Elisha Jones died August 18, 1880. His favorite song was "Oh, Ye Mountains High."
He was the husband of three wives and the father of 28 children. He was also a blacksmith, shoemaker, and dentist who pulled teeth for everyone.
He first heard about the church from his brother in 1842 and later joined in March of 1847. He moved to Winter Quarters in July of 1847 with his wife and 4 children. He moved in the spring of 1848 to Panesville (Kanesville) and worked as a blacksmith.
For two years he saved money and left in the spring of 1850 for Salt Lake City. He arrived on September 7, 1850, settling first in Little Cottonwood Canyon and then moving to Provo. He also lived in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
Elisha had three wives: Margaret Talbot (md. 3 Sept 1831), Sarah Ann Cummings (Sallie md. 18 Dec. 1856) and Annie Poulson (md. 16 January 1857).
Margaret Talbot's father's mother was an Irish woman. (That's our only Irish connection on the Moulton side that I have found.)
Elisha was 51 years old when his first wife, Margaret, died. Seven months later he left Provo, Utah and moved to Heber City, Utah. While in Provo, he served as constable, sheriff, and high councilman.
He died on August 18, 1880, at the age of 67.
Below I have included some of his diary entries.
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| Elisha Jones |
| Birth: | Jun. 11, 1813 Adena Jefferson County Ohio, USA | ||||||||
| Death: | Aug. 18, 1880 Heber City Wasatch County Utah, USA | ||||||||
 Portions of Elisha Jones' Diary I was born in Ohio State, Jefferson County, town of Wain on the 11th day of June 1813. My parents had but four children: James, the oldest, myself, Jacob, and Elizabeth Ann. My father and mother were from the State of Maryland, Baltimore County. Moved to Ohio about two years before I was born. Followed farming and were industrious, hard working folks. I never knew my father to try to speculate or beat his fellowmen in his life. Never united with any of the religion of the day to my knowledge but believed the Baptist persuasion. My mother was raised a Quaker until my father married her when she was turned out for marrying out of the church. They raised us to hard work and taught us good morals. Never suffered us to keep bad company. My father's name was Thomas Jones, born November 3, 1787, at Baltimore, Maryland. His father's name was Jacob Jones, born November 3, 1731. His wife's name was Elizabeth Gale. They had twelve children. Jacob Jones' father was Richard Jones and his wife was Elizabeth Clark. My mother's name was Mary Naylor, born 1787, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her father's name was John Naylor; her mother, Mary Griffith. My grandfather Naylor was a Quaker. He died with a cancer when I was about twelve years old. His wife died soon after. Grandfather Jones died not long after. His wife lived until 1849-50. 1825: In the Spring my father moved to Wells Township where I met the girl I married, Margaret Talbott. We were married September 3, 1831. Her parents both died when she was about thirteen months old. She lived with her grandfather when I married her. Her father's name was Absalom. He was from the State of Maryland. Her father's mother was an Irish woman. They were as honorable folks as ever lived. In early life I felt concerned about religion but at forty I became greatly concerned and sought the Lord in prayer and joined the Reform Methodist and was baptized by _________. In about two weeks I was elected class leader and placed over the branch of about one hundred and thirty members in Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio. About 1842 there came a man into the neighborhood that told of a people called Mormons. His name was James Dunn. My brother James believed the work and left immediately for Illinois. I read their books and believed them, especially the voice of warning. My wife dissatisfied with my reading so I laid them by for a while. My brother James went to Illinois and joined the Church and was gone four years. At this time Joseph Smith and Hyram Smith were murdered on the 27th day of June 1844. The Church was driven from Illinois to Winter Quarters. My brother James came back to Ohio to my fathers and stayed all winter. Thomas departed this life April 10, 1846. As soon as my brother came I was anxious to know about the work of the Lord. So William departed this life March 9, 1847, after a sickness of 19 days. My brother James N. Jones baptized me and my wife in the nighttime, because of persecution, about the 3rd of March, 1847. I immediately began to get ready to start for Winter Quarters with my family that was left: Martha, Richard, John, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth. The mob spirit raged and enemies would have mobbed me if they had known I was going. We arrived in Winter Quarters on July 27, 1847. Heard Orson Hyde preach. My wife took sick with the fever and lay three months. About this time I was building a log house and broke a blood vessel in my breast. I lost so much blood I could not stand. I lay five months and lost all of my property. James born January 10, 1848. At this time I let Chancy Whitting have a mare for which I was to receive an ox. He returned the horse stifeled. She died and he refused to pay. Moved back across the river to Fanesville in the spring of 1848. James died July 30, 1848. I bought some tools and began blacksmithing. Elisha Warren born June 7, 1849. Martha married February 4, 1849. I was ordained an Elder by President Samuel Spaugue and others and received