The Jones Families of Knox County, Ohio

GEN. GOSHORN A. JONES.

Human life is like the waves of the sea — they flash a few brief moments in the sunlight, marvels of power and beauty, and then are dashed upon the relentless shores of death and disappear forever. As the mighty deep has rolled for ages past and changed its sublime requiem and will continue to roll during the coming ages until time shall be no more, so will the waves of human life follow each other in countless succession until they mingled at last with the billows of eternity’s boundless sea. The passing of any human life, however humble and unknown, is sure to give rise to a pang of anguish to some heart, but when the fell destroyer knocks audibly at the door of the useful and great and removes from earthly scenes the man of honor and influence and the benefactor of his kind, it not only means bereavement to kindred and friends, but a public calamity as well. In the largest and best sense of the term, the late Gen. Goshorn A. Jones, of Mt. Vernon, was distinctively one of the notable men of his day and generation, and as such is entitled to a conspicuous place in the annals of his city, county and state, for as a citizen lie was public-spirited and enterprising to an unwonted degree, as a friend and neighbor he combined the qualities of head and heart that won confidence and commanded respect and as a business man he stood second to none in Knox county.

General Jones was born in Burnt Cabins, Fulton county, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1812, and after a long, useful and strenuous life, he passed to his rest on April 18, 1904, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, his long life being due, no doubt, in very large measure to his exemplary habits and right thinking. He was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Goshorn) Jones, both natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In 1813 the parents emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and located at Claysville and West Alexandria. In this locality the son, Goshorn A., spent his youth and obtained his education in the public schools there. In 1834 he came to Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, and began active business as a merchant, dealing also in produce and wool, continuing this business with gratifying results until 1850, in which year he gave up business for the purpose of accepting an appointment as United States marshal by President Zachary Taylor for the district of Ohio, the duties of which important position he discharged in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. At the expiration of his term of office he, in connection with John H. Winterbotham, engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements, employing the convict labor of Fort Madison, Iowa. He continued in this business for about eleven years with much success, then spent several years in prospecting, visiting several of the most important mining regions of the United States.

General Jones was the originator of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad, now the Akron & Cincinnati railroad, and better known as the Akron division of the Pennsylvania lines, and in 1869 was made superintendent of the road, in which position he continued until William N. Monsaratt became president of the road. He managed its affairs in a manner that stamped him as an up-to-date business man, a natural born organizer and promoter and won the hearty commendation of the stockholders.

General Jones was married in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, to Sarah Raymond, daughter of Rev. Nathan Raymond, a popular minister in the Methodist Episcopal church who resided in Mt. Vernon for a number of years, having come here from New York. The death of Mrs. Jones occurred a number of years prior to that of her husband. Five children were born to them, as follows: Mrs. Mary J. Baker, Fanny, Mrs. Rachael Tilton, Ada, who married James Israel, whose sketch appears in another part of this work; Fred W. (deceased).

General Jones was a Whig and later a Republican in politics. ' He was a general in the Ohio state militia prior to the Mexican war. He was a man of strong mental caliber and courageous in defense of his opinion when once convinced that he was right. He was one of the strong and important factors in this community. He is buried in Mt. Vernon cemetery, and his influence and many good deeds will cause his memory to be cherished through coming generations.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRED W. JONES.

Fred W. Jones, a prominent railroad contractor and builder of Mount Vernon, is a native son of this city. After attending the public schools here he matriculated in the academy at Denmark, Iowa, where he received excellent educational advantages. In 1867 he became identified with railroad work, first as a brakeman, and later served as a baggage master, conductor and express agent. In 1869 he came to Mount Vernon, entering the office of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad with his father, Goshorn A. Jones, who was manager of the road, and our subject was thus engaged until 1 87 1, when he took his first contract in railroad building. He was employed to build an extension of the road from near Millersburg to Black Creek, a distance of ten miles, and in the following year he was put in charge of the main survey department of the road, having charge of the road bed, bridges and construction on the northern division of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad. After remaining with that company for a time he became identified with the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus road, now a part of the former system.

In 1875 the headquarters of that road was removed to Mount Vernon from Akron, where it had been located since 1869, and Mr. Jones was put in charge of the entire road, which position he continued to fill until 1882, and in that year his father was made receiver of the road. Since retiring from that position our subject has been engaged in railroad contracting and in this undertaking he has indeed met with a very high degree of success. He is a wide-awake, progressive, active and energetic business man, and his name is closely associated with advancement along the line of his chosen occupation.

Mr. Jones was married, in Holmes county, Ohio, to Miss Mira Wholf, a daughter of David Wholf, of Pennsylvania, and they have five children, namely: Carrie, the wife of O. Patterson, of Denison, Iowa; G. A., a prominent railroad builder and contractor of Mount Vernon; Mary B., at home; Fred R., who is engaged in business with his brother, G. A. Jones, business being carried on under the name of Jones Brothers; and Frank B., who is attending school. The family enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of the city, and their own pleasant residence is the center of a cultured society circle.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.