Mr Samuel Nathan Jones J.P., O.B.E.

Mr Samuel Nathan Jones J.P., O.B.E.
Mr Samuel Nathan Jones was born on 3rd July 1850 at Pond House, Abertillery. His parents were Mr Edward Jones and Jane Jones nee Hughes. Mr and Mrs Hughes were the first postmaster and postmistress of Abertillery, their post office was at the railway platform connected with Pond House opposite the Abertillery Tin Works, on the site where Tesco Supermarket is today.

Upon leaving school in 1861 Mr Samuel Nathan Jones attended Holts Academy, a school in Denbighshire under Rev D. Powell. While in Denbigh his father suffered financial problems and Samuel was called home. Later he was apprenticed to Mr D. Jenkins a draper at Newport where he stayed for four years. Mr Jones business progressed rapidly and in 1869 was appointed as traveller in the Midlands area including Birmingham for Messrs Humphrey’s, Mackleary and Shoolbred of Manchester and later he travelled the same ground for Messrs Lewis Humphreys and Co, drapers of High Street, Manchester.

In 1872 Mr S. N. Jones returned to Abertillery and took over his father’s drapery establishment in connection with the new post office situated at Commercial Street, Abertillery. Later he carried on a business at Cwmtillery with which he left his brother Mr Augustus Jones in charge.

The Abertillery Local Board.
In 1876 he was elected onto the Abertillery Local Board. He also served on the Tredegar Board of Guardians.

Monmouthshire County Council.
On the formation of the Monmouthshire County Council in 1889 Mr Jones unsuccessfully contested the Abertillery Division with Mr Henry Phillips securing the seat. On the retirement of Mr Phillips in 1892, Mr Jones on behalf of the Progressive Party retained the seat against Mr Dawson of the Powell’s Tillery Company and was subsequently returned three times unopposed until 1903.

Alderman Jones.
Upon the death of Alderman E. A. Taylor of Risca, Mr Jones was unanimously raised to the Aldermanic Bench, being elected at the same time to the Technical Instruction Committee and a member of the County Governing Body.

Justice of the Peace.
During the Liberal Government (1892-1895) Mr Jones was added to the Commission of the Peace for the county. Upon the death of Dr W. E. Williams his fellow magistrates on the Bedwellty petty sessional division elected him as their chairman, a position which he held until his death.

The Abertillery Arcade.
In 1898 Samuel Nathan Jones was instrumental in constructing the Arcade, Abertillery in which his shop was situated.

The Various Council and Educational Boards.
Mr S. N. Jones had a leading interest in the Abertillery County Grammar School Board of Governors and succeeded Mr Titus Phillips in the chair. Mr Jones also represented the County Council on the Welsh Central Board, The Council of Cardiff University, the Court of Governors of the Cardiff University and the University Court of Wales. Mr Jones was a member of the Monmouthshire Standing Joint Committee. He was also a member of the Provisional Education Committee in connection with the Monmouthshire County Council and was one of the representatives of the Council at Welsh National Education Conferences. When the Monmouthshire County Council became an education authority of the county under the Education Act of 1902 Mr Jones devoted himself to that side of work. He was chairman of the Higher Educational Sub-Committee and paid a main part in establishing the Caerleon Training College and was appointed chairman.

The Powell’s Tillery Institute.
Mr Jones was trustee of the Powell’s Tillery Institute and Gymnasium, Abertillery.

Officer of the British Empire.
During the Great War Mr Jones threw himself into special work which devolved upon local authorities. He was chairman of the War Agricultural Committee and a leading member of the Monmouthshire County Appeal Tribunal in connection with the Military Service Acts. His war work was recognised by being appointed an Officer of the British Empire.

His Personal Life.
Mr Samuel Nathan Jones was married twice, his first wife was Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Mr John Jones of Hendry Farm, St Mellons. The daughter of that union married Dr D. Rocyn Jones, the county medical officer of health. Mr Jones’ second wife was the widow of the late Mr John Jeremy of Tongwynlais. There was one daughter of that marriage, Miss Marion Jones.

The Death of Mr Samuel Nathan Jones.
Mr Samuel Nathan Jones passed away aged 69 on Friday 5th of December 1919 at his residence Cartref Melus, Stow Hill, Newport.

The American Connection.
Mr Jones’ uncle, his mother’s brother, was Mr Nathan Hughes who was a member of the Trevecca family who later moved to live at Six Bells, Abertillery and Aberbeeg. Mr Nathan Hughes’ son was Rev David C. Hughes D.D., a leading Baptist Minister who later emigrated to America in 1857. Mr David C. Hughes’ son was Mr Charles Evan Hughes, born in 1862 at Glenn Falls, he was a very learned man, having graduated at Brown University he went to Delaware County to teach Greek and mathematics. He taught law at Cornell University and later became a judge.

Judge Charles Evan Hughes.
In 1905 Judge Charles Evan Hughes, as mentioned was a cousin to Mr Samuel Nathan Jones, turned down the offer to run for Mayor of New York though in 1906 opted to run for Governor of New York State where he beat Mr William Randolph Hearst. In 1916 he ran for president, although this time lost out to the more experienced Mr Woodrow Wilson.

Source – South Wales Gazette.