History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

62 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. Lauer is a democrat in polities and lias served in the
capacity of county assessor for about fifteen years, making a highly
creditable and commendable record in that connection. He is a
Catholic in religious faith and a devout communicant of the church.
He is a man of exemplary habits, strict integrity and strong personality
and is well known in the coimty where his entire life has
been spent, holding the high esteem of all who have business and
social relations with him.
WILLIAM V. JONES.
One of the leading busuiess enterprises of Amboy is the Jones
Berry Lumber Company, of which William V. Jones is the president.
He has conducted business in this connection since March
1, 1909, and the patronage of the firm has constantly increased as a
result of enterprising and progressive methods on the part of
Mr. Jones and his associates, fie was born near Woodbridge, New
Jersey, October 7, 1842, and was a lad of twelve years when he
arrived in Lee county. His parents were J. A. and Margaret
(Sleight) Jones. The family is of Welsh origin and was founded
in America by the great grandfather of our subject. The grandfather
served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The father, J. A.
Jones, was one of the early settlers of Bradford township and continued
a resident of Lee county until 1903, when he passed away
at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife died in 1885 and they
are both laid to rest in Lee Center cemetery.
In the Bradford district school William V. Jones began Ms
education and after putting aside his text-books he assisted his
father in the work of the farm. He was actively identified with
agricultural pursuits for fort3'-five years and still owns the old
homestead on which he has made various substantial improvements.
Turning from agricultin'al to commercial interests he
became organizer of the lumber company of which he is the president.
He is director of the Farmer's Insurance Company of Bradford,
Lee county, to which position he was called in 1878 and has
served as president for the past eight years. He is likewise a
director of the First National Bank, but concentrates his energies
chiefly upon the lumber business in which connection he has
developed an important enterprise. The firm carries a large stock