Frank Smith Jones was born at Stamford, Conn., August 19, 1847, one of the three sons of Isaac Smith Jones and Frances J. Weed. The first representative of the Jones family in America, William Jones, came to America in 1660 in the same ship with the regicide judges, Whalley and Goffe, who had fled to the New World to escape the vengeance of the son of Charles I. of England. In 1661 an order arrived from England for the arrest of Whalley and Goffe, but with the aid of Jones they escaped and were never apprehended. Jones settled in New Haven and in 1664 was chosen governor of the colony of Connecticut. Mr. Jones's mother was a member of the wellknown Weed family of Stamford.

Mr. Jones obtained his early education in the schools of Stamford, supplementing it with a course in the Eastman Business College, Foughkeepsie, N. Y., whence he graduated in 1862. He then entered the employ of A. J. Johnson, publisher of Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia' with whom he remained for seven years, by hard work and serious application to his duties gaining such favorable recognition that he eventually became general manager. His untiring efforts to secure commercial success for this undertaking were rewarded by a pleasing tribute in the preface to the 'Cyclopedia.'

With his brothers, Charles Fisher and Cyrus Daniel Jones as partners, Mr. Jones in 1872 embarked in the tea and coffee business at Scranton, Pa., and after a hard struggle successfully laid the foundation for the Grand Union Tea Company, now one of the greatest enterprises in the United States. But though the gross income of the business for the first year was $12,000, the margin of profit was insufficient to support all three brothers, and it was therefore agreed in 1873 that Frank should again enter the employ of Mr. Johnson until such time as the business should warrant expansion. In the meantime each of the brothers saved as much as possible so that a branch store might be opened at the earliest opportunity and it was not long before the muchdesired goal had been attained. In the spring of 1876 a new store was opened at East Saginaw, Mich., and Frank S. Jones again resigned his position with Mr. Johnson to take charge of the new branch. As in the first store Mr. Jones sent his wagons in every direction in search of trade and his great expenditure of energy was amply rewarded. Having now gained a strong foothold it became merely a matter of time as to the number of stores that might be established and successfully operated. It was not long before the brothers controlled a dozen stores and since that time the firm of Jones Brothers has gone steadily forward until at the present time it owns and operates branches in more than 200 cities and towns, employing over 5,000 wagons.

In 1886 Mr. Jones assumed charge of the headquarters of the company at Brooklyn and gradually brought the work of every depart

ment up to the highest degree of efficiency. New buildings were erected, new machinery installed, new methods instituted, in fact every idea or plan that would promote the welfare of the company was invoked to keep the business abreast of the times and ahead of competitors. As the business grew other articles of merchandise were added and beside tea and coffee the company now produces baking powder, spices, flavoring extracts, and soap. The brick and steel warehouses and factories of the company cover an entire block in Brooklyn, with 260,000 square feet of floor space. The company annually distributes about 55,000 tons of tea and coffee, and its soap factories, comprising two six-story buildings, have a daily output of 1,500 boxes of 80 lbs. each. The bottling plant has an average daily output of 750 quarts of flavoring extract. In addition the company manufactures the cans for the baking powder and spices, the daily production being 50,000 cans, and also operates its own printing plant with a capacity of 250,000 labels and printed bags daily, beside all the stationery and other printed matter required for the branch stores. The company also publishes a monthly paper, 'The Grand Union Herald,' which has a circulation of 700,000 copies.

In addition to his activities in connection with this business Mr. Jones also engaged in other enterprises. With his brother, Cyrus D., he established the Anchor Pottery at Trenton, N. J., which is now a thriving business with about 1,200 employees. He is treasurer of the Sidney Novelty Company, of Sidney, N. Y., and has also made large investments in coal and lumber lands in Pennsylvania and the southern states which have proved to be highly profitable. In 1903 he retired from active participation in the affairs of his various enterprises that he might enjoy a richly deserved

rest.

Mr. Jones has long been interested in affairs outside of the world of business and has been especially active in organizations devoted to the public welfare of Brooklyn. He is a trustee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences to which he presented in 1898 the Gebhard collection of minerals and also the Nuemogen entomological collection containing many rare specimens; of the Central Congregational Church of Brooklyn and of Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn.; and for several years was a trustee of the Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and a director of the Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society. He also gave $40,000 to the Bedford Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association and thus was largely instrumental in assisting that body to become such a vast power for good. These constitute but a small portion of his benefactions but as the majority of his gifts are bestowed unostentatiously the total will probably never become known.

He has also found time to devote to the cultivation of friendships and is happy in possessing a wide circle of friends. He is a member