BIO: Benjamin JONES, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  BENJAMIN JONES. In a brief sketch of any living citizen it is 
difficult to do him exact and impartial justice, not so much from lack 
of space or words to set forth the familiar and passing events of his 
personal history as for want of the perfect and rounded conception of 
his whole life, which grows, develops and ripens, like fruit, to 
disclose its true and best flavor only when it is mellowed by time.  
Daily contact with the man so familiarizes us with his many virtues 
that we ordinarily overlook them, and commonly underestimate their 
possessor.  With the business interests of Philipsburg, Centre county, 
Mr. Jones has been prominently identified for many years, and has also 
done much to advance the welfare of the city while promoting his own 
interests.
  Our subject was born in Chester county, Penn., December 10, 1823, and 
is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Waters) Jones, also natives of that 
county, where they remained until the spring of 1824, when they removed 
to Huntingdon county.  In connection with his brother Samuel, the 
father operated a large farm which they had inherited, and which they 
later divided.  He also engaged in hauling iron to Pittsburg, and while 
on one of these trips contracted a fever, from which he died September 
21, 1828.  He was a Whig in politics, and a prominent and influential 
man of the community where he made his home.  He was born November 28, 
1781, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Jones, of Chester county, who 
were of Welch extraction.  They were farming people, and members of the 
Society of Friends.
  The mother of our subject was born June 19,  1786, and died November 
23, 1872.  Her father, Jacob Waters, was a soldier under Washington 
during the Revolutionary war.  From his old home in Chester county, 
Penn., he removed to Newark, Ohio, at an early day, where the parents 
of our subject visited him, riding the entire distance from Rockville, 
Chester county, on horseback.
  Mr. Jones, of this review, is the ninth in order of birth in a family 
of ten children, as follows: Ann, born June 26, 1806, married James 
Hunter, but both are now deceased; Samuel, born January 23, 1808, 
married Betsy Matren, who died in 1896, and his death occurred in 1894; 
Caleb, born May 28, 1809, married Catherine Matren, and both died in 
Minnesota; Hannah, born April 20,  1811, married John D, Bell, and they 
have also passed away; Mary A., born May 3, 1813, is the deceased wife 
of John Laport, a retired farmer of Spruce Creek, Huntingdon Co., 
Penn.; Sarah, born April 9, 1815, died in infancy; Elizabeth, born 
December 2, 1817, also died in infancy; Jacob W., born November 30, 
1819, is a retired contractor of Tyrone, Penn.; Sarah, born December 
18, 1825, is the wife of W. 0. Myers, a retired potter.
  After his father's death, and at the age of eight years, Benjamin 
Jones went to live with his sister Hannah, with whom he remained until 
he had attained his majority.  When fourteen he began serving an 
apprenticeship to the carpenter's

358  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

trade with his brother-in-law in Huntingdon county, and on leaving the 
home of his sister went to Pittsburg, Penn., where he worked at that 
trade for a few months.  Later he was again with his brother-in-law 
until forming a partnership with his brother, Jacob W., in the business 
of contracting and building.  About the same time the city of Tyrone 
was being laid out, and there the brothers purchased a couple of lots 
and erected homes of their own in the fall of 1851, when only about 
three houses adorned the present site of that now flourishing city.
  Coming to Philipsburg in 1861, Mr. Jones became superintendent of the 
planing-mill of D. J. McGan, in which capacity he served for five 
years, and then, in connection with Dr. Hoops and Mr. Munson, built the 
planing-mill operated under the firm name of Munson, Jones & Co.  A few 
years later he sold out his interest, but continued to serve as 
superintendent for the firm of Munson & Hoops.  Subsequently he was a 
member of the firm of Jones, Mullen & Co., but in 1890 disposed of his 
share, and has engaged in the manufacture of shingles in Rush township, 
Centre county.  He has also dealt and operated in coal quite 
extensively.  He is a progressive, wide-awake business man, and his 
success has come as a just reward for honest toil.
  On January 5, 1848, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss 
Margaret A. Rye, and they became the parents of five children: Oliver 
P., who is engaged in the coal business, and is also a stockholder in 
and cashier of the First National Bank of Philipsburg; Ella, wife of 
James Perks, a railroad conductor, residing in Philipsburg; Lot W., who 
is engaged in the planing-mill business in Philipsburg, as a member of 
the firm of Murray, Jones & Co.; Mary A., at home, and Dwight M., also 
residing at home, who is now a "boss " in the coal mines.  Mrs. Jones 
was born in Centre county in 1821, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah 
(Kitley) Rye, who lived upon a farm near Bellefonte, where they died 
when she was quite young.  Their other children - Thomas, William, John 
and Isaac - all died in childhood. 
  Mr. Jones has taken the third degree in the Masonic lodge of 
Philipsburg, and is an ardent Republican in politics.  Surrounded at 
his home by a circle of friends who appreciate his true worth, and 
admired and esteemed by the citizens of the community, Mr. Jones will 
be honored for many generations as one of the most enterprising men of 
Philipsburg - a man who acted well his part, and who has lived a worthy 
and honorable life.  He and his family hold a high position in social 
circles, where true worth and ability are received as the passports 
into the best society.