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ALBERT E. JONES

"The subject of this brief sketch, who occupies a responsible position with the Chicago Great Western railroad at Oelwein, is numbered among the best residents of this prosperous city and enjoys the confidence of all who know him, because of his sterling qualities and upright life. Mr. Jones is a native of the great city of Chicago, Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 5th day of July, 1873. He is a son of Smith E. Jones, Jr., a native of rock-ribbed Wales, who came to the United States with his parents when a small boy, some time prior to 1840.

The subject's paternal grandparents were Smith Ebbert and Mary M. Jones. On the family's arrival in the New World they located in Pennsylvania, but subsequently moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where they remained until after the close of the Civil war, when they moved to Chicago. In that city the subject of this sketch was reared and secured his education in the public schools. At the early age of fourteen years he started out in life on his own account, apprenticing himself to learn the machinist's trade in the shop of Walter K. Manning, where he completed his apprenticeship and then worked three years longer or a total service under Mr. Manning of seven years. He then entered the employ of the Illinois Central railroad as a machinist, and was sent to the shops at New Orleans, Louisiana. A year later he entered the service of the Southern Pacific railroad at Houston, Texas, with whom he remained as a machinist about nine months. He then returned to his native city and became a machinist for Arthur J. O'Leary.

Mr. Jones has held a number of other positions, in all of which he has gained valuable experience in various branches of his trade, having been employed on both marine and railroad work and in the general line in many different shops. He was employed by Fairbanks, Morse & Company at Beloit, Wisconsin, for six years, at the end of which time he went to Waterloo, Iowa, as a machinist in the employ of the Davis Engine Works. In August, 1902, Mr. Jones entered the employ of the Chicago Great Western road at Oelwein, Fayette county, entering the shops as machinist. He has since been promoted to the position of machinist foreman, assisting the general foreman at the round-house. He has demonstrated his fitness for any position to which he may be assigned and not only enjoys the good will of his superiors, but is also popular with his fellow employees and those under him.

Fraternally Mr. Jones is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has taken all the degrees up to and including those of Knight Templar. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America.

On March 9, 1898, Mr. Jones took unto himself a help mate in the person of Maude M. Lane, of Beloit, Wisconsin, a union which has been most happy and congenial. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are popular in the social circles in which they move and their home is a favorite meeting place for their friends, who appreciate the spirit of hospitality which is ever in evidence there. 

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Richard Smith