Thomas Stephens Jones

By Bea Jones Morgan

Thomas Stephen Jones was born December 19, 1866, at Willard, Utah, to David C. Jones and Mary Stephens. He spent his boyhood days in Willard; got his education and was a school teacher.

Right across the street from Thomas in Willard, lived another Jones family (no relation), where lived a lovely young lady named Rhoda Louise. Thomas courted this young lady. Later when both families moved to St. John, Idaho, he continued to court her. Finally on February 6, 1890, when Thomas was about twenty-four years old they were married.

Shortly after they were married Thomas quit teaching school and bought a farm. Later he sold this farm and took up a homestead at St. John.

Thomas farmed most of his life, but he was also a good carpenter, having learned this trade from his father who was called David Sare, the Sare denoting the carpenter trade.

Thomas was also caretaker of the cemetery in St. John.

Thomas always liked to stack hay and could stack a neat looking stack.

Thomas and Rhoda Louise had seven children, all born at St. John, Idaho: Caroline, born March 20, 1891; Leonard Jones, born December 6, 1892; Thomas Stephens, born August 25, 1895; Mary Blanch, born July 29, 1896; Phoebe Jane, born December 31, 1898; Amelia, born in July, 1900; died when 4 days old; Sarah Vesta, born September 20, 1902.

Later on when Rhoda's health got bad and it was thought the hot mineral baths at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, would help her, they moved there, where Thomas bought an apartment house. They lived there a few years, but the hot baths didn't help Rhoda much and they sold the apartment house and moved back to St. John, Idaho, where they lived until Rhoda passed away on January 28, 1932.

The house was lonely for Thomas and he needed someone to look after his needs, so his eldest son, Leonard and his wife, Clara, moved in to care for him.

Thomas spent part of his time these last years at Lava visiting with his youngest child, Sarah Vesta. Her children remember how good he was to them, often buying a show ticket and treats. While here he built on a big kitchen and bedroom.

Thomas liked to play a good game of Pinochle.

They then moved Thomas's house from St. John into Malad, Idaho, and Leonard and Clara lived here with him to care for him as he started ailing at this time.

His daughter-in-law was very good to him and when he got bedfast, she nursed him and cared for him like a daughter.

Thomas Stephens Jones died on November 2, 1948, in Malad City, Idaho, and was laid to rest beside his dear wife, Rhoda, in the St. John Cemetery.

(This short sketch of Thomas Stephens Jones written in 1960 by Donna June Bell Fowler from incidents related by Sarah Vesta Jones Bell and Caroline Jones Evans.)

(From St. John, Oneida County, Idaho: A collection of personal histories from the time of the first settlers to the present day, pp. 167-168.)