Lydia Marie Miller circa 1935
Photo Provided by Kermit Z. Pennock
According to Josiah Jones' mustering out papers for the Civil War, he was born December 29, 1830 in New Jersey. Josiah served his country during the Civil War in the Illinois Infantry with Company I-14th Regiment. He was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth in Manchester, VA. on September, 1865.Josiah went back to Shelby County Illinois after the war. Within a few years, he met and married Lydia Marie Miller on May 2, 1868. Lydia was born circa 1852. She was the daughter of Abediah Miller and her mother's maiden name was Schultz or Schulz. She had at least one brother named George Miller.
My grandmother, Alma never saw her grandfather, Josiah. He died twelve years before she was born. Being the "curious" genealogist that she is, she asked her older siblings and mother what he looked like. They said that he was at least 6'2" tall and had dark hair and blue eyes. I would think that this would be very tall in those days.
Lydia was quite a bit younger than Josiah according to the 1870 census for Okaw Township, Shelby County IL (P 296). The following information is found (with Josiah's name spelled Joshua):
Children born to Josiah and Lydia Marie Miller Jones are as follows:Joshua Jones age 40 Ohio
Property value--$800 and $300
Lydia 18 PA
Henry 1 ILHenry Edwin Jones b: February 20, 1869
Ammanuel Jones b: August 15, 1870
John F. Jones b: March 17, 1873
Hannah Jones b: July 29, 1878
Ida M. Jones b: May 28, 1880
Josiah Jones, II b: September 2, 1894This states that Josiah was born in Ohio, to complicate things even further. With a name like Jones and the different birthplaces, it has been virtually impossible to pin him down. I do have certain facts about Josiah that may help to unravel some of the confusion. His father's name was supposedly Josiah also. I have been told that he lived in Virginia for sometime before coming to Illinois. He had two sisters, Charlotte Jones Morse, Susan Jones Duncan and Hannah Jones. Josiah died on January 5, 1904 and is buried in Richland Cemetary in Shelby co., IL. His stone reads "Josiah Jones, Co. I, 14th ILL Infantry." This is all the information that I have on him.
Lydia Marie Jones died in Springfield, Il in 1935. She is buried in Shelby Co., IL.