Back in the family: J.W. Jones bought and restored his father's 1951 tractor

J.W. Jones wipes off his 1951 8N Ford on Sunday, Sept. 11, during the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Jones purchased the tractor, which was originally purchased by his father, Sam D. Jones, in 2010 after it had been sold at his father's estate auction in 1987. Jones restored the tractor back to its original condition with help from painter Terry Conklin.

Laura Simon

J.W. Jones' father, Samuel D. Jones, owned a 1951 8N Ford tractor that young Jones always admired.

The tractor eventually was sold in an auction to someone from Beaufort, Missouri, and years later, it found its way back to J.W. Jones.

"It was [later] sold to someone who lived [near the St. Louis area]," he says. "I bought it from them around 2010."

It took him about a year to get the tractor restored back to its original condition.

"We started (working on it) shortly after I bought it," Jones says.

Terry Conklin, who works for Jones' son, Steve, at Midway Trailers in Benton, Missouri, painted the tractor during the restoration.

When asked how much money it took to restore the tractor, Jones laughs.

"Dad paid about $1,100 for it," he says. "I probably put about $3,000 into it, and it's probably worth about $3,000 or $4,000 today."

Jones purchased the tractor for sentimental reasons.

"(I wanted it) because it was Dad's," he says.

Jones' father was a farmer in Millersville, and like many others in the area, Jones grew up as a farm kid.

He now enjoys participating in local parades with the tractor and bringing it to the SEMO District Fair.

"I've had it in the Jackson Veterans Day and Christmas parades, and the Altenburg fair parade," he says. "And some years, I bring it to the SEMO Fair."

Jones, who is 88, owned Midway Trailers and retired in 1990. His son, Steve, now owns the business.

Jones and his wife, Mary, have been married for 66 years and reside in Jackson. They also have a daughter, Debra Griffin, who lives near Chaffee, Missouri. They have three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to tinkering with and showing his tractor, Jones is a member of the Egypt Mills Tractor Club and the American Legion in Jackson.