The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 883 

CALVIN A. JONES.

Calvin A. Jones is the owner of seventy acres of valuable ranch property in
Yakima county, his home now being in Yakima. He was born in Moultrie county,
Illinois, December 31, 1856, a son of Wesley and Phoebe (McKay) Jones, the
former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. They became early
residents of Illinois, taking up their abode in that state during the pioneer
epoch in its history, and there the father followed farming in order to provide
for the support of his family. Both he and his wife have now passed away.

Calvin A. Jones, after acquiring a public school education, began working as a
farm hand and was thus employed until he attained his majority. He then began
farming on his own account in his native state and was thus engaged for nine
years. He also worked on the railroads in the middle west for ten years, but the
opportunities of the Pacific coast country attracted him and in 1901 he arrived
in Yakima. Through the intervening period he has been identified with the
development and progress of this section of the country. In 1910 he purchased
forty acres of land south of Sunnyside, which had been cleared but no house had
been built upon it. He erected a good residence and in addition to this property
he has since bought thirty acres near Outlook, Washington. He also at one time
had ten acres near Yakima which he has traded for city property. Upon his
ranches he raises hay, corn and potatoes, also conducts a dairy and is engaged
in raising hogs. The various branches of his business are sources of gratifying
success, for his work is intelligently directed and his diligence is
unfaltering. He studies the best methods of tilling the soil, practices the
rotation of crops and keeps his ranch in excellent condition through the most
modern and scientific methods.

In May, 1882, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Mary Viola Rice, who was born in
White county, Illinois, a daughter of Tolliver and Elnor (Steel) Rice, the
former a blacksmith by trade. Both he and his wife have now passed away. To Mr.
and Mrs. Jones have been born seven children: Ola, the wife of Daniel Duval, a
resident of San Francisco; Ora, the wife of Chris Maestretti, living at
Grandview; Essie, who died in infancy; Edith, the wife of Frank Shiley, of
Grandview; William Wesley, who is farming the home ranch; Edward Stinson; and
Calvin A., Jr.

Mr. Jones belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his political
allegiance usually to the republican party, although he does not consider
himself bound by party ties. He is a brother of United States Senator Jones of
Washington, but Calvin A. Jones has no political ambition, preferring to
concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. which are most
wisely directed and are bringing to him substantial success. His wife is a
member of the Christian church and both are highly esteemed in the community in
which they live, having a large circle of warm friends in Yakima county. He is a
self-made man, who on landing here had but three hundred dollars and a family
of six children to support but he has made good use of his opportunities and is
today quite well-to-do.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.