Does anyone know where I might find access to the records of the Free Will Baptist Church of Pleasant Hill, Hale Township, Jones County? I'm searching for records of Simeon Cole and family. Family lore says that Simeon Cole donated the land for the church and cemetery. His farm was just northwest of the church. The church has been inactive for years, and in fact was demolished quite a few years ago, but I have seen reference to the records in other documents, so I assume they must be available somewhere. Incidentally, when I was growing up in Cedar County sixty years ago, Pleasant Hill was frequently referred to as "Nigger Point". I hope I can be forgiven for repeating that expression. Does anyone know the origin of that name? By the way, the view from the Pleasant Hill Cemetery to the south is magnificant. The water towers of both Stanwood and Clarence are clearly visible as well as thousands of acres of farmland. Ken Hart Cambria CA

Highland Grove is right on the road from Anamosa to Morley, (extremely well taken care of!) and Scotch Grove cemetery is on the east side of Scotch Grove on the top of the hill. Scotch Grove is on the highway east of Monticello. -- Diana Hanson, Administrator, Iowa Digital Education Association Professional Genealogist ************************************************* What good is magic if it can't save a unicorn? ************************************************* http://www.idea.edu/index.html (Idea School) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5327/ireland.htm (Original IrelandGenWeb Resource Pages and Passenger Lists) http://www.idea.edu/courses/general/gen/index.html (Free Genealogy Classes) http://www.idea.edu/staff/hanson/hubbard/index.html (Mother Hubbard's Cupboard)

Can anyone tell me how to get to Highland Grove Cemetery? Scotch Grove Cemetery? thanks, Dawn

I paid to have the "History of Jones County Iowa, Vol. 1" reprinted. It was first printed in 1910. It cost $75.00 from Higginson Book Co. 148 Washington St. P.O. Box 778, Salem MA 01970. Phone (508) 745-7170. It is not indexed. I reviewed the book at a Morman Center. Since it had several of my Smith, Ryan and Lawless ancestors in it I thought it was worth the cost. Diana DianaLeaB@aol.com

Ray Beaty wrote: > > I am a novice at research in Jones county and need some advice: > > There are some folks who I am researching who were born in the 1812-1850 > period and died in Jones County, IA. Where might I find: > > death records, certificates > birth records, certificates > marriage records, certificates > > newspaper obituaries > > wills/estate administrations > > Does anyone know what year IA death certificates began to show who the > parents of the deceased were? > > Any information will be deeply appreciated. > > Ray > ****************** > Raymond C. Beaty > r1941@idt.net > New York, New York > ****************** Basically, you don't find many records in the 1850's for Iowa. Unfortunately, records before 1880 are very difficult to find. Death records in Jones county didn't start showing parents names on death certificates until the early 1900's. Marriages in Jones County start in about 1837 and (if they Catholic) might have ended up being recorded in either Jackson or Dubuque county as well because the Catholic priest travelled and recorded them wherever he ended up. That's why the first books are 'saddle bag' sized! :) Births, and deaths don't start till 1880. The earliest cemetery stones for Jones County start in about 1845 and most cemeteries have been indexed by members of the Jones County Genealogical Society. The newspaper didn't start until the 1870's, probates in the 1840's. The best bet is searching the tax records for your family to establish that they were here. They're actually very good, in the basement, and have to be done in person by a researcher, but they are absolutely the best source for Jones County. Land records are also very good and can be assessed through the recorders office. -- Diana Hanson, Administrator, Iowa Digital Education Association Professional Genealogist ************************************************* What good is magic if it can't save a unicorn? ************************************************* http://www.idea.edu/index.html (Idea School) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5327/ireland.htm (Original IrelandGenWeb Resource Pages and Passenger Lists) http://www.idea.edu/courses/general/gen/index.html (Free Genealogy Classes) http://www.idea.edu/staff/hanson/hubbard/index.html (Mother Hubbard's Cupboard)

