The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-26

until the Omnipotent Hand broke
| natures barrier.
| Dr. Allen was at the sick mans bed
side almost constantly, but all that
medical skill could do was of no avail.
| When death occurred the family were
gathered about the bedside. The pass
| ing was free from pain.
SKETCH OF d. NJ. JONES.
{ D. NJ. Jones' life was an eventful
| one. Since early manhood he has TAX
en- an active interest in public affairs
| and that his fellow citizens reposed
, the greatest of trust in him is shown
by the many honorable public offices,
to which he was in quick succession
elected. He was born on June 26, 1889,
in Rhymney, Breckenshire, South
Wales; thus his age at time of death
was over 81 years. When he was IL
years of age-in 1S5l-his parents
moved from Wales to America, and the
family Immediately took up residence
in Scranton. For Il few years young
Jones worked as driver boy in the
| Diamond mine. and a certain progress
siveness which spoke the man in the
boy influenced his employers to give
him the more congenial position Of
pump engineer"
Impatient of the few opportunities
| pIeSeIleu Ill uIlueTETOulu "OTk, MI.
Jones secured employment as an iron
worker under the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western company. Then
came the great gold mining craze and
| in 1858 Mr.. Jones joined the vast army
Of fortune seekers who We're bound
| for the western Eldorado. Mr.. Jones
| invested in the mines of Colorado and
through natural shrewdness and busi-
ness ability in u few years amassed a
nice fortune.
| BECAME A SOLDIER.
| News Of the firing on Sumter in 1861
kindled the patriotic nature Of the men
and, leaving behind him the oppor-
tunities for further riches he returned
to the east and Joined one OF the regi-
ments of Pennsylvania volunteers. He
served in many of the hard fought
| battles of the war and at the fall Of
Richmond while the Union forces were
duenching the last fires of the rebellion
Mr.. Jones received bullet wound in
! the left leg The member was, two
days afterward, amputated by the army
surgeons. After this injury Mr.. Jones
was honorably discharged from the
| army and he returned to Scranton.
| For two years he worked as night
watchman at the Second National ba nix
and for short time he was a student
! at Gardner's business college, which
is well known to the older residents of
| the city.
| In 1868 Mr.. Jones was elected by the
! Republicans as alderman from the
| Fourth ward to serve in mayors court
| during the regime of Judge Dana. This
was his first public office and he was
! reelected by an almost unanimous
vote, only four being polled against
| him.
| In the fall of 1876 Mr.. Jones was elect
ed to the state legislature from the
| First Legislative district. As a legis-
/ lator he worked hard for the new
| Lackawanna county bill and in other
ways distinguished himself. When he
| left the legislative halls Mr.. Jones was
| appointed deputy city treasurer under
Reese r. Evans. but the last named gen.
tleman was i'll during his entire term
of office and the duties were taken care
of by the deputy.
ELECTED CITY TREASURER.
So well did he win popular confidence
during this period Of service that on
! Feb. >. 1879. he was nomincte ted by the
Republicans as their candidate for city
treasurer. Joseph A. Scranton made
| the nominating speech. There was no
| opposition. Mr.. jones was elected by
handsome majority. He served the
! teTm--three ycars-and at its conclu-
| sion he was nominated by the Citizens
| party tC oppose Hon. Il. V. Powderly
| of the or-Creenback party for the
Office of mayor Of Scranton. This MEM
oral BILE fight was won by Mr.. Powderly.
| Fer the next ten years Mr.. Jones was a
| real estate agent.
In 1890 he was appointed postmaster
| by President Harrison. The exciting
events which attached themselves to
his appointment are well remembered.
y. w. Connolly was removed and Mr..
Jones appointed and the matter Great
ed not only local but also national in
| terest, and was the subject of dis
cussion I'm the leading American journ-
| ais. Mr.. Jones bore the distinction of
being the first postmaster appointed
in the United States for the class of
| cities to which Scranton belongs.
| When President Cleveland was elected