(Some information from the works of Norma South, 15 June 1989) 

(Photo of Charming Old Home – Pearl and Oren Jones home) 

If a house could talk, many a tale it would spin of the generations of passing time, especially one that is over 100 years old, as is the Oren and Pearl Jones home south of Malad. 

Built in 1880, the red frame dwelling with white gingerbread trim, has sheltered four generations of Jones family members. 

Few homes in Oneida County are left that qualify for centennial distinction. But in the months ahead, as Oneida County prepares to celebrate the 1990 Idaho Centennial, the Oneida Centennial Committee hopes to pinpoint these links with the past and give them special recognition. The Jones home was constructed with square nails and adobe brick inner walls. Four wood-burning stoves consumed fuel from the old orchard planted by Oren’s grandfather, James E. Jones.  

James E. Jones came to Malad from Wales in 1864, when the first settlers arrived. While homesteading a farm south of town, he built a little log house. By 1866, he had married Annie Williams, a daughter of other Welsh pioneers. 

They lived in the little log cabin with their growing family until 1879 when tragedy struck. When Annie was taking a pitcher of cool lemonade to haymen working in a field, she looked back and saw the cabin in flames. The older children were safe, but the 2-year-old baby girl burned to death.  

The family’s only housing then was the barn. When winter came they “farmed out” their children with friends in town and continued to live in the barn until spring.  

Then James started building the frame home. They believed that if the cabin had had another outside door, they could have saved the life of their baby, so James built outside doors in each of the five rooms.  

The pioneer couple lived there until 1908 when a son, James T. Jones brought his bride, Sadie, to live on the farm. 

Sadie and James T. lived there until 1945 when their only son, Oren J. Jones, came home from World War II and brought his wife, Pearl, and baby daughter. Then Oren’s parents moved to town. 

Some people expected Pearl, a redhaired school teacher, to spurn the 65-year-old home and want a new one, but she loved it from the start. With an artistic eye and nimble fingers she set about to accent every homey feature. Pearl and Oren have made it functionally modern without sacrificing any of the original charm. The interior’s early American decor is authentic from the light oak paneled 10-foot ceilings with wide scalloped cornices to the ancient butter churn and the old fashioned coal stove. 

Arrives from Wales 

James E. Jones came to Malad from Wales in October, 1864, and homesteaded one section – 640 acres – of land. The following spring he began clearing his section for farming, and built a log house. His courtship of Annie Williams – who also made the dangerous trek across the plains after arriving back east – from Wales, was culminated July 20, 1866, in a marriage ceremony at William Peck’s home under his authority. 

The young couple lived in their log home until tragedy struck in 1879. Annie was taking a pitcher of lemonade down to her husband and hardworking haymen, when she glanced back to discover their home on fire. The couple’s little two and one-half year-old girl perished in the blazing cabin. 

That fall they started anew on a home, living in their barn until the home was completed the following spring of 1880. (That barn, which temporarily served as a home, is still standing on the Jones’ property.) 

Home with Five Doors 

The new home had five doors leading outside since the couple felt they could have saved their child if their old log home would have had another door. 

This 96-year-old house – built with square nails, and adobe bricks in  the walls for insulation – still stands today, with grandson Oren J. Jones and family making it their home. 

James E. Jones was an industrious, intelligent farmer, who harvested during one year 3,000 bushels of wheat, 1,000 tons of hay and other assorted crops such as oats and potatoes. 

A woman had to be tough to make the 6-week trip across the Atlantic, then survive the rigors of crossing the plains. (“…they would go away happily and on friendly terms.” –Missing content).  

In 1905 James E. Jones sold his farm to his sons, James T. and John W. Jones. In the spring of 1908, James T. Jones brought his bride, Sadie, to live in the old home. 

They lived there and farmed the land until 1945 when their son, Oren J. Jones, his wife Pearl, and daughter Judy, moved into the house to take over the operation on the farm. 

Oren still owns 220 acres of the original farm, which has been divided amongst the heirs, and still sleeps in the bedroom where he was born.