David Wesley Jones Omemee Born, Cornerstone of Roland, Manitoba!
from Suzanne Sholer
David Wesley Jones-why is this man born in Omemee , in a history book about Manitoba? Manitoba Society? Occasionally you run across some surprising history about your community online. I was intrigued by this excerpt from The Story of Manitoba,and thought you might enjoy it as well.
DAVID WESLEY JONES
The material, educational, political and moral upbuilding of any community is due in a large measure to men of the stamp of David Wesley Jones men who accomplish definite and useful things and whose connection with business and public life promotes progress and advancement. Jfc Jones has aided his country in its wars and helped in its business and agricultural development, promoted activity along political lines and furthered the spread of the religious doctrines in which he believes. A spirit of energy and determination has characterized his career and his ambition has led him into connection with various enterprises, all of which have proved substantial stepping - stones to the gratifying degree of success which he today enjoys. A native of Ontario, he was born in Omemee. May 14, 1863, a son of James Robert and Jane (Kennedy) Jones, the former a native of County Fermanagh, Ireland, and the latter of Ontario. It was the father of our subject who founded the family in Canada. He came to Ontario when he was a young man and settled near Omemee, where he engaged in farming. In 1882 he came with his family to Manitoba and homesteaded land in the Roland district, where he was successful as a general agriculturist for many years. From time to time he added to his holdings and acquired one thousand acres of land which, because of Mr. Jones' excellent judgment in land values, proved to be the best and most productive soil in the province. The father of our subject retired a short time ago and has since spent his time traveling in various parts of the Dominion, especially in the region between Ontario and the coast. He has reached the age of eighty-five, but is in splendid physical and mental condition, active and hearty in spirit and interests and is most widely respected.
Mr. Jones is the oldest in a family of seven sons and one daughter. His school days were spent in Ontario and he accompanied his parents on their removal to Manitoba, remaining with them until 1885. He spent some time
after this in the army and later engaged in construction work on the Great Northern Railroad, in which line of activity he continued until 1888, when he determined to take up farming. He bought land six miles west of Roland and developed it until 1896, when he accepted the position of manager of the local branch of the Massey-Harris Implement Company. However, this connection is only one of Mr. Jones' varied activities. For seven years past he has been a member of the Dufferin municipal council and for fifteen years has been on the Roland school board, during which time the fine high-school building now in use was erected. He is well known in church work, adhering to the Doctrines of the Methodist religion and making his faith practical by good works. He is on the building committee, which promoted the erection of a new thirty-five thousand dollar house of worship. For a number of years he was police magistrate, and fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and the Canadian Order of Foresters.
In February, 1890, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Lowe, who was born in Pakenham, Ontario, a daughter of Samuel Lowe, who settled in the Roland district in 1876 and was among its pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have three children : Stanley, who was for four years in the Bank of Hamilton and who is now in the employ of the Saskatchewan Cooperative Elevator Company of Winnipeg; and Leslie and Melville, who attend school.
Mr. Jones has also a creditable military record. In 1885 he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Battalion, under Colonel Thomas Scott, and went to the front, being engaged in garrison duty at Fort Qu'Appele. The soldiers here, on one occasion, were surrounded by a band of three hundred Indians, including Chief Star Blanket and a number of other well known leaders. Mr. Jones served through the entire Northwest Rebellion and was honourably discharged at the close of hostilities. In the following year, 1886, he again enlisted and as an attached man took out his certificate as a commissioned officer. He is a member of the Army and Navy Veteran's club of Winnipeg.
Source: The Story of Manitoba p 592 Published 1913
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