I am a novice at research in Jones county and need some advice: There are some folks who I am researching who were born in the 1812-1850 period and died in Jones County, IA. Where might I find: death records, certificates birth records, certificates marriage records, certificates newspaper obituaries wills/estate administrations Does anyone know what year IA death certificates began to show who the parents of the deceased were? Any information will be deeply appreciated. Ray ****************** Raymond C. Beaty r1941@idt.net New York, New York ******************

Land wasn't any cheaper here than it was anywhere else. However, there were huge coal mines in Dubuque and the land was finally opened up after the BlackHawk wars in 1834 so it made it open territory for anyone. However, I have researched all of the Byerly family history and have that if you'd like. I can send you a gedcom file or hardcopy, whichever you'd like. -- Diana Hanson, Administrator, Iowa Digital Education Association Professional Genealogist ************************************************* What good is magic if it can't save a unicorn? ************************************************* http://www.idea.edu/index.html (Idea School) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5327/ireland.htm (Original IrelandGenWeb Resource Pages and Passenger Lists) http://www.idea.edu/courses/general/gen/index.html (Free Genealogy Classes) http://www.idea.edu/staff/hanson/hubbard/index.html (Mother Hubbard's Cupboard)

Hello Everyone The more I search the more I find a great population of people left the area of Fairfield & Franklin Co Ohio and went to Jones Co Iowa. Anywhere from 1841 to 1864. Just wondering what encouraged these people to travel to Iowa. Was there a lot of new land to be purchased. I know Iowa had good farming land. Was this the reason. I think the portion of my family that didn't go to Hancock Co Ohio during this time, went to Jones Co Iowa. I am searching Kramer, Harmon, Byerly, and many others. Will appreciate any history possible. Thanks Sue Kramer - Ohio

There are two Jones County Histories and 1 genealogical record (genealogical record is at http://www.idea.edu/staff/hanson/jones/surnames.html). The Jones County History was published in 1886 and is available through the Anamosa Public Library, Anamosa, IA 52205 and the Iowa State Historical Society at 400 E. Iowa, in Iowa City, IA 52245. There is a 1916 version in which Jones County is lumped together with another county, and I don't remember which one right off hand, also available at both the places above. The genealogical record was done to collect genealogies, no actual history and the index is available online. Regardless, Cascade is actually in 3 counties, Jones, Dubuque and Clayton. FYI, Varvel, the first white settler in Monticello, was a southern sympathesizer during the Civil War and was almost tarred and feathered. He later removed to Nebraska and died there. The Military Road ran from Dubuque, through Monticello, Anamosa, Martelle, and down to Iowa City. It follows highway 151 (fairly closely) and then highway 1 and became one of the most important settlement routes in eastern Iowa, as well as a military inroad. One thing people not know about is that there is, in the possession of the Jones County Historical Society (NOT Genealogical Society!) a trunk full of old orange post cards which people had to sign (or make an X) in order to receive their mail, starting in 1837, at the Historical building just east of Jones County Home on the Amber Road, where the first county seat was formed. The cards predate the 1840 and 1850 census and have NEVER been indexed. There are approximately 3,000 of them in this trunk. The first postmaster (whose name I forget) was a very educated, college man from the east and did a very good job of keeping track of things. Unfortunately, no one here has ever had time to index these cards. People who only passed through the county, and never made the census may be in these cards! I also have a copy of all the township maps for 1867 with the names of the plot owners on it, if anyone if interested. Diana Anamosa, IA -- Diana Hanson, Administrator, Iowa Digital Education Association Professional Genealogist ************************************************* What good is magic if it can't save a unicorn? ************************************************* http://www.idea.edu/index.html (Idea School) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5327/ireland.htm (Original IrelandGenWeb Resource Pages and Passenger Lists) http://www.idea.edu/courses/general/gen/index.html (Free Genealogy Classes) http://www.idea.edu/staff/hanson/hubbard/index.html (Mother Hubbard's Cupboard)

Hi Frances- Thanks for the info from the WPA book. There are several Jones County Histories available in many libraries and on microfilm through the LDS Family History Centers: "The History of Jones County, Iowa." Microreproduction of original published: Chicago : Western Historical, 1879. 705 p. With: Index to the History of Jones County, Iowa. Film #0962596 and #0934949. Portrait and biographical record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton counties, "Iowa." Microreproduction of original published: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co., 1894. 557 p. Film #0934939 "History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present / edited by R. N. Corbit." Microreproduction of original published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke, 1910. 2 v. Film #0989477 A complete list of Jones county microfilm available from LDS is included on the "Research" page of the Jones County Website. -Richard -- Richard Harrison/Encinitas, San Diego, California IAGenWeb Assistant State Coordinator County Coordinator, Jones Co. IAGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~iajones Jones County, Iowa Mail List: IAJONES-L@rootsweb.com Richard's Genealogy: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~richard

I have not found a history of Jones County (Has anyone else seen one?), but I did find a few snippets in "The WPA Guide to 1930's Iowa", a WPA project published during the Great Depression and recently republished. I thought some of you might be interested in a couple of exerpts -- perhaps even recognize a name. Cascade ... on the banks of the North Fork of the Maquoketa River, was named for the cascades in the river. This village was the home of Lyman Dillon [the man who plowed a furrow to mark the route for the Old Military Road, from Dubuque to Iowa City]. Early settlers of Cascade, predominantly of Irish ancestry -- a few of their descendants here still speak Gaelic -- migrated from the East and attempted to utilize the natural waterfall here as a source of power. Because the dam they built was small and railroad facilities were inadequate, the town did not become the industrial center its founders planned.... Following 1849, the influx of Irish and German farmers, who developed the fertile valley into a rich agricultural region, shifted the interests of the community to agrarian rather than to industrial pursuits. "Red" Faber (1888), of Cascade, was pitcher for the victorious Chicago White Sox baseball team in the World Series games with the New York Giants in 1917. Faber won three games -- a record equalled but never broken. Monticello ... is on the west bank of the Maquoketa River. On an autumn day, three years before the Old Military Road was established, the first settler, Daniel Varvel of Kentucky, came to the mouth of Kitty Creek. The hillsides were splashed with crimson and ellow, and westward the fertile prairies extended gar into the distance. Varvel built his home here, and for years the cabin was a landmark in Jones County. The wayfaring traveler stopped there for the night; it also served as post office, and as headquarters for the min who laid out the Military Road, begun in 1839. Other cabins and a hotel were built, and the settlement was called Monticello.

Looking for any information on sibling or decendents of the John and Rosanna TURNER listed on the 1860 Federal Census for Washington Township in Jones County, Iowa, page 515. Listed as: John TURNER, Age 80, Male, Farmer, Place of birth: Ireland Rosanna TURNER, Age 60, Female, Place of birth: Ireland Thomas TURNER, Age 7 or 9, Male, Place of birth: Ireland, In school with the year. Thanks in advance Patrick Turner ------------------------------------------------------------------------ pfturner@visi.net Researching Family Surnames: TURNER, MCGEE/MAGEE or MCKEE, MCCAFFERY/MCCAFFREY, LEONARD, MCCARTY/MCCARTHY, KILDARE, and CAVANAUGH from Ireland to New York to Iowa. SCHICKOUFSKY, SCHIKOWSKY, REMMERS, HALL, DREIER, and GERKIN from Germany to Iowa. FABER, STUPFEL, HEYROTH, WALPORT, MALTER, and ACKER from Germany to Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

DVL302@aol.com wrote: > > I am researching the following families from Jones Co. > Townsend- > Neal Robert > Neil Wyatt > Charles Wyatt > Jerome > Nigh- > Eva E. > McMurrin > Sarah Matilda (Tillie) > Nathaniel Moore > William II > William > Wells- > Mary May > Levi L. > Axline- > Susan M. > > Desire to exchange information! > > Dawn > > Hi Dawn, The Axline family (out of Hale) is done in the Jones County Genealogical Record 1996, linked to the Jones County page. The McMurrin family (married into the Bob Miller family) can be done by contacting Mrs. Bob Miller. She's a McMurrin. It's also in the Jones County Genealogical Records. Let me know if you need anything else. Diana Anamosa

