Thomas Harvey Jones

As printed in 1909

T. H. JONES.

The commercial interests of Spencer find a worthy representative in T. H. Jones, proprietor of a department store of that city. He is accounted one of the most progressive merchants there, employing modern business methods in the development of his trade and carrying a line of goods that makes his establishment one of the most attractive stores of Clay county. Moreover, in matters of citizenship, he is progressive, having ever been loyal to the interests of city, state and nation since the days of his early manhood, when he responded to the country's call for aid and joined the Union army.

Moreover, Mr. Jones is of that type of men which President Roosevelt states is the strongest element in our American manhood — the man who is born in the east and reared and educated in the west. Mr. Jones is a native of Avon, New York", his natal day being November 10, 1842. His parents, Joshua and Hannah Jones, were also natives of the Empire state and the former followed the occupation of farming as a life work. Removing, westward to Wisconsin, he made his way to Racine in 1850. and in that locality purchased a farm, which he cultivated and improved until his death, which occurred when he was but fifty-four years of age. His wife survived him ten years and died at the age of sixty-four. They held membership in the Baptist church and Mr. Jones was called to various township offices, wherein he proved a competent and loyal incumbent. The family numbered eight sons and two daughters, of bom four are now living: Esther Ann, the widow of Ezra Search, of Racine, Wisconsin; William W., a resident of Sacramento, California; Thomas Harvey, of this review; and Mary Elizibeth, the wife of Peter Etchells, of Racine, Wisconsin.

T. H. Jones spent his youthful days on his father's farm in Wisconsin and was early trained to habits of thrift, industry and economy — habits which have borne rich fruit in later years. After acquainting himself with the common branches of learning in the district schools he began earning his own living by working as a farm hand by the month. He was only eighteen years of age, however, when he enlisted as a soldier of the Civil war. being enrolled in 1861 as a member of Company H, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for fourteen months and was then discharged on account of illness. Returning, to Wisconsin, he cultivated rented farms for two or three years, after which he was married and in 1870 came to Clay county, Iowa. Here he secured a soldier's claim of one hundred and sixty acres, in Summit township, and partially improved it. At the time of his arrival here the county was still a frontier district, with much land unclaimed and uncultivated, while the progressive spirit of the cities had advanced but little beyond the conditions of villagehood. After carrying on farming pursuits for several years Mr. Jones removed to Spencer, where he conducted a restaurant for some time. He afterward established a grocery store and with this as the nucleus has developed his present enterprise, until it is today a large department store, in which he furnishes employment to thirteen salesmen. It is now one of the most extensive mercantile interests of the county, attractive by reason of its well-selected line of goods, its tasteful arrangement and its reasonable prices. Mr. Jones demands that the most honorable business policy shall be followed at all times and he is not slow to reward faithful service on the part of his assistants.

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Jones wedded Miss Mary Jane Secor. a daughter of Dorence and Permelia Secor. They have two sons in the family, Charles E. and Theodore M., who are with their father in the store, and one child died in infancy. The elder son married Lillian Hardin and they have two children. Dale G. and Charles H. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Congregational church and has won many friends during the period of her residence in Spencer. !Mr. Jones is a popular and valued representative of Spencer Lodge,

As printed in History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.