a license of an Elder. About this time of the first presiding of the Twelve and about five hundred others started for Salt Lake Valley. In the spring of 1850 I started for Salt Lake Valley and arrived September 7, 1850. Before I left Panesville, I was recommended by Jacob Hamblind. Was ordained into the Quorum of the Seventies and recommended to preach. Margaret Ellen was born April 30, 1853. She died of whopping cough May 29, 1853. About this time there was considerable difficulty with the Indians and we were counseled to Fort up. I helped to lay off the fort on Little Cotton. Sold out and moved to Provo and bought lots on which I build a house of four rooms. I served as constable, acted as deputy sheriff three years; was elected one of the City Council and one of the High Council. Joseph born May 18, 1854. Richard married Mary Cummings November 11, 1855. John married Elizabeth Young November 26, 1855 and died 27 November 1855. Sealed to me Sarah Ann Cummings by J. Morely December 13, 1856 and also Annie Polson by President Brigham Young January 16, 1857. Hyram was born May 19, 1857. His mother lay sick a good while but only the mercy of God revived her. Samuel Jones born to Sarah Ann 12 July 1858 at quarter past ten in the morning. In the summer of 1867 the United States Government sent their officers with a force of two thousand men to Utah to make the Mormons submit to the U.S. Government. We stopped them in the mountains all winter. They make arrangement with President Young to go to Deer Valley. They stayed until 1860 when most of them were ordered to Mexico. Those left are out fighting Indians. On August 8, 1858 my brother James and his family are in the Church and are living in Provo two blocks from me. My mother died in September 1855. My father lives in Ohio, also my brother Jacob. Elizabeth Ann married James C. W. Evans and lives in Iowa. August 29, 1858 Samuel blessed by Bishop J. O. Duke and myself. November 21, 1858 my wife Margaret had a fit and put her foot in the fireplace and burned the toes and all of the top to a crisp. January 21, 1859 Margaret's foot bled until it is only through the blessing of the Lord that she is alive. January 30, 1859 George A. Smith preached on the preface of the D. & C. February 6, Doctor John Briggs took two bones of the toes of my wife's foot off. It is eleven weeks today since it was burned. March 26, 1859 I went to the canyon. Went to get a drink when a great stone came down and caught me against a rock and burst my leg open nine and one half inches, breaking my leg in two places below the knee and split the bone five inches, crushed the knee bone. In three weeks I went on crutches into the garden and worked from then on. About the 9th of November I moved into Sanpete County to Mount Pleasant. Wife's foot no better. Commenced working at North Bend and built a cabin. January 4, 1860 at a meeting I was appointed to oversee the east side of the fort we are building. January 6, 1860 my brother James was Bishop of North Bend and I was appointed clerk for him. January 8, 1860 went to North Bend to work. January 12, 1860 commenced to quarry rock for the fort walls. January 14, 1860 went to Mount Pleasant. Family all well. January 29 rock all quarried and hauled for east side that I have charge of. March 8, 1860 moved from Mount Pleasant to North Bend. We now have from twenty to twenty-five houses and I am keeping record of this place. March 12, 1860 lay up James N. Jones place. March 15, 1860 commenced building the fort wall with only about thirty men. April 1, 1860 for fort wall is up, seven feet high with gates to close. June 1 took a tramp in the mountains looking for timber and surveying the road. June 2 this day at home making bellows so I can do some ironwork. July 1 I was appointed to take charge of making the road in Burch Creek Canyon. Commenced on the 3rd with 33 hands. October 13 finished the harvesting, cut thirty acres and got it in the stock. October 14 I shaved and dressed a dead man of Brother Wadds. Do not know his name. October 25 Lucy, child of James M. Jones, took fire causing her death on the 26th of October. November 12 went for a load of weed and cut my foot where the great toe joins the foot. November 22 the Superintendent of the common schools came to organize our district No. 5 and I was elected trusted No. 1. November 25 at meeting called on the people to build a schoolhouse the next week. January 8, 1861 Rachel Ann, daughter of Elisha and Sarah Ann Jones born. February 1 commenced smithing. February 10 Rachel Ann blessed by father, Isaac Morley, Bishop James N. Jones, John Cox, J. Y. Vance and Elisha Jones. April 12, 1861 gave into the poor fund one yoke of oxen to go back to Missouri for the Saints. April 28 today received by the Deseret News information that the North and South had been fighting according to Joseph Predictions. June 6 blessed Sarah's Isaac. July 12 thrown from a wagon, splitting the bones of my arm and injuring me so I won't be able to work for months. January 1, 1862 at meeting today word from the President for the Saints to pray three times a day for the government. February 18 meet in mass to send two delegates to Moroni to a convention to nominate nominees for the coming election, the first to be held under the Constitution of the State of Deseret. I was nominated as a delegate. March 3 the first election in the new state for governor. March 4, 1862 my wife took a fit this morning and fell on a feather bed and smothered to death. March 5 started to Provo to bury her. Sent word to Provo to