Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Jones, C. Blythe February 4, 1827 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 19, 2024, 2:14 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley C. BLYTHE JONES, who for seventeen years has meted out justice to the citizens of Hollidaysburg, and acquired an unusual popularity among the citizens of the county, is a son of Joseph and Mary (Moore) Jones. He was born at Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1827. His grandfather, John Jones, was a native of England, born in 1730, and emigrated to the united States in 1756, locating in Path Valley, Franklin County, this state, where he became a land owner and successful farmer. He resided in that county until his death, in 1841, having reached the remarkable age of one hundred and eleven years. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Joseph Jones (father) was born in Path Valley, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1794, and removed to Frankstown, Blair County in 1833, where he reside until his death in 1858, at the age of sixty-four years. For a long period he was a hotel proprietor at Frankstown and became widely known, but retired form active business some time prior to his demise. He was a Democrat in politics, and for many years a member of the Baptist Church. He married Mary Moore, to whom was born a family of six children. Her father, Robert Moore, died at Manor Hill, in the adjoining county of Huntingdon, where he was engaged in merchandising. Mrs. Jones (mother) was born in that county, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1830, when the subject of this sketch was but three years of age. At the age of six years he came to this county with his father's family, consisting of his father and five sisters, all his seniors, and was reared at Frankstown, attending the common schools for some years, and taking a course at the Litiz academy, in Lancaster, and also at Huntingdon academy. After leaving school he boated on the old State canal, and soon afterward embarked in the mercantile business at Frankstown, and continued therein until 1857, when he removed to Scott County, Iowa. There he purchased a farm and engaged in cultivating the soil for two years, during which time he was elected and served as justice of the peace. In 1859 he returned to Blair County and located at Hollidaysburg. In 1866 he became a citizen of Gaysport borough, where he has ever since resided. About seventeen years ago he was elected justice of the peace here, and has been regularly reelected at each recurring election. During the Civil War he served as a clerk in the office of the provost marshal. In 1887 he was elected county commissioner for a term of three years, on the Democratic ticket, and reelected to this office in 1890 for a like period. In 1883 Mr. Jones became the candidate of his party for the office of county treasurer, and when the returns came in he only lacked forty-four votes of election, although the county is Republican by nearly fifteen hundred majority. This is a testimonial of popularity seldom accorded a political opponent, and is the more remarkable because he made little or no effort during the canvass, thinking the majority against his party was too large to overcome. In 1884 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for State Senator from this district against H.A. Boggs, the Republican nominee. In 1851 Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Malinda Gast, a daughter of George Gast, of Frankstown, this county, and to them were born four children, all now deceased. He and Mrs. Jones are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted masons, and takes rank with the most popular and substantial citizens of Blair County. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Denise. This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb