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Subject: Re: Jones family-1700'sto1800's
Date: 22 Jun 2005 05:52:00 -0600
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Classification: Query
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http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/HKB.2ACI/90.423.1.3.1
Message Board Post:
I am wondering if your Dr. Alexander Jones is the one b. 1796, probably in NC, d. 25 Aug 1863 in NY. I am wondering also if he had any family connection to Elijah (Eli) Jones, born 1788 in NC. Eli migrated from NC to TN, thence to Holly Springs, MS, arriving in MS about 1835-1839. Their birthdates are only 6 years apart and their migrations to Holly Springs might be a clue to some connection.
Best Regards,
Nolan Jones
Dr. Alexander Jones, my ggggrandfather, was born in NC in 1802, went U of Penn to Med School, and lived in Lexington and Athens, GA, until after his wife went with her father to Holly Springs, MS, in 1837. Jones' Obituary below tells the rest of his history including that of his deat in NYC on August 25, 1863. He is buried in Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. I live in Holly Springs and have a great deal of info about Dr. Jones, but do not think I have anything about the man you mentioned. I will take the ? to our genealogy society and ask for info.
My email address is: . Would like to hear from you about this.
Thank you,
Ben Martin
OBITUARY
August 25, 1863
Front Page, Right Column
The New York Herald
DR. ALEXANDER JONES
Dr. Alexander Jones, for many years an attache of the Herald, died on Saturday evening last, (August 25, 1863) after a lingering illness of about twelve months. The deceased was born in North Carolina about the beginning of the present century, his father being a planter of moderate means. He was educated as a physician at a medical college in Philadelphia, and there graduated and obtained his diploma. About this time he lost his father, which event developed one of the many good hearted traits so prevalent in his character. When his father died he left some property behind him and several children, among whom were two daughters. The deceased, under the impression that by dividing up the property there would not be sufficient to support and educate his sisters in a proper manner, cheerfully gave up his share to them, and started into the world to earn his own living by his profession. He moved down into the state of Mississippi, and there commenced his practice as a ph!
ysician. He continued in his profession with some degree of success until his health broke down, and he was compelled to give it up.
While he was in Mississippi he took great interest in the culture of cotton, and probably there is no man now in the country who is so great an expert at cotton culture, or so thoroughly understands the cotton question in all its bearings, cultivation, production and commerce as did the late Dr. Jones. He also made a number of very important improvements in the cotton gin—improvements that have been adopted, and are now almost, if not quite, in general use in the South.
About the year 1840 the East India Company and the government were desirous of obtaining the services of a number of experienced Americans conversant with with the culture of cotton, to go to India and develop the production of the staple in that country. Among those who were recommended to the company was Dr. Jones who came on to New York, and, with several others, sailed for Europe in the British Queen. He arrived in London for the purpose of completing the necessary arrangements, but before they were entered into finally the idea—which had its origin before he left the United States, and had become strengthened while he was in the city of London—occurred to him that it would not be patriotic for an American to go into a foreign country and there give his time and attention to the cultivation of an article which was one of the most important staples of his own country, thereby raising up a powerful rival to compete with it. This patriotic feeling had su!
ch a weight with Dr. Jones that he declined the offer of $5,000 per annum, with all his expenses paid, and refused to go to India. Some of his companions, however, accepted the offer, and sailed for the East Indies to try the experiment. They were each awarded a thousand acres of land, with a thousand Hindoo laborers to work the same; but owing to the climate, irrigation, and the numerous holidays and festivals indulged in by the Hindoo race, the experiment became a failure, and these parties returned to their native land. But although Dr. Jones refused to aid in the production of cotton in a rival country, he did not refuse to his evidence before the British Parliamentary relative to its culture and progress in the United States. His evidence was ______ ______ _______ and was published in the Parliamentary _____ Books of that country. The East India Company
treated the deceased with a marked consideration paying all his expenses to and from England and while he stayed within the British dominion.
When Dr. Jones returned to the United States he took up his residence in the North, in consequence of its climate agreeing better with his health than did that of the South. He became connected with the press in a general way, and was correspondent of several English and American journals. Among other newspapers he wrote for the Journal of Commerce of this city over the name “Sandy Hook” and these writings were very popular at the time of their issue.
About the year 1850 he was appointed the agent of the Associated Press, and invented a very comprehensive e system of cyphers, which was the first used by the association. While occupying this position he was very energetic in the cause of the association, never sparing his labor and time when they could be used with advantage for its success. Soon after this he became connected with the Herald as its commercial reporter and retained that position until his death.
Dr. Jones was possessed of a great inventive genius, and was a thorough student in mechanics and mechanical arts. He at one time invented a streetsweeping machine, but political causes prevented its adoption in this city. He wrote a work, which was published during the year 1852, which was entitled
“Historical Sketch of the Electric Telegraph, including its rise and progress in the United States.” The book consisted of nearly 200 pages, large octavo, and, owing to the mechanical genius and literary ability of the author, the work became standard, and has been ofttimes cited as authority on matters relative to the telegraph and telegraphing.
Among other things, Dr. Jones took a great interest in the history and welfare of the Welsh people of which ancient race the deceased was a descendant. He was an active member of the St. David’s Society, and wrote a work which was published in 1856, entitled “The Cymry of ‘76, or Welshmen and their Descendants of the American Revolution.” So great was his enthusiasm on this subject that he carried it to an extreme, and even went so far as to hunt up the ancestry of the principal men of the time, a number of whom he traced as coming from the ancient Welsh.
Dr. Jones was a man of the highest integrity, and honorable in all his dealings. The merchants on ‘Change have ever held him in high personal regard, independent of his position. He was never known wittingly to ever harm any one, and has often devoted hours of valuable time to those in need of assistance. He took great delight in developing the genius of artists, sculptors and others, introducing them to his influential acquaintances, and, in many cases, being the early means of their future success. These men will greatly miss him.
The funeral ceremony will take place this morning at ten o’clock at St. Alban’s (sp?) Church at 125 East Fiftieth Street, near Third avenue, after which the remains will be taken to Greenwood for final interment.
MEETING OF THE ST. DAVID SOCIETY
At a special meeting of the St. David’s Benevolent Society, held on Monday evening, the 24th inst.., at St. David’s Hall, called at the announcement of the death of our esteemed fellow member, Dr. Alexander Jones, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:–
Whereas, God in his all wise providence has called away from the scene of his labors and his usefulness, in the vigor and maturity of his life, our highly cherished and well beloved fellow member, Dr. Alexander Jones,
Resolved, that we, the members of the St. David Benevolent Society, of which the lamented deceased was also a member, and one of its most distinguished ornaments, look upon this sudden bereavement with unfeigned sorrow; that in the death of Dr. Jones we have lost a leader in all our benevolent efforts, a judicious advisor in all matters of importance, and an ardent and enthusiastic lover of his countrymen and of his race.
Resolved, That the members of this Society testify their regard for the deceased by attending his funeral, and by wearing the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
Resolved, The the foregoing preamble and resolutions, duly attested, be submitted to the New York Herald and the New York Tribune for publication.
Resolved, further, that a copy of the same be sent to the widow of the deceased.
DANIEL L. JONES, President
JOHN T. DAVIS, Secretary
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