Oliver Jones (businessman)

He was born in Head of Petitcodiac (later Petitcodiac, New Brunswick), the son of Jacob Jones and Hannah Corey.^[1]

Jones moved to the Bend of Petitcodiac (later Moncton) in 1839, where he bought property including a hotel and built the first wharf in 1841.^[1] His first wife was Elizabeth Steeves. Jones married two more times: marrying Catherine Garden Simpson in 1852 and Elizabeth Jane Beer in 1863.^[1] He had 22 children, five with his first wife, six with his second wife and eleven with his third.^[2]

In 1854, he helped establish the Westmorland Bank and he also served as its president until the bank's failure in 1867.^[1] With partners, Jones also established a tannery and a soap and candle factory. He served as mayor of Moncton in 1859-60.^[1] Jones also set up a shipbuilding company there that operated between 1863 and 1865. He died in Moncton after suffering a stroke at the age of 77.^[1] He was generally disliked and after his death, his family had to post guards at his vault in Elmwood Cemetery.^[1][2]