Jones, Pembroke, 1858-1919

Dates

• Existence: 1858-12-15 - 1919-01-24

Biography

Pembroke Jones was born in 1858 in Wilmington, NC to John and Jane London Jones. Upon his mother's death, Jones was raised by his aunt, Alice Heron London (Mrs. Platt K. Dickinson), who left her money to him when she, too, died in 1881. With the inheritance, Jones got into the rice milling business in Wilmington and later New Orleans. Jones and his wife Sarah Wharton Green, whom he married in 1884, became friendly with railroad baron Henry Walters when he was in town and fell ill, staying at their home to recuperate. It was Walters's financial advice in railroad securities that helped the Jones' expand on their already substanital fortune. With their immense wealth and conquering of the social scene in Wilmington, the Joneses moved to New York City, where they established themselves among the society elite by throwing lavish parties. Though still living up North, Jones promoted the development of a seaport in Wilmington and spent time every year at Airlie, their estate and location of Sarah's azalea garden--parts of which are now home to Airlie Gardens and the wealthy Wilmington community of Landfall. Jones served for a time as vice-president of the Carolina Shipbuilding Corporation, which was building ships in Wilmington at the time of his death. He died in New York in 1919 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: