The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-14

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In this week. issue of the ADVOCATE, we
present To our readers the seventh of our
series Of Biographical Sketches Of our
representative workingman, prominent in
the American Labor reform Movement.
Mr. Thomas p. Jones, President Of the
National Union Of Iron and Steel Heaters.
now resident Of Chicago, and at the
present time In the employ of the North
Chicago Rolling Mill Company, is the sub
ject Of our present sketch
Mr.. Jones was born on the oath Of
March, 1926, in the little town Of Aber-
ammon, Glenmorgan, South Wales and
is now IN the 4Sth year Of his age A
Welchman by birth, he still retains the
traces Of the ancient Brlton, intermixed
with the characteristics Of the Gallic and
Celtic races, and even now he loves to recall
the daysof his boyhood, when through Cam
bria's hills and dales he wandered, listening
to her warbling streams, as they seemed to
echo the words of her ancient Bards
Between the hills VI Cambria,
Beside current wilde,
first did rest Oh mothers breast,
A harmless infant child"
Since then he has passed through the or
deal Of all workingmen, laborlng for the
advancement Of his fellows.
Being left fatherless at three years of
age, his education devolved upon his
mother and older brothers Ir the time
Of his boyhood, the oppor ruuities for
schooling, afforded to the working classes of
Great Britain, were very limited, and
the circumstances under which he was
placed rendered schooling a matter Of ex-
pediency rather than choice, and as a
creature Of circumstances, he had to yield
his love of learning to the exigency Of his
position, and his schooling id his younger
days was Of the most limited character
Being the youngest of five children he was
kept at home until he was nearly ten years
old, when he went tO work turning a lathe
for a turner, at the small pittance Of two
pence a day "a sum equal tO four cents.
At that occupation he remained six months,
and then went as errant boy IN a shoe
store, where he remained two years
About this time his mother removed to
Ebbwvaie, in MonmOuthshire, where there
were two Of her sons already working in the
rolling mills. At Harford's Mills, in
Ebbwvale, he commenced working in the
rolling mills as a ''puller up, and rose
by degrees to the position Of helper,
which position he occupied when he Was
fourteen years Of age During the time
he was employed at Harford's Mills he met
with an accident which came near proving
fatal While drawing out bar, for another
boy, he slipped and fell on the red hot
scathlng iron, and the skin was literally
| scorched from his hands, sides and legs.
This accident placed him IN a perilous con-
dition for some time, but on recovering he
resumed work. At eighteen he was gwen
charge Of furnace, and remained ia the
employment Of the Harfords until 1886, a
period of nine years. About this time a
young lady by the name Of Phoebe Jones
During her brief stay " Miss Phoebe and
M aster Tom became very good friends,
and their tetes-tetes became very frequent,
and to the young couple very pleasant and
charming. None but "Sweet Sylvia" and
| the shady bowers knew their secrets until
the 18th of December, 1886, when Mr.. r.
p. Jones led to the Hymeneal altar Miss
Phoebe Jones, and both were joined in the
holy bands Of wedlock.
In May, 1886, Mr.. Jones, in company
with Mr.. John o. Edwards lex president
of the United Sons Of Nulcan) and a num-
Der of other families, migrated ~ Monk
land, twelve miles from Glasgow, Scotland
He obtained employment in the iron works
Of Murray 4 Butteray as an knobIer
Here he was employed about four years,
and seeemed to develop his irst ideas Of
uniomsm. While working here there was
some talk Of cutting down wages, and
Jones, with seven Others, pledged them
selves not to work for less wages than was
paid at the Town Head Works In Glasgow
During the time he worked in Monkland,
several strikes took place, of which Mr..
Jones waa the head and front. The little
club, which he was instrumental in organ
izing, began to wane, and Mr.. Jones b Y
considered an agitator, was looked upon
with suspicion. Mr.. Jones, knowing Or Al
least believing his position not TO be a very
safe one, determined to seek employment
elsewhere, and made application for q
situation in the Govan Bar Iron Works
Glasgow. Six of the eight who had
pledged themselves not to work for less
than stipulated price, to use a vulgal
phrase, went back on their agreement
With those who had ''wcnt back" on their