Multnomah-Douglas County OR Archives Biographies.....Jones, John M. August 2, 1871 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 27, 2008, 12:58 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company JOHN M. JONES, who for eight years has rendered notably efficient service as postmaster at Portland, has been connected with this office for thirty-eight years, which period has witnessed a phenomenal increase in the volume of business transacted through the office, reflecting the remarkable growth of the city. Beginning his service in the ranks as a letter carrier, he earned successive promotions and has shown marked executive ability, his office functioning in a manner that has been highly satisfactory to the people of this city. Mr. Jones was born in Roseburg, Oregon, on the 23d of August, 1871, and is a son of Joseph and Rowena (Wright) Jones, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Missouri. His father, who was of Welsh descent, came to Oregon in 1852 with his father, George Jones, who took up a donation land claim near Roseburg, in the forks of the Umpqua river. He was born October 7, 1815, and his wife, Sarah Jones, was born January 1, 1819. Father and son followed farming a number of years. Joseph Jones died at Spokane, Washington, in 1913. His widow is still living in that city, at the age of seventy-eight years. John M. Wright, the maternal grandfather of John M. Jones, was also a pioneer settler of this state. John M. Jones secured a public and high school education and remained on his father's farm until 1890, when he came to Portland and for a few months worked for the Portland Electric Company. Later in that year he entered the Portland post office, under Postmaster George A. Steele, and was appointed a mail carrier, in which capacity he served for thirteen years, after which for a few months he was an office clerk. He was then made assistant superintendent of the city delivery, having charge of the letter carriers, and next became superintendent of letter carriers, which positions he filled until March, 1914, when he was appointed superintendent of mails, serving until February, 1920, when he became assistant postmaster. In September, 1920, he was appointed acting postmaster, on December 23, 1921, was appointed postmaster, and in 1925 was reappointed, and is still serving in that position. In taking the examination for postmaster, under the Wilson administration, Mr. Jones stood first in a class of twenty-two, and on the incoming of the Harding administration it became necessary for him to take another examination, in which he stood highest in a class of seventeen. He has applied himself indefatigably to every phase of the post office work in which he has been engaged during nearly four decades of service and has proven himself well worthy of the promotions which have come to him. He helped to plan the new post office building, and is official custodian of both this and the old building. Some idea of the growth of the post office business here may be gleaned from the following comparative statement of receipts: 1849, $82.98; 1860, $3,608.99; 1870, $14,534.66; 1880, $41,567.67; 1890, $143,771.14; 1900, $215,978.47; 1910, $925,164.52; 1920, $1,960,009.95; 1927, $3,101,195.45. There are three hundred and seven regular carriers, forty substitute carriers, three hundred and fifteen regular clerks, twenty-five substitute clerks, thirteen laborers, twelve special delivery messengers, seventy-five sub- stations, with clerks in charge and eight rural routes. There are about thirty trucks and delivery machines, and sixty-three square miles of territory are embraced within the city delivery district. The Portland post office is the central accounting office for the state of Oregon, which includes the auditing of the accounts of over seven hundred post offices in the state. What is now the city of Portland has had sixteen different post offices discontinued, such as East Portland, Montaville, University, St. Johns , and others, which have been replaced by sub-stations. In 1890 there were no letter carriers, on the east side of the city, which was then the separate municipality of East Portland. To Mr. Jones belongs the distinction of being the first postmaster of a large city in the west to have been appointed from the ranks, without regard to party affiliation, his appointment coming as the result of his long and effective service, his intimate familiarity with the details of postal work, and his high standing in the examinations, so that in every respect he is well worthy of the position which he so acceptably fills. In 1910 Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Schaible, of Detroit. Michigan. He is a republican in his political views, and fraternally is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Spanish-American War Veterans, and also belongs to the Ad Club, the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He is a director of the Fidelity Reserve and Loan Company and has shown a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and prosperity of his city. Loyalty to principle, faithfulness to duty and uniform courtesy in all of his relations have characterized his career, and no resident of Portland commands to a greater degree the confidence and respect of his fellowmen. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 555-556 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/jones527gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb