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William J. Ion

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William J. Ion

Birth	:	29 Oct 1846 Monmouthshire, Wales
Death	:	4 Mar 1917 Jamestown, Cloud County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Farmington Cemetery, Macksville, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.9574510, -98.9608270
Plot	:	Lot 63
Description	:	Born Castletown, South Wales Company E 16th Regiment US Infantry The Kansas Optimist Jamestown, Kansas Thursday, March 8, 1917 page 1 Wm. J. Ion Passes Away. End Came Suddenly on Sunday Morning to Early Settler. There was a great deal of sadness in many homes in this vicinity last Sunday morning when news came of the death of William J. Ion, one of the first homesteaders of Grant township and a man who had endeared himself in many hearts and homes. For several months he had been... Read More	Born Castletown, South Wales Company E 16th Regiment US Infantry The Kansas Optimist Jamestown, Kansas Thursday, March 8, 1917 page 1 Wm. J. Ion Passes Away. End Came Suddenly on Sunday Morning to Early Settler. There was a great deal of sadness in many homes in this vicinity last Sunday morning when news came of the death of William J. Ion, one of the first homesteaders of Grant township and a man who had endeared himself in many hearts and homes. For several months he had been in poor health, and for weeks at a time he was unable to make his usual trips to town to visit with old time neighbors and friends. Recently, however, his health had slightly improved, and the attack of illness that caused his death came almost without warning and death resulted within a few hours. William J. Ion was a native of South Wales, and was ever and always proud of this ancestral name, of his native land, of its great men, its literture and its traditions and history. He was born in Castleton, Monmouthshire, South Wales, October 29th, 1846. He died at his home two miles east of Jamestown, Sunday morning, March 4th, 1917, aged seventy years, four months and four days. His father died when Mr. Ion was a boy in his 'teens, and his mother was unable to give her son an education or to care for him as the average boy is cared for. He began learning the trade in the immense iron works of Ebbwvale when a boy of ten years. When fifteen years of age he decided to come to America, and after many adventures and a great deal of difficulty he landed in New York. In that city a kind-hearted man, a Welchman, found the boy wandering the streets and gave him clothing, temporary shelter and later, sufficient funds to pay his was to Pittson, Pennsylvania, where he worked for a short time in the coal mines. In 1864 he enlisted in the United States Army in Company E., First Battalion, Sixteenth Infantry. He was made a corporal and saw active service until the end of the war. He was in the siege of Atlanta and took part in several other noted battles. After two years of army service he was given an honorable discharge and soon located in Indianapolis, Ind., where he worked a year at the blacksmith trade, later moving to St. Clair County, Illinois, where he worked as blacksmith. In a short time he went to Ray county, Missouri, and worked in the mines near Camden. In 1869 he came to Kansas and while securing information at the land offices in Pottawatomie and Marshall counties he met with parties who induced him to accompany them on a trip to western Kansas. His comrades on that trip were Columbus Hinman, J.F. Hannum, John Wilson, Rev. J.P. Sharp and a man named Hatcher who afterward became sheriff of Mitchell county. The party drove a two-yoke ox team and traveled as far west as Rooks county. Cloud County land looked better to the members of the party than anything else they saw on the trip, and four of them returned and took homesteads in Cloud county. On the west-bound trip they camped on what is now the Ion farm and Mr. Ion selected it as his choice of all the land he had seen. In 1870 he made homestead entry on the farm where he has since resided. It is said that his first home was a little cabin about thirteen feet square, with a roof of poles and sod. W.R. Ansdell, James Carter and James Kiggan helped him build it, and for a long time there was no door to shut out the wind and storms and chance intruders. "I would throw bones and scraps out in the yard," said Mr. Ion, "and the wolves would gather round and howl over them." In his youth Mr. Ion had scarcely any educational advantages, his entire schooling amounting to a term of a few months. But is you did not know this and if you talked to him for a few minutes you would naturally conclude that he had received a university training. His mind was an orderly arranged storehouse of knowledge from which he could choose at will a poem he had learned forty years ago, a quaint story of his native land, a bit of ancient lore, a date or fact of almost forgotten history, an incident of his boyhood or any one of thousands of things that the average man does not remember for more than a month or year. His education was not of the kind required by the average boy in school - it was a thorough knowledge of world history, an acquaintance with the great poets, a knowledge of human nature, of progress, of development, of science and art, of legend, tradition and mythology. He could entertain a friend for hours with historical sketches, stories of pioneer days, stories of adventure and delightful word pictures of the early days in Kansas. He was a broad-minded, big-hearted man whose word was as good as a bond and who was respected and admired by his many acquaintances. At the time of his death he was treasurer of Grant township, a position he had held for many years. In his youth he was baptized into the Episcopal church and had remained faithful throughout the years of his life. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons. The children are: Mrs. James Burton, of Fort Scott, Kansas; Mrs. Gladys Hatfield, of Jamestown; William and Ivor, both of whom live at home. Funeral services were held at Fairview, Tuesday forenoon, conducted by Rev. A.A. Avery, of the Episcopal church of Concordia. There was such a large crowd of old friends and neighbors at the church that many were unable to gain admittance. The pallbearers were: F.A. Lane, J.W. Cutshaw, James Carter, F.A. Lovell, Lars Paulsen and James Donahoe. (transcribed by Judy Mayfield)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William J. Ion's memorial?
William J. Ion's memorial is located at: Farmington Cemetery, Macksville, Stafford County, USA.
When did William J. Ion death?
William J. Ion death on 4 Mar 1917 in Jamestown, Cloud County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William J. Ion's memorial?
Latitude: 37.9574510
Longitude: -98.9608270

Family Members:

Parent

Maria Murray Ion

(1828 - 1908)

Spouse

Minerva Louise “Minnie” Patty Ion

(1849 - 1923)

Children

Roslyn J. Ion

(1882 - 1883)

William A. Ion

(1884 - 1939)

Pvt Ivor S. Ion

(1887 - 1974)

Gladys G. Ion Hatfield

(1888 - 1975)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Farmington Cemetery
Macksville, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9574510, -98.9608270

2. Township Cemetery
Macksville, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9569016, -98.9582977

3. Neelands Cemetery
St. John, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9000015, -98.8660965

4. Belpre Cemetery
Belpre, Edwards County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9528950, -99.1017510

5. Prattsburg Cemetery
Macksville, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8283005, -99.0044022

6. Devore Family Cemetery
St. John, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0141200, -98.7947700

7. Martin Cemetery
St. John, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9564018, -98.7742004

8. Hopewell Cemetery
Hopewell, Pratt County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8058500, -99.0005600

9. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Larned, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0718994, -99.0955963

10. Byers Cemetery
Byers, Pratt County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7961006, -98.8756027

11. Fairview Park Cemetery
St. John, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0078380, -98.7456540

12. Point View Cemetery
Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1306000, -98.9131012

13. Fertig Cemetery
Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1458015, -98.9492035

14. Wayne Cemetery
Lewis, Edwards County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9550018, -99.2144012

15. Pleasant Plains Cemetery
Byers, Pratt County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7616300, -98.9033500

16. Rose Valley Cemetery
Stafford, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8616982, -98.7285995

17. Leesburg Cemetery
Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8993988, -98.6913986

18. Fellsburg Cemetery
Edwards County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8069000, -99.1688995

19. Providence Cemetery
Edwards County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7336006, -99.0511017

20. Prairie Chapel Cemetery
Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8978004, -98.6493988

21. Verning Cemetery
Stafford, Stafford County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9986000, -98.6438980

22. Larned State Hospital Cemetery
Larned, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1722800, -99.1566200

23. Larned Cemetery
Larned, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.1861000, -99.1333008

24. Garfield Cemetery
Garfield, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 38.0738983, -99.2667007