Hi, I am looking for anyone related to William B. FOLEY and Bridget (Anna) WELCH FOLEY. They lived in Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa in 1880-1910 or so. They had some children: Mary, Margaret, Francis, Teresa,Josephine, John, Winnie, William, Bertha, James, Florence, and Jeanette. James Donald FOLEY was my husband's grandfather. Thank you for any help. Janis Foley foleys@tx3.com

I am researching the following families from Jones Co. Townsend- Neal Robert Neil Wyatt Charles Wyatt Jerome Nigh- Eva E. McMurrin Sarah Matilda (Tillie) Nathaniel Moore William II William Wells- Mary May Levi L. Axline- Susan M. Desire to exchange information! Dawn

Hello Everyone! We now have 21 list members (14 regular, 7 digest). There have been NO problems reported subscribing, unsubscribing or posting messages. I'd like to keep that record going. --------------- The USGENWEB-ALL list is sponsoring a Virtual Tour of GenWeb county sites and the Jones County, Iowa site is the one for Sunday, November 8. We are about to celebrate our 10,000th hit (9933 this morning) and the added traffic from this tour is likely to put us over the mark. If you haven't stopped by lately, the newest page is information on and some great old photos of the BALLOU family. Check it out! ---------------- Someone I want to find out more about is Warren W. WALBRIDGE, my 2nd-great-grandfather. He was born 15 sep 1835, in Forestville, Chautauqua, New York, and married 24 Sep 1857, in Silver Creek, Chautauqua, New York to Eliza Jane GUY whose family lived near Fairfield, Herkimer, New York. Warren and Eliza came to Iowa about 1866, staying briefly near Mechanicsville, Cedar county, before settling in Jones county. Living near Mechanicsville was James Walbridge. In 1840, James lived in Chautauqua, New York and had a son under 5. He is the only Walbridge in the census with a son under 5. In 1846, he moved to Iowa. In 1850, James lived in Cedar county and had a son, Washington, 15. Washington doesn't appear in the 1856 or 1860 censuses. Could Warren W. and Washington be the same person? I've not found any place that gives Warren's middle name in full. If so, how/why did he go back to New York? How did Eliza get to Chautauqua from Herkimer? (Can't find any other Guys there.) Any info on these Walbridges would be greatly appreciated. -Richard -- Richard Harrison/Encinitas, San Diego, California IAGenWeb Assistant State Coordinator County Coordinator, Jones Co. IAGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~iajones Jones County, Iowa Mail List: IAJONES-L@rootsweb.com Richard's Genealogy: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~richard

I am researching a BACON family who settled in Jones County in the early 1800's. My gr gr grandfather, George Washington BACON was born in Monticello, Iowa around 1840. His daughter, Carrie Bacon, was born in July 1865. Any information would be appreciated.

I am researching the family of Michael Byrne and Catherine Farrell Byrne. At this time, I am looking for information on their daughter Bridget Byrne b. April 1856 in Clayton County; married in Clayton county in July 1877 to a James Montague. The Byrne family lived in Clayton county from about 1849-1881; Delaware county 1881-1885 and then to Jones County. I believe that Bridget may have taught school in Jones county about 1876. Any info on Bridget or the Montagues would be appreciated. Don't know if there were any children. You can e-mail me through the list or directly at PATnGENE@aol.com Thanks. Pat Byrne Thurmes

Looking for anyone who knew or has info on the LORENZEN family. Laura (ARP) LORENZEN d.28 May 1964 in Wyoming, IA and she was b.24 Nov 1872 in Leclair,IA; her husband was Claus Frederick LORENZEN (d.13 July 1938 in Clinton). Where can I find town/city directories, census records, other info to verify Laura and family were in Wyoming? Thank you for your help, Mrs. Anne Hayes 1065 Whales Run Ct Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5517

Hello to all, Is anyone out there looking for those with the surname Mounce? I have some items I would like to see back in that family. Janis