Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano, containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of many of the Early Settled Families.

Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co 1895
Copied & transcribed by our dear friend, Elaine O’ Leary 
 

Pg 785
     
JOHN AINSWORTH, a prosperous farmer of Waukechon township, Shawano county, was born January 26, 1829, near Poole, England, a son of Henry and Susan (Hoor) Ainsworth. Henry Ainsworth was a farmer, and a successful man. He reared the following named children: Martha, now deceased; Amelia, in England; Henry, in Richmond township, Shawano county; John, whose name introduces this sketch; Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth, in England; Thomas, a lumberman in Shawano, Shawano county; and Sophia, now  deceased.
     
John Ainsworth was reared a farmer boy, and had very limited opportunities for book learning, receiving what education he obtained at home. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, then, in 1850, sailed for America with his brother Henry, landing in New York after a voyage of forty days. Going to Ohio, he stopped at Ashtabula, where he engaged in day labor on a farm, and remained some five years. Having saved some money, he came by rail to Wisconsin as far as Janesville, and from there by team to Oshkosh, hiring out in a lumber camp, and thus beginning a career in lumbering which he followed some thirteen years. On September 2, 1864, John Ainsworth was united in marriage with Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Lower Canada April 21, 1837, and they have had the following named children: Maggie, in California; Georgie, now Mrs. Edward Zamp, of California, with whom Maggie lives; Charles, now deceased; John W., at home; Anna May, who is teaching school; and Virginia, at Antigo, Langlade Co., Wis., teaching school.
     
Mrs. Ainsworth is a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Sedore) Jones, the former of whom was born in Wales and came to Canada in an early day. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed this occupation during the greater part of his life.  Mrs. Jones was from Albany, N. Y. She had very limited opportunities for an education, and remained at home until her marriage, at which time her parents were in Richmond township, Shawano county, where her father followed lumbering. He died in Shawano in 1893, at the age of eighty-eight, and the mother is now living in Shawano at the age of seventy-nine.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jones had nine children, namely: Anna B., now the wife of Thomas Ainsworth, brother of John Ainsworth; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Ainsworth; Jane, now Mrs. James Brown of Embarrass, Waupaca county; David G., a farmer in  Shawano, Shawano county; Charles E., deceased; Sebastian Gordon, deceased; William Henry and Arthur W., in Antigo, Langlade county; and; Georgie, now  Mrs.  Charles   McMekel, of Belle Plaine, Shawano county. 
     
When Mr. Ainsworth was married he had 200 acres of land.  He came to Waukechon by team from Oshkosh, located on land here, and began to open up and clear a farm, building a log house 24 x 30 feet, opening roads through the trackless forests, and in other ways doing pioneer work. He now has 160 acres of land, of which he has cleared sixty, and he has also dealt in land. Politically Mr. Ainsworth is a Republican, and he has been a member of the side board. In religious affiliation he is a member of the English Episcopal Church.