Samuel Jones and Diana Murphy
Husband Samuel Jones 1 2 3 4 5
Born: 15 Jun 1857 - Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 2 3 5 Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: William Jones (1829-1910) 1 5 6 7 Mother: Sarah Shepler (1830- ) 1 3 5 8 9
Marriage: 25 Feb 1886 or 15 Mar 1887 2 3
Wife Diana Murphy 3
AKA: Annie C. Murphy 2 4 10 Born: 10 Feb 1861 3 Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: Joshua Murphy ( -Bef 1906) 3 10 Mother: Mary Louise [Unk] ( -Aft 1906) 3 10
Children
1 M Allen C. Jones 10
Born: Abt 1895 Christened: Died: Buried: Status: Foster Child
General Notes: Husband - Samuel Jones
His birth occurred on his father's farm in Rostraver township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and his childhood and early youth were passed in the midst of a healthful rural environment. His early education was received at the local public schools, and these studies he supplemented by a mercantile course at Duff's Business College and he also attended the Allegheny High School several terms. Upon completing his schooling, Mr. Jones entered his father's lumber establishment at Belle Vernon, in the year 1885, and continued as a junior partner to the elder man for some six years. In 1891, however, he severed this association and established an independent lumber business of his own, with yards at Charleroi, Pennsylvania, where he continued actively engaged for some three years. At the end of this period, he sold out his interest in this business and once more gave his attention to the situation at Belle Vernon. Here he became connected with the Belle Vernon Planing Mill Company, and continued there up to the year 1897. At this date was establishment of Monessen, and here, in company with many other enterprising men from various points of the county, he went, determining to share in the rapid development which was promised for that town. He may be considered as the pioneer of Monessen and purchased the first lot that was sold there, as well as shortly afterwards establishing the first lumber yard. All this was in the year 1897, and from the very first Mr. Jones made himself prominent in the development of the new community, and he was engaged in the contracting and building business there for upwards of a quarter of a century. But though Mr. Jones was so keenly interested in the new town, he did not give up his interests at Belle Vernon, and in the year 1912 he incorporated the Belle Vernon Construction Company, which took over the planing mill of the Belle Vernon Planing Mill Company, and engaged in a most successful general building and contracting business. Many of the largest and most handsome edifices at Belle Vernon were erected by this concern. In 1901, in company with his brother, J. S. Jones, of Belle Vernon, Mr. Jones opened up the town of McMahon, which might be regarded as a sort of extension and addition to Monessen. This region comprised twenty acres which the two brothers turned into building plots and sold, an investment which proved most lucrative. Later, in 1905, Mr. Jones became associated with three other gentlemen in the organization of what was known as the Essent Land Company's plot, which was also an addition to Monessen and which comprised forty acres. Mr. Jones was also interested in the Perry Manufacturing Company, of Perryopolis, Fayette County, which was organized in 1905 for the purpose of manufacturing plastering and brick-making materials, and was also engaged in the shipping of a fine grade of silica clay. He was chosen to serve on the directorate of the Monessen Savings and Trust Company, a concern which he had assisted in organizing, and he was also a stockholder in the Valley Deposit and Trust Company, of Belle Vernon, from the time of its organization up to his election as president thereof. His uncle, S. F. Jones, was president of the Valley Deposit and Trust Company from the time of its organization, but upon the death of this gentleman in the year 1911, Samuel Jones was elected to succeed him and took up those duties.
He erected for himself a handsome house in Belle Vernon on a portion of the old Spears farm on Main street. This handsome dwelling stood on ground, where as a boy he assisted in the cultivation of corn and potatoes. Mr. Jones was a member of the Belle Vernon Fire Department. Mr. Jones was a Democrat in political belief, but although exceedingly active in working for the public welfare consistently declined to hold public office of any kind.
He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
"The career of the Valley Deposit and Trust Company is an extraordinary one and deserves a word of mention here. It was organized under its present name in the month of May, 1903, but as a matter of fact is a much older concern than this. Its parent company was the concern known as S. F. Jones & Company, which was established as early as 1872, when S. F. and William Jones established a banking business with a modest capital of thirty thousand dollars. The two men gave the closest attention to the development of the company, considering always the convenience and accommodation of their patrons, and placing square dealing ahead of all other consideration, even that of success. The result was that they achieved a very notable success and in 1903, in association with other substantial citizens of Belle Vernon, secured a State charter, and the Valley Deposit and Trust Company came into being. For some time S. F. Jones was the president of this new concern, while William Jones was vice-president and J. S. Jones secretary and treasurer. Since the assumption of control and the office of the presidency, the concern has continued to grow rapidly in size and influence, its general development from the time of its incorporation being phenominal. It began business with a capital and surplus of approximately one hundred and thirty-one thousand dollars, deposits two hundred and nine thousand dollars and resources three hundred and forty-one thousand dollars, while in 1913 these figures had grown to one hundred and ninety-seven thousand dollars, four hundred and sixty-four thousand, one hundred and fifty-nine dollars and forty-eight cents, and six hundred and sixty-two thousand; five hundred and fifty-seven dollars and eighty-six cents, respectively. Since that time the rate of development has increased. This company has been of great value in stimulating the growth of the community wherein it is situated and has assisted many people of Belle Vernon and its vicinity to purchase or erect their own houses."
1 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 567.
2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 230.
3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 16.
4 John S. Van Voorhis, The Old and New Monongahela (Pittsburgh, PA: Nicholson, Printer and Binder, 1893), Pg 158.
5 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 142.
6 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 13.
7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 143.
8 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 309.
9 John S. Van Voorhis, The Old and New Monongahela (Pittsburgh, PA: Nicholson, Printer and Binder, 1893), Pg 157.
10
Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 144.
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