, who is now quietly pursuing farming in township 4 north, range 2 east. He was born in Foster Township, this county, April 20, 1839, and is the son of James and Laura (Llewellyn) Jones.
The father was a native of Georgia, having been born near Atlanta, in October, 1795. He was the eldest in a family of eight children and grew to manhood and was educated in his native state.
On coming north to Illinois in 1814 he selected a home at Lebanon, St. Clair County, but shortly thereafter enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812. After the establishment of peace he returned to this state, this time going to Bond County, where he remained until his marriage, in 1824. In the above year the father of our subject came to Marion County, where he farmed the eighty acres of land which he had previously entered from the Government. To this he added from time to time until his estate included three hundred acres.
In politics James Jones was a Democrat up to the outbreak of the late war, but being bitterly opposed to slavery he then joined the ranks of the Republicans. He took an active part in all religious work and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The mother of our subject was born and reared in the Blue Grass State. Her father, John Llewellyn, stood very high in the esteem of his neighbors and was a farmer by occupation. The parental family included eleven children, five of whom are yet living,
Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and like most of the lads of that period gained a fair education in the common schools. November 1, 1861, he enlisted his services in the Union army and became a member of Company H, Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry. Going with his regiment to Hannibal, Mo., the company remained there in the barracks engaged in guarding the supplies until February 1, 1862. Then they were ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and later to Commerce, that state, where they joined Pope's army and under his generalship went to New Madrid, where our subject first saw the smoke of battle. During the siege at that place Mr. Jones' regiment was sent to Point Pleasant, where they were placed upon guard duty. After minor expeditions on the river the regiment went to Shiloh, thence to Corinth and later took part in the battle of luka under General Rosecrans. Mr. Jones had the honor of lighting under Grant, being with that General in all the operations on the Mississippi River up to and including the siege of Vicksburg. He was also present at the battles of Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain and went to the relief of General Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn. His term of service having exptred, our subject re-enlisted at Scottsboro, Ala., in January, 1863, and after a thirty days' furlough returned to the last-named place and later participated in the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. He was wounded on the return march at Bentonville, N. C., which rendered necessary the amputation of his right leg, just above the knee. He was seven days in the ambulance wagon and was then taken to the hospital at Goldsboro, N. C. Remaining there but a short time he went to Beaufort, that state, and after the surrender of Lee, which occurred soon afterward, he was conveyed on board the hospital ship to New York, where he received his discharge June 16, 1865. He now draws n pension of $36 per month.
After being mustered out of the service Mr. Jones returned home, and when able to do so resumed his work on the farm. On the death of his father he purchased the old homestead and erected thereon a handsome and commodious residence, where he is living at the present time. His estate comprises two hundred and fifty-eight acres of as fine farming land as is to be found within the confines of Marion County.
August 8, 1861, Eli W. Jones and Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. Justice R. Ryman, were united in marriage. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, only one of whom, Joshua T., is living; he is a practicing physician at Vernon, this county, and stands high among the medical fraternity.
In politics our subject is an uncompromising Republican. He has been School Treasurer of his district for a number of years and in 1872 was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court. He is now occupying the position of Justice of the Peace and has been the incumbent of the office for the past eight years.
Socially Mr. Jones is an Odd Fellow and a member of James T. Jones Post No. 623, G. A. R., of which he is Senior Vice-Commander.
With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is looked upon as one of the best residents of the county.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 578 & 579
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer