A Banker From Kendall

I was pleasantly surprised to learn while browsing around, that a very prominent business man was born and raised in Kendall, NY.  His name was Claudius Jones.

Claudius Jones was born in Kendall in 1827 to David and Cynthia (Whitney) Jones. David was a native of Wales.  He made his way to America, eventually settling and planting roots in Kendall.  David is the first pioneer settler who bought and cleared land in about 1815 on the west side of town.  Successful at farming, he later married his wife, who's also a Kendall native in 1824.  

Claudius Jones is one of  eight children.  He spent his childhood days here and received his education from the local school.  He engaged in farming for a while but because of his feeble nature, he left farming behind.  He married Harriet Irene Weed.  Like Claudius, her parents were also one of Kendall's earliest settlers.  Five children came from this union, one named Harry T. Jones (keep his name in the back of your mind).  In about 1859, the family followed the expansion of the railroad west. Claudius engaged in establishing banks in Galva and Monmouth, Illinois.  His health was failing, so they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska after the Civil War.  As patriotic as he was, he organized a regiment in Chicago but could not participate as colonel because of his ill health and debilitating nature.  He did name the commanding officer. 

 

 The family finally settled in  Lincoln, Seward County, Nebraska in 1870.  Claudius engaged in the handling of state and county warrants.  In about 1873 he was the president and sole owner of the State Bank of Nebraska.  Like with everything else, he was successful until about 1879 where his health issues came back again.  He disposed of this bank and turned his attention to successfully farm and raise cattle.  1883 rolled around and Claudius, along with his son, Harry T. Jones and a few others established the Jones National Bank and was its president until 1895.  At the time of his death in November 1896, he was the most extensive real estate owner and farmer in Seward County, as well as being the director of the Jones National Bank. 

He had great perseverance and he showed off the energy he had and accomplished so many things in spite of his poor health and feeble body.  He demonstrates what high spirit and strong will can do in spite of any anomaly.  Remember, he came from Kendall, NY.

Harry T Jones was the only living son of Claudius.  Harry was well known as a successful banker of Seward County.  He was educated and thwarted himself into a business career.  His father supervised him every step of the way.  In 1883 Harry entered the Jones National Bank as its cashier and in 1891 secured a controlling interest in the well known bank and became its president and active manager.  He too was also known to be the largest land owner in Seward County.  Harry married in 1894 to Emma Totten of that county.  Claudius Jones would be proud.  The business has been handed down for generations.

This photo hangs in the Jones National Bank as a reminder of how strong the family roots are.  A family that stays together, banks together!  (I know, bad joke.)

I included a modern day picture of the Jones National Bank, located in Lincoln, Seward County, Nebraska.
 

Today, The Jones National Bank and Trust Company remains financially strong and is devoted to Seward County.