MR. WILLIAM JONES, ONEIDA COUNTY.
BUILT CITY HALL AND SIX CHURCHES.
One of Utica's oldest and most esteemed residents, who erected some of the city's most substantial sgtructures, was an active worker in the anti-slavery movement, as ex-assemblyman and a hard worker in many projects calculated to advance the city's growth, has passed away in the person of William Jones.Death occured at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon at 91 Howard Avenue, where he had made his home with his daughter, Mrs. John Howarth, for som time. Mr. Jones had benn failing for about three years, but did not consider himself ill until the early part of this year.
Mr. Jones was well known about Oneida County, and in the days of his greatest activity was one of the leading men of the section. Besides six churches in the city, Mr. Jones erected the City Hall, two cotton mills and several fine blocks, superintended the construction of the Oriskany monument and was the first to introduce the idea of constructing brick sewers in the city.
His passing will be the occasion of regret to many.
William Jones was born at Carnarvonshire, Wales on January 17, 1810. When he was eight years old, he went to work carrying mortar for his father, who was a stone mason. Having learned the trade he went to Liverpool when 18 years old to obtain a better education. His meager funds were soon exhausted and he shipped as a seaman aboard a vessel bound for Philadelphia. He remained in that city one summer and then went South, working for a year at his trade in New Orleans, Mobile and Pensacola.
Slaves did much of the work that Mr. Jones would have been pleased to do, so, after a visit to Charleston S.C., he shipped again for Liverpool, proposing to remain on the vessel until it again reached this country. He gave his uncle at Liverpool some plug tobacco, and the customs officers becoming cognizant of the fact, threatened him with arrest for smuggling. He made his way to his old home and remained there for four years.
He married Laura Parry and came with her to this country in 1834.
He remained in New York three years and then came to Utica. Mr. Jones had resided in this city and in New Hartford ever since. Following his occupation as mason and contractor, he had constructed 120 of this city's stone and brick buildings and many frame structures.
He first secured work on the Utica State Hospital, then called the Lunatic Asylum, which was being build, and he worked there two years.
Then he began business for himself, and he had been in partnership at different times with Joseph Hirt, William L. Jones, Owen Jones and Thomas Birt. Mr. Jones built the Tibbets and Bradish blocks, on Genesse street; the Barnes block, on John Street, near Bleecker; the Ladies' Seminary; the Utica Orphan Asylum and the addition to it; the Utica Weigh Lock; the City Hall; Steuben and Hamilton street schools, which were the first two public schools in the city; Court street school and the addition to the State Asylum. He built two additions to the Glove Woolen Mill and the wool warehouse, and after the Glove Woolen Mills were destroyed by fire rebuilt that factory.
He also built the Church of the Reconciliation, Grace Church, Grace Church Chapel, Calvary Church, St Luke's the First Methodist on Court street, Bethesda Church on Washington street, and the addition to the First Presbyterian Church, which comprises the church parlors and the rooms over them.
At Forest Hill Cemetery he built the Child's Chapel and the Cozzens and Stockings vaults, and also the chapel in St Agnes's Cemetery. He erected the Walcott and Campbell residences in New York Mills, at one time considered the finest in this section, the bridge over the Sauquoit at Yorkville, large chumneys at Clayville and Ilion, the Butterfield flats at Layfayette street and superintended the construction of the Oriskany monument. The last work in the building line that he did was as inspector on the laying of the sewer at the Masonic Home. Mr Jones quarry in New Hartfoed furnished the foundation stone for many of the buildings he erected, and he had five or six men constanly at work there.
Mr. Jones was a strong anti-slavery advocate and his first vote was cast for James G. Birney, the anti-slavery candidate for President. Oneida county contributed more votes for this candidate than any other county in the state. Mr. Jones also wrote the first article against slavery published in the Welsh language, it appearing in Dr. Everett's magazine, which was printed in Steuben. Since the Republican party had been formed Mr. Jones had been identified with it.
In 1877, Mr. Jones was elected member of the Assembly from the 1st Oneida district on the Republican ticket. During his term at Albany, he made a speech on the liquor question that made him one of the notable figures of the Legislative body. The proposed Daly excise law was under discussion. John I. Gilbert of Ftanklin county made a speech opposing the measure, in the course of which he quoted Scripture. Mr. Jones, who favourfed the Daly bill, had in his desk a Bible, and as Gilbert spoke, Jones searched through his copy of Holy Writ for arguements in reply. He found several, which, not being a speaker himself, he sent over to Daly's desk, thinking that the author of the excise law would make an answer to the man from Franklin.
Instead Daly sent a note up to the speaker's desk, suggesting that Mr. Jones be heard. When Gilbert finished, Speaker Husted nodded to Mr. Jones. He had never made a speech, but Husted had indicated that he was going to say something and all eyes turned toeard him. Finally he arose and gave his views on the liquor question. He said that the previous Sunday he had travelled twenty seven miles through the rain in his district so he could vote intelligently on the question, and in every tavern he set foot he drank ale. He said he was born in a tavern, and about the first thing he remembered was drinking ale, and he had drunk ale and whiskey since. He quoted Scripture to support his arguement, and when he concluded the House was convulsed. His views were widely published.
Since 1888 Mr. Jones had lived at 91 Howard Avenue. For 22 years, he lived in New Hartford. Mr. Jones's first wife died in 1843, and in 1845 he married Mrs. William Roberts, who died in 1885. The children who survive are Mrs. John Howarth, John S., Mary Lane, Laura Ann and Edward G., all of Utica; ten grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren also survive.