The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-01-24
Death of William Jones.
From the Chicago Post, Jan. 18th


William Jones, our aged and esteemed
fellow citizen, who died last night at his
residence in this city, was a notable exam
pie of tie success which high manly
character, practical business talent, and
perseyesing industry never fail to command
among US He was eminently a good man,
who never violated his sense Of justice.
Though little educated in the schools, he
possessed that alert, sagacious, bent which
learns richest lessons in the commonest
events of life and never fails, on occasion,
to profit by them He illustrated the com-
sagacious anticipation of results which were
sure to come, often led him to make many
temporary sacrifices of comfort and ease.
period of our history when Chicago abound
say,-than in realizations. His business
career, during all these years, rather sought
to lay foundations for great and assured
fruits of small prosperity.
Mr.. Jones died at about eighty years of
age. lie had an attack Of paralysis three
years ago, from the effects of which, al
though it did not return, he never recover
ed. Since that time he has gradually
failed, until at last he passed away, from
no we'll defined disease, in little bodily suf-
fering, and great mental repose. Born in
Chatauque county, n. Y, he passed some
time in Buffalo, acting in a somewhat pub
lie capacity, and emigrated to Chicago IN
1888. lie came here Oh horseback. The
moment hs set foot in Chicago, he said
that he had found the place he sought.
Faith in the future greatness of the place
at once possessed him and that faith,
although pat to many severe tests, has
never wavered since. Having made up
his mind that Chicago was to become the
metropolis Of the new West, he set HIM
self at worl: not only to reap the benefits
Of It's becoming so, but make it so, as far
as lay in individual power. For some time
he dealt in hardware, firm of Jones, King
x Co afterwards he was a partner in the
banking house Of jones & Patrick. During
all this time, not only dil he invest all his
available means in real estate, but ran
largely in debt therefor. In fact, he was
always during those early years, largely IN
debt for land But he never would sell.
lie would deprive himself of the comforts
not only, bat almost Of the necessities OF
life to pay interest on sums thus due. For
example he for some time paid 70 per cent.
interest on the purchase money OF the
ground now occupied by Adsit's bank.
rather than part with it. Though rich IN
real estate, much Of which vas always sala
bic, it is related by a friend who knew him
and his business long and intimately, that
for days together he was unable even to
pay the postage on letters, for want of
ready money A curious fact in his early
career illustrates the qualities which We
have noted and we venture to say that
the anecdore cannot be paralleled, even in
Chicago history. At one time he kept the
Buffalo Light House He observed that
the action Of the current threw the sands
against the pier, making considerable
aecretion After he came to Chicago he
examined its harbor, and saw that the
same thing was going on. Forthwith he
bought few lots fronting on the pier next
the lake; and these he persistenty kept
until two or three acres Of ground had ac-
cumulated, now worth millions of dollars.
That is the ground where Mr.. Ogden has
begun The construction OF pier, slips, and
breakwatcr.
It should not be forgotten what the
Chicago University owes to William Jones.
Indebted to him for about $40, 600, lis des-
tiny during the period Of its greatest en-
barrassmcnt, and when almost everybody
else was utterly discouraged, rested in his
large faith and his firm flithlalness.
Mr. Jones dies leaying an estate valued
at nearly million Of dollars. This will be
divided by will, equally among his three
sons; grandson who has lived with him
since the death of bis mother, Mr.. Jones
daughter and the two children living in
Massachusetts, OF second daughter won
dead.