Sheldon Jones

Sheldon Jones was born in Jonestown, a village in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. He was the first child born to Ashbel Wilson Jones and his wife Elizabeth McGuire on 8 October, 1886. The eldest of three children, Sheldon was joined by his sister Adria Louise (1892) and brother Ashbel Wilson Jr. (1898). Sheldon undoubtedly helped around the family's general store, and we know that he only finished his formal education up to 8th grade, not so unusual at the time.

He trained as a surveyor, and joined the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in 1905. He held positions as efficiency engineer and ventilation engineer as he ascended the ladder. Highly respected for his expertise, he worked his way up to assistant to the president of the mine in the Hazleton/Pittston districts before retiring on a disability in 1937. Though pensions were unusual in those days, Sheldon was gifted a lifetime supply of coal, which continued even after his death in 1959.

Sheldon first wife was Emily "Irene" Yost, also Fishing Creek resident, the daughter of Clarence Wilber Yost and his wife Ida May Dewitt. Sheldon and Irene were married on 20 March 1909 at the Reformed Parsonage in Orangeville, PA. Rev. Houtz officiated. Their first child was born prematurely on 29 April 1909 and sadly died after 2 hours. Irene then bore him 3 boys: Harlan Yost (born 21 July 1912), Sheldon II (6 January 1914), then Clarence Wilson on 30 November 1917, the famiily then grew larger with the birth of 2 girls: Adria May (21 February 1919), and Marian Frances, my mother, on 24 February 1923. Their first son was born in Jonestown, but by the 1910 census Irene & Sheldon, both 23, were living at 72 Pettebone St. in Forty Fort.

There were two additional babies born to the couple, who sadly died very soon after birth: their first boy, born 29 April 1909, was premature and only lived 2 hours. Another son, born 26 October 1916, when they lived at 376 Parrish St. in Wilkes-Barre, was still-born. Childbirth was a dangerous event in those days, both for the infant and for the mother, and certainly were tragic events for the family to experience.

The growing family certainly needed more room and by the 1920 census they were living at 312 Linden Street in West Pittston.

Irene suffered an early death, dying 10 July 1901 at the age of 38 of a systemic gangrenous infection as the result of an abscessed tooth. She died in her home at 217 Delaware Ave. in West Pittston, in her bed, with family around. Her death devastated the young family, and left the grieving father with 5 motherless children ages 3-14. Irene's spinster aunt Dora Esther Yost moved in with them and helped tame the rowdy bunch.

In late 1929 romance again blossomed for Sheldon, and he married his secretary from the Lehigh Valley Coal Company office, Isabel Maude Smiles, a Pittston girl. Sheldon and Maudie were married on 14 July 1930 at the Methodist Episcopal Church, McElhattan, Clinton County, Pa. Sheldon's half-brother, Rev. Carleton Newbold Jones officiated.

The second marriage was a challenge for Maudie, as she took over the running of the household, the raising of the children, and the dedicated care of her husband, who she always referred to as "father". My mother was the youngest, being only 7 when she acquired a new mother. They were always very close. The boys were teenagers

At some point Sheldon decided to move is large family out to the 'burbs of Forty Fort. At first they rented a house up the hill from the house we knew as their hom at 52 Carverton Road, then they purchased and moved to the house where we