My Genealogy Hound

THOS. A. JONES, a Union veteran of the late civil war and a gallant soldier in the Army of the Potomac, who was wounded at the terrible battle of the Wilderness, where in the three days fight. May fifth, sixth and seventh, thirty-seven thousand, seven hundred and thirty-seven others of the army to which he was attached, were either killed, wounded, or made prisoner, is a son of Robert and Mary (Manning) Jones and was born May 10, 1845, in the village of Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York. The Jones family is of English extraction, the immediate ancestors upon both sides being children of “the mother of the new world.” Robert Jones was born in England about 1800, and came to America about 1825. He first located at Lyons, Wayne county, then came to Westfield and then went to Ohio, where he died. Upon familiarizing himself with our political institutions, he allied himself with the republicans and was a factor in local politics. In 1820 he married Mary Manning, by whom he had eleven children, six of whom are still living. Jacob H., entered Co. G, 49th regiment New York Infantry, August 17, 1861, and was killed April 2, 1865, at the storming of Petersburg. He served with his regiment all through the war and lost his life just one week before General Lee made his final capitulation of the Confederate armies under his immediate command. The battle in which he fell, while not as disastrous to either side as many others, was hard fought and fiercely contested, no less than three thousand of his comrades at arms falling in the struggle, either killed or wounded.

Thomas A. Jones was educated at the common schools. When the 49th regiment New York Infantry was organized he joined Co. G, August 17, 1861, and served until 1864, a total of three years and eleven months. Being attached to the Army of the Potomac he was engaged in nearly all of the important battles of this renowned organization. He was wounded the first day of the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and was confined to the hospital until the following February. Mr. Jones was a valiant soldier and made an honorable record. Upon returning home at the close of his enlistment he settled back to farrming and has been so engaged ever since.

On December 17, 1864, T. A. Junes married Maria Perdue, a daughter of William Purdue, and reared a family of five children: Frances, wife of Michael Decker, a Ripley farmer; Fred L.; Addie A., married John Burgen, who tills the soil at Northeast, Erie county, Pa.; Belle and Roy A.

T. A. Jones has been identified with the Republican party and is now a postmaster at South Ripley, receiving his appointment April 1, 1891. Having served so long and so loyally in the Federal army, it is not surprising that he is an enthusiastic member of John Braiden Post, No. 488, Grand Army of the Republic, which meets at Northeast, Erie county, Pa. He is a good citizen and has the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and townsmen.