author

U. J. (Uriah James) Jones

1818–1864

A Pennsylvania newspaper man and local historian, he is best remembered for preserving early stories of the Juniata Valley frontier. His work gathered pioneer memories, regional history, and legal writing into books that still interest researchers and curious readers.

1 Audiobook

History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley Embracing an Account of the Early Pioneers, and the Trials and Privations Incident to the Settlement of the Valley, Predatory Incursions, Massacres, and Abductions by the Indians During the French and Indian Wars, and the War of the Revolution, &c.

History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley Embracing an Account of the Early Pioneers, and the Trials and Privations Incident to the Settlement of the Valley, Predatory Incursions, Massacres, and Abductions by the Indians During the French and Indian Wars, and the War of the Revolution, &c.

by U. J. (Uriah James) Jones

About the author

Born in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, Uriah James Jones became known as a journalist, author, and historian with a strong interest in the early history of central Pennsylvania. Sources from books and library records link him to History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley, first published in 1856, a work that helped preserve accounts of pioneers, frontier conflict, and settlement in the region.

He also wrote on other subjects, including Simon Girty and the rights of railway travelers, showing a range that went beyond local history. A later historical article about him describes him as a Union County native and newspaper man as well as an author, which fits the broader picture of a writer engaged with both public affairs and the past.

The dates attached to his name vary across available records: library catalogs list him as 1818–1864, while a memorial record gives March 23, 1820, to November 18, 1864. What is clear is that he died relatively young, after leaving behind a book that remained important enough to be reprinted and digitized for later generations.