BIO: William J. JONES, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 478 & 479.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  WILLIAM J. JONES, secretary of the school board of Bigler township, Clearfield 
county, Pa., and a representative business man of Madera, is mine foreman for 
the Swoope Coal Company, a man of experience in this line, having been more or 
less connected with coal mining since boyhood.  He was born March 24, 1865, at 
Shafton, Westmoreland county, Pa., and was an only child.  His mother 
subsequently married John Milsom and a large family was born to that union, 
namely:  Alice J., wife of Joseph Knapper; Charles H.; John E.; Daniel; 
Elizabeth, wife of Charles E. Diehl; Margaret, wife of Thomas Gatehouse; Anna, 
wife of William Johns; Phebe, wife of A. C. Bowser; Sarah J., wife of Charles J. 
Neff, and Edward J.
  William J. Jones was reared by his grandparents, John W. and Elizabeth Jones.  
He attended school in Trumbull county, O., and in Mercer county, Pa., but was 
only thirteen years old when he began the hard work of a mine boy.  With the 
exception of a period of eleven years, during which he conducted a general store 
at Portage, in Cambria county, he has spent his entire life in connection with 
coal mines in some capacity.  He came to Madera in 1902 to take the place of 
mine foreman and still fills this important position.  He has always been an 
active and interested citizen since reaching maturity and has accepted public 
responsibilities on many occasions.  During his residence in Cambria county he 
served three years as county auditor, being elected on the Republican ticket 
with a plurality of 1,500 votes.  He has also served several years as judge of 
elections and in spite of his many business duties has been willing to serve on 
the school board on account of his interest in general education.  His children 
are receiving many advantages in the way of schooling that he was never able to 
enjoy.
  On October 2, 1895, Mr. Jones was married to Flora A. Wilson, a daughter of 
George H. and Roxanna M. (Moreland) Wilson, who had other children as follows:  
Joseph H.; Mary, wife of Joel Venable; Clara, wife of O. D. Thompson; Alice, 
wife of James H. Alexander; Albert M.; Edwin D.; John W.; Laura C., wife of A. 
M. Jaxtheimer; and Lanora M., wife of W. H. McFall.  The father was a farmer and 
millwright in Mercer county.
  Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two sons - George Raymond and Arthur Leslie - and an 
adopted daughter, Esther L. Wilson, a niece.  She attends the Madera High School 
and will graduate with the 1911 class.  Mr. Jones and family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee.  He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternally and belongs to the Blue Lodge at Osceola, and is a member of 
the P. O. S. of A. No. 593, at Madera.  Mr. Jones has invested in property at 
Madera and owns a fine residence.