Richard, Mary and Sarah but road washed out and snow deep and they could not come and meet me. March 6 got to Nole Guyman's and stayed all night. Went to Provo and stayed there until the 9th then buried her and started home. March 12 at home looking over things and giving the girls some presents. August 19 hired Adella Cox to teach summer school. August 24 gave people terms of the school and encouraged them to send their children. March 25 visited the school and gave instructions to the teachers and scholars. May 25 my son Joseph baptized, recorded 18 baptism and confirmations and 7 blessings. March 3 Richard started to Provo for his family. March 13 Richard came to my home. His wife being dissatisfied returned on February 23, 1863. Mary Malinda, daughter, born. Blessed April 19 by J. Morley Sr. May 15 received letter from my sister in Ohio. May 19 started to Provo Valley with my wife and five youngest children to visit. September 14 and 15 went to Provo. At 3 o'clock a message came to me that my boy Elisha had been hurt on his head by a falling, rupturing a blood vessel in his breast. September 29 Elisha W. Jones was ordained an Elder under the hands of James N. Jones and myself. October 12 Elisha remained helpless. Cannot move his left arm or leg yet. Face and eyes very much deformed. January 23, 1864 Elisha is yet helpless. March 1 I was appointed one of the building committee of the new meetinghouse. June 24 Elder Orson Hyde was here and accepted the resignation of my brother James as Bishop. I have tended duties to the meetinghouse and it is to the square. September 20, 1864 offered my resignation as trustee of the Meetinghouse and A. S. Cora took my place. Sold out my place at Fairview to James Knight and am going to Provo Valley by the help of the Lord. October 1864 moved to Heber City, Wasatch County. Was soon elected School Trustee. February 1, 1865 engaged in farming and blacksmithing. August 1865 appointed to take charge of the hands on the bridge across the river between this town and Salt Lake City. August 14 news of the death of brother James at Fairview, Sanpete County. I was elected Justice of the Peach of Heber on the second Monday in August. November went to Sanpete, took my son Elisha with me. November 25 Black Hawk had made a raid today on Circle Valley and killed two men and a boy. Drove off the principle part of their stock. November 27 started home with my sheep. Went to Fountain Green. Got Elam Cheney's the 28th and Provo the 29th. December 1 started up Provo Canyon but it rained and snowed all day. Got to Father Dicker's and left my sheep and went home. December 5 went back to Dicker's and got my sheep. December 20, 1865 born John C. Jones, this evening at 5 o'clock. March 1, 1866 blessed John C. Jones. July 1 heard complaint of B. A. Norris. His house was broken into and ten dollars stolen. November went to Sanpete and brought Caroline home with me and returned to Payson to meet my son Elisha with the stock. December 12 went to Salt Lake City to take some cattle and get a stove for the schoolhouse. Gone five days. December 15, 1866 took my wife Sarah Ann and Caroline through the Endowment House, where brother Woodruff sealed Sarah Ann to me for time and all Eternity and my first wife Margaret was sealed to me. Sarah Ann being proxy. Also Caroline was sealed to me for time and to my brother James for Eternity. She had five children: Mary, Isaac, Lovina, James H., and Lucy. January 25, 1868 Harriet Lenora Jones born and blessed March 1, by J. W. Witt. March 15, received letter from Elizabeth Knight. All eaten by grasshoppers. March 26, 1868 Nancy Jane born. Blessed April 26 by Thomas H. Giles. January 3, 1869 at meeting out to Echo Valley. March 25 went to Salt Lake City for the 20 per cent coming to my company for railroad work but it was not paid in. April 4 at meeting today teams called to haul lime for the Tithing Office. Stephen Bon's child blessed. June 5 received a letter from James C. W. Evans giving the death of my father, Thomas Jones. I believe he was over 83 years old. September 15 Harriet Lenora, daughter of Elisha and Caroline D. Jones died. March 7 I homesteaded on fourth, S 25, T. 3, N 4 E. May 1, 1870 at meeting Nymphas Murdock gave an account of his mission east. The grasshoppers have commenced on our wheat. May 27 went to Salt Lake to draw money my father left me. June 28 Eliza A., daughter of Elisha and Caroline D. Jones, born. Blessed August 7 by J. B. Murdock. September 9 Harmon C, son of Elisha and Sarah Ann, born. September 25 received money from my father's estate. August 16, 1871 Harmon Jones died this morning. Age 11 months and 7 days. I have been trying all fall and winter to get off to the city to be baptized for the dead. Have put down one hundred names. March 6, 1872 I married my son Elisha W. Jones to Jane Ann Pierce. December 30, 1872 born to Elisha and Caroline Jones, Simeon. January 8, 1873 born to Elisha and Sarah Ann, Susan. June 6, 1874 Heber A. Jones born and blessed July 4, by Elisha Jones and Thomas Rasband. August 4, 1875 was elected Justice of the Peace. August 28 visit of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and George Q. Cannon. February 20, 1876 Louisa born. Blessed March 11 by Elisha Jones. November 8, 1877 Edward A. Jones born. In November and December took cancer out of my arm. I put salve on it and it was 69 days coming out. September 16 Orson Hicken's boy killed. | |||||||||
Margaret Talbot Jones is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.
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