Frederick William Jones, Sr.

(1842-1921)

Frederick William Jones, son of William Jones and Mary Ann Dovell, was born October 7, 1842 at Appledore, Devon Shire, England. He was the youngest child in a family of three and was called Fred.

While Fred was a very young boy, his parents heard the Gospel and in 1851 his father and family became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of this their relatives turned against them, so they gave up their family ties and came to America. In 1856 they joined a company of Saints and cross the plains to Utah.

During this time our journey, a great sorrow came the family as the father, William Jones, was taken death. He was wrapped in a sheet and buried in a shallow grave near Fort Laramie, Wyoming. At this time, Fred was only 14 years old, but with his father’s death the responsibility of caring for the family fell mostly on his shoulders. His older brother, Robert, was an invalid and was an able to be of much assistance. While crossing the plains, Fred took his turn hurting the oxen at night and then driving during the day.

A few years after the family and settled in the Salt Lake Valley, Fred was called by Pres. Brigham Young to go with a party of young men back to the Missouri River to meet a company of Saints and help them across the plains. During this trip he became acquainted with a lovely well-educated English girl by the name of Ellen Marshall. She and her two sisters had been raised in an aristocratic English home; therefore, it was very hard for them to adapt themselves to the rugged pioneer life. Fred taught Ellen how to cook over a campfire and was of great assistance to them.

As the journey progressed, there developed a romance between Fred and Ellen, and they were married a short time before the company reached the Salt Lake Valley. To them were born six children.

Fred and Ellen lived in Salt Lake but a short time when they were called to join a group of Saints and help settle the southern part of Utah. They help to establish the town St. George where Fred helped to make the first ditches and plow the first land in that area.

During the early years in St. George, Fred had a very severe case of chills and fever which caused him to lose most of his hair. Being a bit proud, he always wore a hat, except in meetings where he had to remove it. He parted his hair low on the left side and let the top grow quite long so he could comb it across his head and thus give the appearance of not being so bald.

In 1867 Fred moved his family to a little settlement called Pine Valley, not far from St. George. Shortly after his arrival there Fred was made Bishop of the Ward and served in this capacity for about 20 years. He had Ellen had the privilege of entertaining some of the general authorities of the church in their home, and Ellen took great pleasure in serving meals to her guests in her dignified English style. Alma was in our church worker, was a good musician and she played the organ or lead the singing in most of the church gatherings. Her son William often spoke of how beautiful his mother’s hands were, oh only shapely and well cared for, and showing the nobility of her birth.

In January, 1874 Fred married his second wife, Eliza Jane Baker, who bore him eight children. Eliza was a good wife and she and Ellen loved each other very much and got along well together.

Ellen developed inflammatory rheumatism and suffered several years of it. Finally, Fred took her to Salt Lake City to seek medical treatment, but she had been there only a few weeks when she passed away on May 10, 1888.

Later, Fred married a widow by the name of Julia Cox and they had this one son named Freddie. Sometime during 1889, Fred left for Mexico with Julia, his daughter Mary, and his mother. His daughter Edith had married before her father and his family went to Mexico.

Upon arrival in Mexico, Fred settled in the little town of Colonia Dublan. Shortly after this, a branch of the Juarez Ward was organized in Dublan and Fred was made the first Presiding Elder of this Branch. About a year later, Fred sent for Liza and her family, and also for Ellen’s two sons to join him in Mexico.

While Dublan was still a branch of the war as Ward, Fred’s mother Mary Ann Devell Jones, died and was taken to Juarez for burial. Sometime later, there was an epidemic of typhoid fever in Dublan and Fred lost two children. Parley, a young man of 18, died September 29, 1893, and on October 4, 1893, 13-year-old Teci May died.

Fred was a kind and loving father and grandfather. He was loved by all who knew him, and was often called in times of sickness to administer to people, as he was blessed with the gift of healing. Although there were trials and sorrows in Mexico, there was also much that brought happiness to Fred his families.

Fred was a very good farmer and he delighted in owning and driving find horses. He kept his team, harness, and wagon clean and often his wagon was used as the hearse in the time of a funeral. It was also used for happy times to carry the band and their instruments as they led a parade. Fred saw the need for bricks in the colonies so he and his sons made and burned a brick kiln. It turned out very well and he soon found sales for them. They made more bricks and helped put many of them into the finest homes built in Dublan. He and some of his boys became efficient bricklayers and work at the trade for many years.

At the time of the Exodus from Mexico in 1912, Fred and his families were forced to leave their comfortable homes and go back to the United States. They stayed a short time in El Paso, Texas, but as soon as he could make preparations for the trip, he moved his families back to St. George, Utah. There they had to begin all over, but Fred was able to do some gardening and raise fruit, so they had a comfortable living again.

Frederick William Jones, Sr. Died in St. George, Utah, July 10, 1921.

No contributor name given.

Stalwarts South of the Border Nelle Spilsbury Hatch, page 365