Biographical Sketches
MAJOR B. F. JONES
Probably no one in Kansas City is more widely known than this gentleman; and during one of the most trying periods of its history, when the city was divided into two factions, he has won a host of friends who hold him in the highest regard for his honorable course, his straightforward business policy and his uniform courteousness. As secretary and general manager of the Water Works Company he has so conducted affairs that differences between the company and the city have been in great measure obliterated, and yet without swerving in the least degree from his fidelity to the company that reposes in him the utmost confidence and respect.
Major Jones was born in Gwinett county, Georgia, on the 20th of June, 1831, and in the common schools acquired his education, after which he entered upon his business career as clerk in a country store near his home. With a young man's desire to see something of the world and seek a wider sphere of usefulness and activity, he left home at the age of 20 years and went to New York City. With most commendatory letters he carried with him he found no difficulty in obtaining employment, securing a situation in a dry-goods and carpet house on Cortlandt street. A year later he entered the service of Whitlock, Nichols & Company, a noted grocery firm, which was afterward succeeded by B. M. & E. A. Whitlock & Company. In the service of this house he traveled all over the south and was its representative at the time of the breaking out of the civil war.
He utilized the information and experience that he had acquired through travel and business knowledge to the advantage of the newly organized Confederate government in some papers containing suggestions on the tariff, export duties, etc., which may be found among the proceedings of the first Confederate congress. He was a southern man by birth and training, and, true to the principles and teaching in which he had always been trained, when the war was inaugurated he hastened to Rome, Georgia, and in April, 1862, joined the Cherokee artillery, and company already organized, in which his brother was serving as a non-commissioned officer. This company went into the camp of instruction, and was shortly afterward organized into a battalion, of which, on account of his previous business training and special fitness for the position, he was made quartermaster. Until the Fall of 1861 this battalion did service in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, and Weldon, North Carolina. During the winter of that and the succeeding year it was engaged in Tennessee, and afterward in detachments did service between Knoxville and Bristol, its labors being to keep in order the discontented elements of east Tennessee. Finally they were sent to hold the mountain pass of Cumberland Gap. In June, 1862, Mr. Jones was promoted to the position of brigade quartermaster, and ordered to take charge of the post at Chattanooga; where devolved upon him all the important work of that post, and in addition he had to superintend the purchase of horses, the manufacture of wagons and the preparation of all goods to be transported for General Braxton Bragg's army. Upon the evacuation of Chattanooga, in September 1863, Major Jones was temporarily sent to organize the post at LaGrange, Georgia, and in May, 1864, was ordered by the secretary of war to report for inspection duty to General Bragg, who then occupied the position of commander-in-chief, under the president, of the armies of the Confederate states. He had his headquarters in Richmond, and instituted a most rigid investigation into the irregularities of the various departments of the government, and especially the quartermaster and commissary departments. Major Jones was selected as one of the confidential inspectors for this important work, and with characteristic energy entered upon his duties, traveling as far west as the Mississippi river and examining and reporting on every quartermaster and commissary along his line. In many places he found great evidences of demoralization, and his reports were so full and comprehensive, and showed such perfect knowledge of the subject matter in hand, that he was highly complimented by those in authority, who seldom complimented any one.
When the war was over Major Jones took up his residence in Rome, Georgia, where he engaged in merchandising, building up a large and lucrative trade; but the approach of hard times, the shrinkage of values and the low price of cotton impoverished the people and caused him, as it did a great many others, to withdraw from the business. His next undertaking was the manufacture of pig iron, which he continued from 1871 until 1873, but the panic of the latter year again demoralized trade and he was forced to abandon this industry also.
About this time the Kansas City Water Works were built by a private corporation, which entered into a contract to furnish water for the city; but trouble ensured and the difficulty was augmented as time went on. When the works were completed and the company had to select some one to take charge of their affairs, the choice fell upon Major Jones, who accepted the position of secretary and general manager of the company, removing with his family to Kansas City.
He might well be called the apostle of peace. His position was a difficult one and it required the touch of a skilled and difficult hand to amicably adjust and carry on affairs. By this time a very bitter feeling existed between the company, the city government and the citizens, and matters had been carried so far that the acceptance or rejection of the works by the city was made an issue in municipal politics to the exclusion of every other subject. To pour oil upon the troubled waters was a work which Major Jones undertook to perform. Largely through his efforts the bad feeling that existed was allayed, obstructions to a better understanding were removed, explanations on both sides were made that cleared away difficulties, and his uniform courtesy transformed enemies into friends. The result of his conciliatory measures was that the city authorities and officers of the company met together in an amicable conference, the difficulties were removed one by one, the basis for a compromise of conflicting interests was laid point by point, and finally an understanding was reached that was satisfactory to all concerned, and Major Jones was the man who brought about this state of affairs. He knew how to handle and manage both parties, for his far-sighted dealing and extreme fairness enabled him to plan and arrange with superior skill, and both sides recognized and appreciated his justice and honor.
Owing to his efforts the comparatively harmonious relations existed between the city and the company from 1877 until 1889; but in the latter year troubles broke out anew. The claim was made that the company had not complied with the terms of the contract in the construction of the plant; that it had also violated the contract in operating the system, and in consequence the city was absolved from all obligations to the company. This led to much correspondence and negotiation, in which the diplomacy in which the Mayor is an adept parried every blow with consummate skill. He answered question after question with the readiness and power of a lawyer, and met the opposition of the city with unanswerable logic and argument. In 1891 the city authorities undertook to ignore the contract and build an independent system of water works. In consequence, in December of that year, the company commenced proceeding in the United States circuit court to enjoin the city; and that litigation, in varied forms and shapes, has since been continued, and is now about reaching a conclusion with a decree that the city must buy the works of the company at a valuation of $3,000,000, which was consummated September 1, 1895, and is now in possession of the city. During all this long contest every feature of the system, its construction, operation, efficiency and earnings have been under consideration, and in all these matters almost daily demands have been made upon Major Jones for information regarding these various points; and he has been constantly on guard, watching every movement of the enemy.
To no one is greater credit due for the splendid results obtained than to the Major. The fight has been made splendid results obtained than to the Major. The fight has been made in the face of the most intense prejudice on the part of the people, and yet so great has been his tact that he has scarcely a personal enemy in the city, and has many friends among the opposition who admire and respect him for his straightforward course. He has been unflinching in his loyalty to the company, the officers placing in him unbounded confidence; but, with his urbanity of manner and uniform kindness to all, the people have only manifested an increased admiration for the man who can so conduct affairs under such trying circumstances.
The Major possesses in an uncommon degree that indispensable quality known as common sense. He is a man of superior and executive ability, possessing a sagacity and perseverance that are essential qualities in success. He is a man of liberal views and broad general information, very familiar with the wide field of literature, and is an accomplished conversationalist, a companionable gentleman and an unswerving friend, his uniform kindness and courtesy arising from a kindly feeling and genuine sympathy for others. He is a member of the Central Presbyterian Church, and is now serving on its board of deacons.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.