Ephraim Edward Jones

By Lamar Thomas

Ephraim Edward Jones was born in Trinant, Monmouthshire, [Wales], July 10, 1861. He was the son of Zephaniah and Caroline Jones and came to this country at the age of two.

The family first settled in Willard, Utah. They made their home in Willard for seven years during which time the mother of the family passed away. Soon afterwards the family moved to Malad Valley in Idaho and settled in the haylands.

In 1880, at the age of nineteen, he met and married Miss Amelia Davis on the 7th of August. To this union was born the following children:

John Jones who was born December 14, 1880, at St. John, Idaho. He died January 12, 1881.

Rachel Elizabeth Jones was born May 14, 1882, at St. John, Idaho. She married Daniel Roy Thomas on November 28, 1901. She died October 25, 1947.

Caroline Jones was born November 21,1884, at St. John. She married first Wallace Owens Thomas on January 19, 1904. She died December 11, 1936.

Zephaniah Davis Jones was born September 17, 1886, at St. John. He married Anna Ellis Owens. He died January 1, 1932.

Margaret Davis Jones was born November 19, 1888, at St. John. She married Alfred C. Harrison March 25, 1908. She died December 31, 1970.

Marrella Blanche Jones was born November 28, 1890, at St. John. She married first John Owens November 28, 1909. She died October 25, 1930.

Edith Pearl Jones, the seventh child, was born November 25, 1892, at St. John. She married Lavern Peck on October 14, 1912. She died July 12, 1959.

Lula Amelia Jones was born January 30, 1895, at St. John. She married Louis Deschamps Monson on May 29, 1912. She died December 4, 1941; and

Phoebe Zeta Jones was born February 14, 1918, at St. John. She married Lewis William Davis on February 16, 1918. She died July 3, 1966.

Three years after his marriage, Ephraim's father, Zephaniah, died and Ephraim moved his family to St. John in order that his brother and sisters, who were living with him, might gain the advantages of attending school. It is at this time that he began to realize the responsibilities of pioneering and accordingly entered into dairying on a large scale in the Dairy Creek section as well as running the farm in St. John and also the one in the haylands.

Besides keeping his brother and sister's home ties intact, he was the father of nine children.

Shortly after his wife's death, which occurred on February 27, 1898, he entered the sheep business, which he successfully followed for several years and terminated after many years as state sheep inspector.

Thirteen years after his wife's death he married Mrs. Mary Jones on October 20,1911, Brigham City, Utah. She brought with her a family of three: A son Arthur who was married and Mary Ann Duncan, a daughter, who had been married and lost her husband, and Mary Ann's son, Merl. Mary Jones' sister passed away and left a son, Otto Hill, whom Mary Jones raised in her home.

Soon after his second marriage, Ephraim sold his farm and built a General Store in St. John. He ran this store until his death on June 10, 1930. Besides running his store, he took great interest in gardening, which was his hobby.

He drilled a big well, which was run by a gasoline motor and was able to water his whole area back of the store, which consisted of three acres. Here he raised vegetables of all kinds and raspberries along with fruit trees.

Ephraim had three families with him: his father Zephaniah and Phoebe's children; and his own and Mary's (his second wife) which totaled about sixteen children altogether. Many a dinner was cooked by Mary, who was a wonderful and lovable person. Her daughter, Mary Ann Duncan, who lived with them, was also one of the sweetest persons. She was there to help anyone who needed her help.

Ephraim Edward Jones was very musical. He and Thomas S. Thomas and David S. Thomas leased the old Opera House and with their band, which they called "St. John Band," furnished the music for the shows and dances for several years. Ephraim was known by many as "Uncle Eph."

As of 1984, the log home which he built stills stands on the ranch north of St. John. This property is now owned partly by Margaret Treasure and partly by Venna Jenkins. The store, which was located just north of the road leading up to the St. John Cemetery, was moved in later years to Stone, Idaho, and is still being used.

(From St. John, Oneida County, Idaho: A collection of personal histories from the time of the first settlers to the present day, pp. 176-177.)