By Stanley Peterson 

David W. Jones is a native of Utah, born at Willard, Utah, November 19, 1863, and is the son of John D. and Mary (Jones) Jones, natives of Wales. The father left that country about 1851 and emigrated to America. His wife came to this country on a sailing vessel which was nine weeks making the voyage. She proceeded up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, Iowa. They crossed the plains to Utah by ox teams, walking most of the way and locating at Willard, Utah, where Mr. Jones engaged in farming and continued at that occupation for some years. 

(Photo of David W. Jones) 

In 1873, the father, John D. Jones, moved to Oneida County, Idaho, and took up a tract of land lying six miles south of Malad City which he improved and developed. He cultivated that farm for the remainder of his active life, becoming one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of the county. He reared two families consisting of twenty children. His death occurred about 1905 and his widow, Mary Jones, survived him eleven years, her death taking place in August 1916. 

David W. Jones spent the first twelve years of his life in Willard, Utah, and received part of his early education in that place, finishing his school course at Cherry Creek. His teacher was Sam Radmille. Mr. Jones said they would not have the school he attended for a coal shed now. He remained at home until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he commenced freighting from Corrine, Utah, to various points in Montana. He remained at that occupation for ten years. He made his home at Cherry Creek where he bought a one hundred and sixty acre ranch, which he improved and which he still owns. On this place he was engaged in the cattle and sheep business for about thirty years, but his sons are now operating the place. He also bought and still owns two hundred and seventy-five acres of alfalfa and pasture land. He has interest in the First National Bank of Malad and is a stockholder and was manager of the La Grande dance hall. He also entered the grocery business in 1920 and continued up to a year ago. 

On the 11th of February, 1883, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Maria Williams of Cherry Creek, who was born in Tooele, Utah, in 1865. To them have been born 10 children, seven living and three dead. Jenkin W. is a government employee stationed at Washington D.C. David W. Jr. served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is the present wrestling instructor for the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Brigham W. Jones is engaged in farming at Cherry Creek. LaVerne is also engaged in farming at Cherry Creek, running the old homestead of D.W. Jones Sr., and Merle Jones is residing at San Francisco and Leland Jones works for the State Highway Dept. Marie Jones is an employee of Evans Co-op company. The three dead are: Ernest W. Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, and Pearl, who died at the age of seven. Ernest was killed in action in France, October 9, 1918, while a member of a machine gun company. The local American Legion Post is named in honor of Ernest W. Jones.  

David W. Jones’ fellow citizens have called upon him to serve in official positions of honor and trust. He served as justice of the peace, constable and deputy state sheep inspector at Cherry Creek for eight years. In March 1917, he was appointed probate judge of this county to which office he was elected the following year and in 1920 was a candidate for reelection. His official duties have always been performed in a most satisfactory manner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jones celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1933. They have 28 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.