Written by Velma Rose Smith – July 1964

I am sitting here, relaxing and thinking over the day. I am glad we had this “Jones Family get-together” today. Mama is now the oldest one left of her family, only Aunt Emma and Uncle Kent of that generation. I looked around this afternoon at we cousins, Oswald and Francis were having such a nice visit, and Francis Donald and Merritt were enjoying a visit, men with graying hair, only a few years ago, they were the youngest of the group. How Grandpa Jones would enjoy seeing the family now. He was so proud of his family and their accomplishments, he would look around at them and say, “Not a fool or a cripple among them”.

I have been thinking how wonderfully things came about, so I will try and recall some of the events of this family that Mama has told me.

In Wales, back in the year of 1851, in June, David L. Jones ,having decided to leave his people and take his sons to America, set sail. He was a miner by occupation, but he owned a little place in Carmarthenshire, with a cow or two and a few sheep. His wife, Letitia Levi, had died and also his daughter Diana. His sons Evan, the oldest, and John, Thomas (12 years), David (10 years) and Daniel. Thomas, or Tommy was only 12 years old. They came by sailing vessel and were six weeks crossing the Atlantic. I dont know where they landed, but probably in New York, where they took a train to Blossburg, staying with a friend, until the father acquired a farm in Welsh Settlement, Charleston Township, in Tioga County, PA. Tommy went to work for a farmer plowing, he was so small that when he grasped the handles of the old hand plow, his bare feet barely touched the ground, and the plow handles rapped him in the ribs. He soon got a job driving mules in the mines at Morris Run. Toni went to Missouri in 1866 when he was 15, there he worked for a farmer. He lived in Missouri for seven years.

In the year 1868, over in England, another family by the name of Jones, Richard Jones and his wife, Sarah Williams Jones, (from Wales) decided to come to America. They had kept in touch with some of the Welsh people that had settled in the state of Missouri. They came by steamer with their young folks, Walter, Herbert, Ellen, David, Margaret and John. Richard Jones, by trade was an architect and a wood worker, making fancy scroll work, also caskets. He was a lay preacher.

I’11 tell you about something strange and interesting. Richard was an austere man, a strict father, a lay minister, but Ellen was a fun loving girl and often found ways of out-witting her father. One day she went to see a fortune teller. That night she shared her secret with Margaret and offered to take her to have her fortune told. Margaret was intrigued by Ellens fortune and decided to go along. He told her she was going on a long, long journey, that she would travel by water and at the end of her journey she would meet a young man and that he would be the man she would marry.

In Bevier, Macon County, Missouri, the Welsh Settlement were expecting the arrival of Richard Jones and his family, on the train, so one farmer sent his hired man with team and rig to meet them. The young man reached to assist the petite young lady down and take her luggage, thus – Margaret Jones met Tom Jones. They were married in October 1869. A son named David Richard was born Sept. 1, 1870 and the following year a baby boy named William, died in infancy. Margaret Ellen was born Dec. 11 1872.

Tom returned to Welsh Settlement in 1873, where he stayed with his father, until he found a farm he could buy. He bought the farm where Emmett lives of a man named Clark. Margaret and their two little ones came later by train. It was only a small house, where the living room is now and a bedroom and pantry and two unfinished bedrooms upstairs. Sarah L. or Sadie as they called her was born Aug. 4,1876. Grandma wanted more room, a kitchen to put her range in so Grandpa built a kitchen, bedroom and a very nice pantry with a zinc sink and glass cupboards. Maude Letitia was born July 26,1880 and Emma Mae arrived six years later, Sept 29, 1886. When she was a baby Grandma decided she wanted another room built on for her kitchen stove. Her father wanted to come and visit her for a while, so he offered to build on the addition. He stayed a year and built the present kitchen and the room on back. Grandpa remarked that they better not have any more babies or the “kitchen” would be built out to the chestnut tree.

They were a happy family and a busy family. Grandma didnt believe in idle hands. The girls learned to sew very young and pieced quilts and sewed carpet rags, for their own carpets and rugs. They made their own butter and Grandma baked bread three times in two weeks. Grandpa bought flour by the barrel and sugar too. He got big bags of coffee beans which they ground and loose tea. So no matter if they were snow bound, they had plenty to eat. The girls learned to knit and made stockings, socks and mittens. The house had to be cleaned and kept immaculate, for Grandma was an excellent housekeeper. The girls often sang together as they did their work.

They attended the Methodist Church in Cherry Flatts, on Sunday Grandpa hitched his driving horses to the surrey and they all got in. The baby would be dressed in a long dress that touched the floor as she carried the baby in her arms. The young folks attended Epworth League in the evening.

Ella went to Blossburg and learned the dress makers trade, and was kept busy sewing. She had made their clothes at home for some time. Then a young man came courting Ella, Will Bowen from Welsh Settlement, and Ella left the family circle, and went to live in Welsh Settlement. They all missed her very much, for not only her help with the household chores but her cheerful personality. A year later they had a baby girl, they named her Margaret Evelyn, the first baby in the family, I dont know as the Aunts lover her any more than they did the many nieces and nephews that followed, but she held a special place in their hearts. Two years later another daughter arrived, named Gladys Edna

Richard married Florence Kelley, daughter of Francis and Nancy Mudge Kelley, March 1898. Their wedding was a big affair for those days. Sadie and Roger stood up with them. Grandpa and Grandma decided to retire, so April 1, 1898 they moved to Cherry Flatts with the three girls to the home we all remember as Grandpa Jones. Richard and Florence took over the farm. Their first baby named Francis Kelley was born in May 1899. A daughter Esther born Sept. 1900. Emerson born August 24, 1904, Emmett Martin born in November 1911. Emerson was the first member of this Jones family to leave us by death, he died Dec. 16, 1916, of spinal meningitis. We all grieved for Emerson, we lived him so much. He is buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Cherry Flatts. His little Bible that he liked to read so much was buried with him.

Maude didnt live in the Cherry Flatts home very long, for she married July 5, 1898 to David Rose, just before her 18th birthday. A daughter Velma Margaret was born Oct. 17, 1900. Eleven years later October 24, 1911, Merritt Daniel was born. (Another baby girl was born in 1908, a full term stillborn, at Mainesburg.)

Sadie and Roger Kelley were married two years later in Sept.1900. They had a big wedding with all the frills at the house in Cherry Flails. Clyde Kelley and his wife Eliza were attendants. They went to live in Galeton. Oswald was born in February 1902 and Sylvia Margaret was born June 25, 1909 and Inez Althea June 9, 1911 and Francis Donald, the youngest grandchild of Grandpa and Grandma in July 1913.

Emma went to Mansfield Normal School, graduated and taught school. She and Kent Kelley were married May 11, 1908 at the home of the parents and had only one child that lived. Erma Winifred. They lived in the Kelley homestead.

Each one of us have our own memories of Grandpa and Grandma. I think of Grandpa as a small man, about 5 foot 5 inches, with a nice clean white beard. He liked to fish and he let me tag along with him, down the creek back of the house. He caught some nice fish and they had many a meal with fish. I remember Grandma telling Uncle Richard that “Pa caught one this big “and Uncle Richard kept saying What?, she kept bringing her hands closer together. I remember the cookie jar in the cupboard, always filled with store cookies, a real treat. I liked her custard pudding too. Sometimes Grandpa would burp out loud at the table and Grandma would scold him for his bad manners and he would wink at me. She was a spotless housekeeper, and we all took our shoes off to go into the parlor. I can still picture that room, the rug on the floor, the red and blue plush covered chairs and love seat. The family album, which we were allowed to look at, if our hands were cleaned. Grandma was a small woman, about 5 >feet tall, active and spunky.

Here I could tell a couple of stories about Grandma. Grandpa usually kept a hired man on the farm and this time he had hired a man that chanced by, like a tramp, and Grandma never did trust him. One day after Grandpa had left for town, the man came in and went upstairs. She was sitting in her rocking chair with the baby, (Maude) but becoming suspicious, she put the baby down and took Grandpas gun from the corner, and when the man came downstairs, dressed in Grandpas Sunday suit, and carrying a suitcase, she pointed the gun at him and told him to march up the stairs, change to his own clothes and come back down, and leave the place. He did as he was told, at the point of a gun held by a little woman, who had never fired a gun in her life, But who had fire in her eyes.

