|
History of Tompkins, Schuyler,
Chemung, Tioga 1879
|
|
Page 278 - Richmond Jones
Biography
|
Richmond Jones was born in Bloomfield, Essex Co., N. J., September
4, 1811.
His great-grandfather Jones emigrated from Wales with his six brothers,
and are supposed to have settled at different places in the United States.
His grandfather, Elijah Jones, lived and was married in Norwalk, Conn.,
to Hannah Raymond, of a distinguished family; was a messenger of dispatches
in the Revolutionary war for General Washington, and served until its close,
at about which time he first settled in New Jersey; and subsequently, in
the year 1798, came and settled in Newtown (now Elmira) with his family,
which at that time and afterwards consisted of seventeen children, fourteen
of whom lived to an average age of sixty-five years. The religious tenets
of the family of Jones are Presbyterian, and its members have taken leading
parts in establishing churches in that denomination; and particularly characteristic
of the family is its uprightness, honesty, general intelligence, devout
Christian principles, and liberal opinions on all matters relative to any
enterprise tending to educate and elevate the rising generation, and to
build up and improve the country, and a strong advocacy of temperance principles.
Of this large family of children, the Rev. Simeon R. Jones, a very prominent
clergyman, was eldest son, and was probably the first settled minister
in Elmira. He lived to do very much good, and spent nearly his whole life
in the Chemung valley, was chaplain in the war of 1812-14, and died at
about the age of eighty-four. |
|
Joel Jones, father of the subject of this narrative, was third son of
the family; was married before leaving New Jersey to Mary Munnward, a lady
belonging to one of the most wealthy and influential families of that State;
settled in Elmira in the year 1814; was a mechanic by occupation, and served
as an elder of the Presbyterian Church for some thirty years. Died at the
age of seventy-five, December 10, 1863. His wife died January 10, 1863.
Mr. Jones spent his boyhood days mostly at school, in the best schools
of Elmira. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk in the store of Joseph
Viall, where he first became impressed with the idea of leading a mercantile
life. At the age of twenty he established business for himself in Tioga
Co., Pa., and also engaged largely in the manufacture of lumber, and dealing
in the same at Daggett’s Mills, and at Wellsville, N. Y. Both in his mercantile
business and lumber manufacturing he was successful. While at Wellsville
he was in partnership with Mr. Bradley as lumber merchants, shipping to
Albany, Troy, and New York. About the year 1849, Mr. Jones retaining his
interests in Pennsylvania and New York, went to New York and opened an
office as a jobber in lumber, which he continued for some three years,
and returned to Elmira, where he has since resided, engaging still in the
lumber business as a buyer and shipper. In connection with this business,
he has engaged largely in real estate operations, mostly in the city of
Elmira. Mr. Jones, although not solicitous of office, has been an ardent
supporter of first the Whig party, and afterwards the Republican party,
and is well read in all the current topics of the day.
He is a man of strict honesty, of much consideration in the management
of his business affairs, and prompt in the fulfillment of his least obligations.
In the year 1843, October 24, he married Miss Sarah Ann, second daughter
of Col. Ambrose Millard, Tioga, Pa. The family is of Scotch descent on
her mother’s side (Gordon), and on the paternal side of English descent.
They have two children, -Alice L., wife of Horace R. Hallock, of Detroit,
Mich., and Millard R. Jones, a practicing attorney in New York. Mr. Jones
had six brothers, one of whom -Isaac Ward -was prominently identified in
New York as a grain and flour commission merchant for some twenty years,
and was killed while attempting to pass from one car to another on the
New Jersey Central in the year 1861, December 3.
Joyce Tip Box -- December 2007 -
|
If you are not navigating this Tri-Counties
Site via the left and right sidebars of the Current
What's New page you are doing yourself a disservice. You can get
to any place on the site easily by making yourself familiar with these
subject and place topics. Try them all to be as familiar with the site's
16,000 plus pages as you can. Stop groping in the dark and take the lighted
path. That's also the only way you'll find the search engines for the site
or have access to the necessary messages I may leave for you. Make
it easy on yourself. |
|