River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-18
Brief Sketch of the Life Of Prom.
ment Texas Ranger.
New Orleans Times

The death at Austin, Tex, on Tues
day, the 10Th ult. of John B. Jones, adju-
tant general of that state, Is the closing
event in the history of one of the most
picturesque and romantic characters III
Texas. Gen. Jones was long the COM
mander Of the celebrated battalion of
Texas rangers, and was during his ca
reer the hero of wild adventures, des-
perate enterprises, and bloody forays
among the hostile Indians and more
savage outlaws of the Texas frontier
enough to have furnished material for
cart-load of blood-curdling fiction of the
most sensational sort. He served gal
lantly in the confederate armies during
the civil war, and on the accession of
Gov. Coke in 1874 to the administration
of the state government was appointed
to the command of the frontier battal-
ion of six companies of Texas rangers.
In this service he had many battles
with the Comanche and Kiowa Indians,
who, at that time, where accustomed
to sweep the western settlements with
murder and confagration. On one oc-
casion with detachment of thirty
seven men he defeated war party of
one hundred and fifty warriors, thor
oughlv armed and we'll mounted. He
captured and exterminated numerous
bands of outlaws with which the from
| tiers of Texas were infested, and by
means of his wonderful tact, judgment,
GOODNESS, and courage, and the conf
| dence with which he inspired those
whom he approached, he was able to
reconcile and settle peaceably several
deadly feuds that had kept entire COM
munities in state of strife and blood
shed for years. In this work it is said
that often at night, alone in the vast
wilds of the frontier, has he met by ap-
pointment the most desperate men
probably in the world, and by calmly
reasoning with them persuaded them
| to return to their homes and live peace
full lives. The desperadoes of the from
tier feared him IS they feared no other
man. They looked upon him as the
embodiment of bravery, honor, and
truthfulness, and the promises he made
to them were relied upon with an I'm
faltering faith. Space fails for the
| enumeration of his varied adventures,
but his work on the frontier was so
efficient that it was found that his COM
mand could be safely reduced to one
company when the gallant commander
was made adiutant general of the state
in 1879.
III personal appearance he was as
lite as possible like the ideal of a dar-
ing border chief Rather below medi-
UNI height and somewhat slender, he
was strong and well-knit, and capable
of great bodily strength and endurance.
His eyes and hair were dark, his COM
plexion pale, and the expression of his
countenance remarkable sweet and
winning, but serious and thoughtful.
He was fairly educated, and his con-
versation was that of well-informe ed
gentleman. never turning upon his own
adventurous history except among his
personal friends. He was neat and
careful of his dress, and when he ocea-
sionally appeared on the streets Of
Houston and Galveston wearing black
cloth suit and a shiny beaver hat he
looked like quiet professional gentle
man far more than noted Indian
fighter. He was born in Fairfield
district, South Carolina, in 1884, but al
the age of years was brought to Texas
by his father, who at once identified
himself with the state, aud became
prominent in its history. Gen. Jones
was possessed of much executive abil
ity, and, although a man of quiet tastes,
was peculiarly fitted for his arduous
and exciting work on the frontier. He
never married. He died in the 47th
year of his age.
A Kentucky COW raised on farm oi
| 4 l..