Thomas Clive Jones
Thomas Clive Jones, president of the Delaware Gas Company, is one of the most experienced and best known gas men of the country. Mr. Jones was born November 17, 1867, on his father's farm in Troy Township, Delaware County, and comes of oId pioneer families on both sides. His maternal grandfather, Judge Hosea Williams, was one of the prominent men in the early days of Delaware County.
Mr. Jones received his education through the public schools and later enjoyed the academic advantages at Gambier, Ohio, following which he took a commercial course at the Spencerian Business College, Washington, D. C. Returning to Delaware he began his business career as a collector for the company of which he is now the head. He was with the Columbus Gas Company as teller in 1886-1887. For the following three years he was concerned in a coal and feed business at Delaware, under the firm style of Baker & Jones, then resumed relations with the Delaware Company, of which he was elected superintendent in 1891. In this capacity he served the company until 1905. when he became its president. In 1901 Mr. Jones purchased a third interest in the Coshocton (Ohio) Gas Company. Under his supervision the plant entirely remodelled and at a later date he equipped it for the use of natural gas. In 1902 under his direction the plant of the Delaware Company was reconstructed for the distribution of natural gas. It is one of the most perfect systems in the State: one year of careful oversight was necessary to accomplish the change, but its operation has fully justified the expenditure of talent and money involved.
Mr. Jones was elected to membership in the Ohio Gas Light Association in 1892, the Western Gas Association in 1895, the American Gas Light Association in 1898, the Michigan Gas Association in 1900; he became a charter member of the Natural Gas Association of America in 1906 and a charter member of the American Gas Institute in 1906. He was several years a member of the Executive Committee of the Ohio Association and its secretary from 1898 to 1906, during which time he edited and published all of the annual volumes of proceedings for the association. He was elected treasurer of the American Gas Institute in 1906. Mr. Jones has contributed many papers to the publications of these publications and is by gas men everywhere recognized as one of the influential experts in the scuebce and practical art of gas production, manufacture, transmission and distribution. His printed opinions form a valuable contribution to the literature of the subject during the last 15 years.
In 1889 Mr. Jones was married to Sue E. Baker, who is a daughter of Mr. Henry L. Baker, a former mayor of Delaware. They have one son, Thomas Clive, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Jones has been a vestryman for a number of years.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908