My Genealogy Hound

Hamilton H. Jones, a prominent business man of Novi, Oakland County, owning and operating the largest general store in this section of the county, was born in 1844 in Novi township. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lapham) Jones, and a grandson of Samuel Jones, Sr.

The grandfather of our subject was born near the city of New York, but at the time of his marriage removed to Ontario County, New York, settling in the vicinity of Clifton Springs, and there his son Samuel was born.

In 1831 Samuel Jones, Sr., removed to Michigan and took up 160 acres of land in Novi township, Oakland County. Joshua Lapham, the maternal grandfather of our subject, came to Michigan from Massachusetts, locating also in Novi township; later in life he removed to Wayne County, where he died.

Hamilton H. Jones is the eldest of three children now living, born to his parents, the two sisters being Mary J., who married Alpheus R. Angell, of Farmington township, and has two children, — Clyde and Estella; and Estella, who married T. Milton West, who owns a farm in Novi township, three miles west of the village, — Mr. and Mrs. West have two children, Irma and Mary, the former of whom married Clifford Shaw, and they reside on Mr. Shaw’s farm two and a half miles west of Novi.

Mr. Jones was born on his maternal grandfather’s farm, and was mainly reared and educated in Farmington township. His common school course was supplemented with three terms at the Ypsilanti Seminary. He then settled down to farming and continued in agricultural work until 1891, during which time he was regarded as one of the excellent farmers of the locality. Recently he disposed of one of his 80-acre farms in Farmington township, but still owns another 80 acres in section 17 of the same township. After the death of his father he engaged in the general mercantile business with his cousin, D. P. Lapham, at Dearborn, Wayne County, where he remained for a year and a half, doing a large and flourishing business, the first year’s business aggregating $48,000. Mr. Jones six months later sold out his interest to his partner and removed to the village of Novi, where, on April 2, 1894, he established his present enterprise. He is ably assisted by his estimable wife and they carry the largest stock of goods to be found in the locality. It is carefully selected with a view toward pleasing the generous patronage they receive. The business is carried on with honest endeavors to please, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been met more than half way, being popular throughout the whole neighborhood.

On January 3, 1866, Mr. Jones was married to Belle Pettibone, who was a daughter of Judson Pettibone, of Farmington township; her death occurred in 1881. Two children survive her, namely: Judson S., now operating his father’s homestead farm, who married Dora Johnson, a daughter of Osmond Johnson, of Farmington township, and has two children, — Hamilton and Alice; and Clara B., who married Mathew Moeren, of Detroit, now the proprietor of the Orchard Lake Hotel in West Bloomfield township.

On October 10, 1882, Mr. Jones was married to his second wife, Alice Samantha Perry, who is a daughter of James W. and Polly Ann (Oviatte) Perry. James W. Perry was born at Truxton, Cortland County, New York, and was a son of William Perry, who died in 1851 at Woodstock, Madison County, New York. The mother of Mrs. Jones was born November 26, 1826, in Allegany County, New York, and was a daughter of William Oviatte, who at the time of his death was engaged in farming in Illinois. In 1854 Mr. and Mrs. James W. Perry came to Michigan and located at Vernon, Shiawassee County, where they purchased forty acres of land, to which they continued to add until the farm contained 167 acres. Mr. Perry died in 1899 and his widow in 1901. They reared three children, namely: Alphonso W., born in Madison County, New York, May 16, 1849, who was married to Ada Light, a native of Michigan, — they have one son, Colen, and reside on the homestead farm; Alice Samantha, who is the wife of our subject; and Irma, who resides with her sister. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one son, Buddington W., who was born March 20, 1887.

Politically Mr. Jones is a stanch Democrat. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner. Mr. Jones is a representative citizen of Novi township, one of the solid substantial and enterprising men whose good judgment and public spirit continually contribute to the advancement of the town.