Another time, a peddler came along with his pack, as they did in those days. Grandma was very busy and told him she didnt want anything that day. He started opening his pack and she told him to be on his way, she was busy. But he was persistent, and opened his pack and spread his ware around. It was probably cloth, lace, pins, needles, etc. She asked him to pick it up, but he kept on with his sales talk. She picked everything up on her broom and swept it all into the woodshed.

I have a mental picture of Grandma standing in front of the kitchen mirror, combing her hair. When she tired she washed her face and combed her hair, to rest her, she said.

Grandpa attended the Methodist Church regularly, and taught the Adult Sunday School Class. My mental picture of him is seeing him walking up the church aisle, so straight, with his Bible under his arm.

They were very busy and happy all the years in their Cherry Flatts home. He kept a good garden and she canned and pickled. He kept a driving horse, even raised a colt one year, which got loose one Sunday and ran across the road, climbed the Church porch steps and greeted the Congregation when they came out. Also he kept chickens, I remember that ugly rooster, that attacked us every time we went to the toilet. Finally he mad e the last mistake of his life and jumped Grandma, she had a stick and a good aim, and they had chicken for dinner.

They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and all the family were present, the five children and in laws and 13 grandchildren.

In December 1928, Grandpa became weak, and after only a few day in bed, he passed away, Dec. 19 age 90 years 8 mo. and 21 days. Grandma lived alone a few years then made her home with Maude and David. She passed away Dec. 7, 1938 age 90 years 6 mo. and 7 days. They are buried in the Welsh Settlement Cemetery.

We began having family gatherings at their home after the 50th Anniversary in 1919. We would meet around Grandmas birthday, July 1st. After Grandpas death we met at different homes. We all enjoyed these get-togethers and it kept us a close family. Now the children of these grandchildren have grandchildren.

As to Grandpas brothers –

Evan – settled in Danville, had sons William and David. He visited his brothers her occasionally.

Daniel settled in Welsh Settlement – had two wives. by first wife

a. Catherine (Cassie) – married Mac Quimby

1. Charles

2. Louise

b. David (little Day) – married Sadie Davis

1. Catherine married

2. Estermae married Howard Sherman only one son killed in Service

3. Llewellyn married

4. Raymond married

5. David Morelle died in infancy

6. Charlotte married Jim Reynolds

7. Evelyn married

by second wife

a. Bessie

b. Anna married Emert Nelson

1. Dorothy

c. Nora married Robert Ward

d. Ada

David married had daughter, who died at age 14

1st wife died – married Grace Wilcox – lived where Benedicts live now. His 1st wife was timid and he misused her-2nd was the other way and led him around by the “nose” which pleased the family.

John Married Elizabeth (Betsy)

a. Albert married Goose Wilcox

1. Helen married Hughes

2. Ruth married Cecil Gannon

3. John married Florence Warters

a. David

b. David John married

c. Louise (Alberts twin)

Grandpa D.L. (David) father John, mother Diana Ludwig.

John N. Jones was born in S. Wales in 1785. He died in Charleston Twp Aug. 21 1853.

John N. married twice, first wife died in Wales. They had three children:

a. John E.

b. Thomas T.

c. David L.

He married a second wife Mary Griffith, who is buried in Welsh Settlement Cemetery beside John N her husband. She died Oct. 21, 1844 age 47 yrs. They had seven children:

a. Ann Jones married Davis

b. Mary Jones married Evans

c. Martha Jones married Reese

d. David Jones

e. Jeremiah Jones unmarried – Civil War vet.

f. Sara Jones buried at sea

g. William R. Jones

John E. Jones had Daniel P. who was Sadie Millis (married Len Miller) father. Other children were

b. Nellie married Mark Rockwell

c. Tom married Edith Shaw Jones

d. Ben

e. Solomon