Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-08-19
Brief Sketch OF the Life of Prom
ment Texas Ranger.
New Orleans Time,

The death at Austin, Tex, on Tues
day, the 18th ult, of John b. Jones, adiu-
tant general of that state, is the closing
event in the history of one of the most
picturesque and romantic characters in
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 confiagration. On one oc-
casion with detachment of thirty
seven men he defeated war party of
one hundred and fifty warriors, thor
oughly armed and well 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 i'll the vast
wilds of the frontier, has he met by APP
pointment the most desperate men
probably i'll 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 as 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 un
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 adjutant general of the state
in 1879.
In 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, be
was strong and well-knit, and capable
of great bodily strength and endurance
His eyes and hair were dark, his COM
VAla 10 nd hn cf J.,
countenance remarkable sweet and |
winning, but serious and thoughtful. |
He was fairly educated, and his con-
versation was that of well-informed I
gentleman. never turning upon his own |
adventurous history except among his |
personal friends. He was neat and |
careful of his dress, and when he occa-
sionaly appeared on the streets of |
Houston and Galveston wearing black !
cloth suit and shiny beaver hat ne
looked like quiet professional gentle /
man far more than a noted Indian |
fighter. He was born in Fairfield /
district, South Carolina, in 1884, but at |
the age of 4 years was brought to Texas |
by his father, who at once identified /
himself with the state, aud became I
prominent Il ITS history. Gen. Jones
was possessed of much executive abiI- /
ity, and, although 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 OF
Erastus Ellsworth, of East Windsor
Hill, has remarkable record. April
16, 1877, she gave birth to twins, one
male and one female, March Is,
1873, she gave birth to triplets, two
mile and one female, making FIVE /
calves in eleven months and three days;
July 8, 1873, she gave birth to twins, both
males; October Z, 1880, she gave birth
to triplets. two male and one female,
making ten calves in three years, five
months and twenty-one days. The
calves have all been of good sire,
healthy and handsome, and have all
been raised on the farm