Biographical Sketch of Franklin JONES (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadel- phia, PA, 1893, pp. 659-661. "FRANKLIN JONES, who resided near New Centreville, was a representative of an old an prominent Pennsylvania family, and enjoyed the reputation of being the best farmer in the Chester valley. He was related to Col. John Moore, of revolutionary fame, and was the youngest child and only son of Hon. John M. and Mary (Heller) Jones, and a native of Upper Dublin town- ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born July 10, 1836. The family to which Mr. Jones belonged is of original Welsh descent, and was planted in America by Malichi Jones (great-grandfather), as early as 1714. In that year he came from Wales and settled at Abington, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a Presbyterian minister, and founded the Abington (Montgomery county) church of that faith in 1714. During the first fifteen years of its existence he served as its pastor, and on August 15, 1719, he transferred a half acre of land to the church. He was a man of remarkable energy and great decision of character, and his life was active and useful. His death occurred January 28, 1729. "George Jones (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and lived in that county all his life, dying June 14, 1796, at an advanced age. He was a farmer by occupation, married Elizabeth Stevens (who was born June 14, 1797, and died January 23, 1847), and had two sons: George, who died in Montgomery county, and John M., father of the subject of this sketch. "John M. Jones (father) was born in Montgomery county, June 14, 1796, where he grew to maturity and received the best training afforded by the schools of the day - finishing his schooldays by a course under Josiah Hoopes at the West Chester academy - which he afterward improved by wide reading and continued study. He started in life as an accountant in the county room of a large importing firm in Philadelphia, where he remained one year. He then engaged in teaching, and followed that occupation near Fort Washington and at Lower Merion academy until 1844, when he purchased and removed to a farm in Abington township, Montgomery county, where he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until 1854, when he was elected to the position of register of wills for that county for a term of three years. In 1833 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, and re-elected the following year, serving two terms while Simon Cameron and Thaddeus Stevens were members of that body. In 1857 he was appointed by Judge Cadwallader as clerk of the United States court in the city of Philadelphia, and served acceptably in that position until 1859, when he returned to Montgomery county, and in 1862 removed to Tredyffrin township, Chester county, where he purchased a fine farm containing one hundred and twenty-eight acres of the best land in this valley - the farm which his son, Franklin Jones, resided upon during most of his life. Here he lived until removed from the scenes of his earthly activity by death, June 12, 1872, when in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was elected school director of his townsihp in 1870, and served continuously as such until his death. He was a stanch democrat all his life, and noted for his strong will-power, strict veracity, and unswerving in- tegrity. It was frequently remarked that 'his word was law,' and it was always as good as his bond. In religion he was a member of the German Reformed church all his life, and served as deacon for many years. "Mr. Jones was twice married. His first wife was Mary Heller, a daughter of Daniel Heller, of Montgomery county, whom he married February 24, 1825, and by whom he had four children: Margaret, Hannah, Elizabeth, who married Peter Hartman, and resides in Philadelphia; and Franklin, the principal subject of this sketch. Mrs. Jones died December 30, 1838, aged thirty- three years; and on May 21, 1840, John M. Jones wedded Hannah M. Stadleman, nee Trasel, and by this second marriage had two children: Mary, deceased, and Samuel, who is now employed as a clerk at Norristown. "Franklin Jones was reared principally in Montgomery county, and received his education in the common schools there and at the Elwood academy. After quitting school he learned the trade of cabinet maker with Samuel Nice, of Germantown, and followed that occupation until 1861. In the following year he came to Chester county and engaged in farming, which was his principal business during the remainder of his life, and in which he was remarkably successful. Inheriting his father's energy and aptitude for management, he applied his ability to the cultivation of the soil, and by introducing im- proved methods and carefully attending to all the details of his farm oper- ations, won a place in the front rank of Chester county farmers and became an authority on agricultural matters in this entire section. "In politics Mr. Jones followed the traditions of his family and was always an ardent democrat, though taking little part in practical politics. He was elected some years ago as school director, and served six or seven terms in that position. He had in his possession a number of papers and documents of historic interest, including official commissions, which once belonged to his relative, Col. John Moore, who won deserved fame during the revolution- ary war. Franklin Jones died January 20, 1893, aged fifty-seven years, and greatly respected for his many excellent qualities of heart and mind."