My Genealogy Hound

RUSSELL M. JONES, a retired merchant residing in Benton Harbor, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., September 15, 1836, and is the son of Russell M. and Olivia (Smith) Jones, both of whom were natives of New York State. The father, whose occupation throughout life was that of farming, was a son of Russell Morgan Jones, and traced his lineage to England. The mother of our subject was the daughter of David Smith, and was also of substantial English stock.

In the parental family there were eight children, five sons and three daughters, Russell M. being the second in order of birth. Three of the number are now deceased. The boyhood years of our subject were passed in the county of his birth, where for a time he conducted his studies in the district schools. Later he entered Union Academy, where he prepared for college. Entering Union College at New York, he pursued his studies in that institution with perseverance and untiring ardor until his graduation in 1860, after which he engaged for a time in teaching.

In June, 1862, Mr. Jones enlisted as a member of Company E, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, and, made Second Lieutenant in September of that year, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. As a part of the heavy artillery arm of the service, they were stationed in the defenses of Washington, and afterwards did duty in the trenches of Petersburg as infantry during the last siege, until the capitulation. He with his command bore an honorable part in many of the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, the principal of which were at Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, the campaign of the Shenandoah Valley, etc. October 27, 1863, Mr. Jones was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, which rank he held until the close of the war. In July, 1865, he with his regiment was mustered out, at the close of the war.

Our subject returned to New York, and engaged in teaching in Jefferson County. He was united in marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of William and Eliza George, of Ft. Wayne, Ind. The date of this event was the 18th of June, 1865, and it was celebrated at Williamsport, Pa., Mr. Jones being there on a leave of absence from the army. In the fall of 1865 he moved West to Ft. Wayne, Ind., and began reading law in the office of Morris & Worden, after which he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, but on account of failing health he was obliged to discontinue his legal studies before completing the course.

From Ft. Wayne Mr. Jones removed to Benton Harbor, where he engaged in fruit culture for about six years. He then formed a partnership with Henry L. Pitcher, under the firm name of H. L. Pitcher & Co., and in this connection engaged in the dry-goods business. Two years afterward George F. Sonner was admitted to the partnership, the title of the firm being changed to Pitcher, Jones & Sonner.

A few years after this connection was entered into, Mr. Pitcher disposed of his interest to the other members of the firm, who continued the business under the name of Jones & Sonner. They gained an extensive reputation for honorable methods of dealing and the superior quality of their stock, and had a very profitable trade. In 1889, the partners closed out and retired from business, although Mr. Jones and Mr. Sonner still retain the ownership of the brick block and other valuable real estate. Mr. Jones is the owner of other valuable real estate, and is now engaged in buying and selling property.

A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Jones has never been solicitous of office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business. However, in 1893, he was elected Alderman of the Third Ward. Socially, he is identified with Lake Shore Lodge No. 298, A. F. & A. M., and Calvin Brittain Chapter No. 56, R. A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had born to them two sons: Henry Russell, who died February 10, 1871, aged about a year and a-half; and Maurice Lindley Jones, who is now a student at the Michigan Mining School, at Houghton, who will graduate as a mining engineer in the Class of ‘94. Mrs. Jones is a member and one of the most active workers of the Congregational Church. The family residence is situated at No. 121 Washington Street. It is the abode of hospitality, and in it the genial host and hostess are accustomed to frequently welcome and pleasantly entertain their many personal friends.