Evening journal., 1903-07-24
Of Quaker Ancestry.

VI quaker Ancestry
Mr.. Jones was born in this city jan
uary 5, 1918. His earliest ancestor in
this country was one of a colony of
Welsh Quakers who came over with
William Penn and settled about Phila-
delphia.
William G. Jones, father of Wash
ington Jones. was born at Front and
Shipley streets. and died there in his
eighty-ninth year. There, too Wash
ington Jones was born. On his
mothers side he was of Scotch-Irish
descent. His mother was Rachel Wal
ker, who had a large farm near Clay
mont.
Clerk and President of Bank.
The deceased at the age OF sixteen
years went to work for a wholesale
house I'm Philadelphia and n year later
came to this city and clerked in a dry
goods store. He served a year as dis
count clerk of the National Bank of
Wilmington and Brandywine and grad
ually ascended the ladder of success
until he stood on the top rung. He
became the banks president and held
that position for many years.
A Dry Goods Merchant.
In 1899. at the age Of 21 years with
very little capital except the knowledge
Z ti1c.-had. acquired. lfe entered abe dry
goods business on his own account
For nearly twenty years he continued
this business and laid the foundation
Of a fortune. For a part of the time
his store was on Market street between
Second and Third.
Manufactured Morocco.
In 1853 he sold his store and became
associated with Thomas II. Baynard
under the firm name Of Baynard &
Jones in the manufacture of morocco
Mr. Baynard died in 1864, and Mr.
Jones carried on the business alone
until 1867. when Daniel Post Price, and
Mr.. Jones' son. Charles r. Jones' were
admitted. William G. Jones, another
son. was taken into the firm in 1873
Washington Jones retired from the
company about 1858.
Gas Company Promoter.
He and his cousin, William Bucknel
of Philadelphia, We're prime movers ii
the establishment of the Wilmington
Coal Gas Company. He was the frs
treasurer of the company, and was q
director until the sale of the company
about two years ago. He was the las
survivor of the directors. who in 1862
secured the charter for the company
He was prominently identified with the
Franklin Cotton Company and was
connected with other large enterprises
He was a. manager of the Wilmington
Savings Fund Society.
Prominent Baptist.
His religious amliation has been witt
the Baptist denomination. He was
leading member of Second Baptis
Church. and had been president ant
treasurer. He took a prominen. par
In securing funds for the erection o
the church at Fourth and Frencl
} streets. and was himself one of tn
J largest contributors. For fifteen year
he was superintendent of the Sunda
school.
Mr.. Jones took large interest in tn
affairs of the Republican party.
Was Married Twice.
He was twice married. In 1S41 h
married Margaret Wilson, daughter q
Washington Rice, a Wilmington bust
. ness man. The children by this unio
: were Emma D., (Mrs. William "
= LobdelD Charles r. Jones, the polio
@ commissioner; Margaret R. (Mrs. ID. )
: Cresswell of Philadelphia), and VIII
+. liam G. Jones. Mrs. Jones died
1854. In 1856 Mr.. Jones married Emm
w. Stager of Philadelphia and the
/, had one child. Lizzie $. (Mrs. n. ]
/ Danforth). Mrs. Jones and all tn
3 children survive.