Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 196-197

JOHN JONES, one of the most influential and prominent citizens of Patch Grove township, Grant county, dates his residence here from April 21, 1867.

Mr. JONES is a native of England, born in Northamptonshire June 15, 1836, a son of Thomas JONES, who spent his entire life in that country. In the fall of 1853 Mr. JONES left his native land, taking passage to New York. His start in America was quite an eventful one. The sailing-vessel "Kossuth," on which he took passage, was partially wrecked, and, becoming unmanageable, was towed into Queenstown by a passing vessel. Cholera also prevailed on board, and a number of deaths occurred. Mr. JONES left the vessel at Queenstown, before the officials came on board; had he remained he would have been placed in quarantine with the rest of the vessel. From Queenstown he returned home, having forfeited his passage money. In August, 1854, he entered the service of the East India Company, went to Bombay on the clipper "York," thence to Hyderabad, Scinde, where he was stationed for one and a half years, and whence he was removed to Kurrachee, Scinde, being appointed station clerk there. He remained there until the mutiny broke out, when he volunteered to go to Kolapur, S. M. C., where he was also appointed station clerk, and held that office until the English Government annulled the company's charter. Being unwilling to serve the English Government, he was sent to Belgaum to join his regiment, the 2d Bombay European Regiment of Light Infantry, and thence marched with a detachment to Goa, waiting until the ship, "Herefordshire" came into the harbor (en route from Bombay to London) and took them on board. Mr. JONES entered the service for twelve years, but in 1859 England gained full control of the company, and different arrangements were made. While in India he learned the Hindoostance language, and witnessed all the horrors which resulted from the famous mutiny, such scenes as blowing sepoys from the mouths of guns, etc., etc. Mr. JONES has in his possession a medal conferred upon him by the English Government for his service in India, being entitled to the same by virtue of his service with the East India Company, though the government took control of the company before the expiration of his term.

Mr. JONES arrived in England Jan. 1, 1860, and entered the employ of the London & Northwestern Railroad Co., with which he remained until his emigration to the United States, in 1867. On his arrival in Grant county, Wis., he located at Bradtville, where he made his home for a number of years, and then moved to his present residence in Patch Grove. For several years he devoted his energies to the occupation of carpentering, but for some time has been engaged in the pension business. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, and has met with well-merited success in his undertakings.

In England Mr. JONES was married, July 14, 1860, to Sarah DALE, and on his removal to America brought with him his wife and three children, namely: Mary Elizabeth, Charlotte Jane, and Hannah (since dead). One daughter and fours sons, all living, were born in this country. Mr. JONES is a gentleman of culture, who is well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day, and is highly esteemed as a worthy and progressive citizen of his adopted country.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck