My Great-Grandfather Ashbel Wilson Jones

Ashbel Wilson Jones
b. 1 March 1857 Jonestown, PA
d. 7 June 1921 Jonestown, PA

Ashbel Wilson Jones, the fourth son of James Newbold Jones and Caroline Merrill Jones, was born in Jonestown, Fishing Creek Township, Columbia County, Pa. on March 1, 1857. When the encroaching Civil War began conscription, he was fortunate indeed to be too young to serve, and probably spent his youth helping his father out in the sawmill or the post office.

Mary) Elizabeth McGuire
b. 16 February 1863 possibly West Pittson, Luzerne, PA
d. 7 June 1921 Jonestown, PA

On 4 March 1882 he married Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" McGuire (16 February 1863-10 July 1901) in the Jonestown Methodist Church. Lizzie was the daughter of Robert Maguire (McGuire), an Irishman* who had emigrated in about 1845. Before the 1880 census he had moved his family from West Pittston, where he'd been working in the coal mine, to Jonestown with its farm land and fresh air, because he had developed consumption (tuberculosis) and could no longer work in the mines. They were neighbors of James N. Jones, and his son Ashbel.

Ashbel was a merchant, owner of the Jonestown General Store, located at the main crossroads of the village. Their house, a 2 story wood-frame with a large front porch was built around the turn of the century, stood near the store. There is a postcard in the Columbia County Historical Society archives of this building with buggies in front of the store.

The Jones' General Store

The store may have been operated by James N. Jones after Benjamin retired, but James lost the store after the Civil War possibly as the economy floundered. However, in 1885 Ashbel Wilson Jones and a partner named (John?) Davis opened the General Store in the original building. This firm operated under the name of "Jones & Davis". At that time the store was located in the Old Jones Store's space in Jonestown with the residence in the rear of the store and the bedroom over the storeroom. which was of log construction with siding.

Later the Davis interest was taken over by Christian Walter, and under the name "Jones & Walter". During the period from 1890-1892 a new one-story building was erected, and they continued using the new building, while the old store space became a warehouse and storage. In 1892 Jones & Walter sold the business to the Mather Brothers, who operated the business until 1902 or 3, when the stock from the store was sold or moved out.

The store building was vacant until late in 1905, when Ashbel W. Jones again acquired the property from Kently R. Jones (A.W. Jones' cousin, son of Henry Clay Jones) and moved in to the residence. He moved the stock from the store he was then operating on the south side of the creek, in what was then known as the P.O.S. of A. Building, formerly the Hosler store, into the newly acquired property. A.W. Jones operated the store until his death in 1921, when the property was sold out of the Jones family for the first time since it had been acquired by Benjamin Jones in 1809.

Family Tragedy

Tragedy struck in July, 1901 when Ashbel's beloved wife Lizzie died also of consumption (tuberculosis), leaving their three young children without a mother. Ashbel married Elizabeth's younger sister Frances "Fannie" McGuire (30 Nov 1873-9 Apr 1946) on 21 Oct 1903 in the Orangeville Reformed Parsonage with Rev. Houtz officiating. Ashbel and Fannie had 3 more children together: an infant who didn't live long (12 June 1905-4 Aug 1905), Carlton Newbold (12 June 1911-6 April 1954), and James Richard "Dick" (14 March 1913-April 1980).

Ashbel seems to always wear a top hat in most pictures I have of him, usually standing stiffly on the front porch of his Victorian style home in Jonestown. He died of pneumonia on 7 June, 1921 at the age of 64.

Frances "Fannie" McGuire
b. 30 November 1873 possibly West Pittson, Luzerne, PA
d. 9 April 1946 possibly in West Pittston, PA

Fannie survived Ashbel, who died in 1921, by 25 years, As a widow, Fannie left Jonestown and went to live with her son Carlton, who was training to become a minister.

Fannie died on April 9, 1946 and is buried in the Jonestown Cemetery.

Family 1: Ashbel and Elizabeth McGuire Jones' Children
Child's Name Birth Date Death Date SPOUSE'S NAME
Sheldon Ashbel 8 October 1886 4 September 1959 Emily Irene Yost
Isabel Maude Smiles
Adria Louise 4 November 1892 28 October 1973 Ernest Dison Kline
Ashbel Wilson (II) 27 August 1898 22 August 1974 Lucille Landmesser

What happened to Ashbel's children? (see Sheldon's details)

US Census Records