St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-10
GEN. GEO. w. JONES.
A Veteran Of the Mexican War and
0ldSettler of Iowa.
A Leading Politician in the Time of Andrew
jackson, Fifty Years Ago.

Among the guests at the Merchants hotel
yesterday was Gen. Geo. W Jones, of Du-
buque, Ia, and man who has had a most
remarkable and distinguished career as a
statesman and scholar. In looking at the
male and vigorous man Of eighty years and
upward one would not imagine that he had
been the intimate friend and associate Of
zen. jackson, the partner Of Daniel
Webster, the ward of Henry
Clay, classmate of jefferson Davis,
and drummer boy in the war Of 1912. 1t
was said that he has had most remarkable
career, and in appearance he is quite as
noted as the stirring events with which his
life has been Identified. OF slight and eleg-
CANT physique, keen, dark eyes snow white
hair and beard and mOustache which even
to-day would by the envy of many curled
darling; he presents q peTson'sd that is both
stricking and captivating.
In conversation he is simply charming,
and his memory is perfect hive of interest
ing events connected With the spirited men
and lives Of several generations preceding
the rebellion.
Gen. Jones had the distinction in 1885 of
representing broader territory in congress
than any other American citizen has ever
had. In that year he was delegate to con-
gress from Michigan
and he had jurisdiction over that portion of
the country now known as Iowa, Michigan.
Minnesota and all the territory in the north
west. He was also the first delegate to Con-
gress from Wisconsin in 1886 and the first
representative from Iowa in 1898, subse-
quently serving two terms in the United
States senate, his last term expiring in 1859.
Under Buchanan's administration Gen.
Jones was appointed minister to Bogota,
South America, and his distinguished SER
vices while acting in this capacity are of his
torical record. 1t was through the warm
personal friendship existing between him
and ''Old Hickory that the latter sweryed
from his usual custom and allowed him to
nominate Gen. Henry Dodge, as governor
OF Wisconsin, favor which in those days
was as great as it was singular.
The charm Of listening to a man Of this
character can be imagined but not readily
described He is polished and fluent con-
yersationaist, and to an almost phenomenal
memory he adds good descriptive powers.
Among the many interesting il not thrilling
events in his career, alluded to in the con
ycrsation last night, was the Graves and Gil
ley duel, fought III 1885, and at which Gen
Jones was the second for Mr.. Cilley.
Being q warm friend of the latter he WIS
constrained to act as his friend, after re-
peated attempts to settle a difficulty which
ended in CiIley's death. He gives a graphic
account of the meeting on that fatal morn
ing in 1898; Wise, the member from Vir-
gina, VINO afterwards became the governor of
that state, acted as second for Graves.
The men met at daybreak, a short distance
from Washington, and faced each other at
twenty PAGES, the weapons used being rifles
The first fire was harmless, Cilley shooting
into the ground. Gen. Jones then went to
Wise and asked him If he was not satisfied.
when Graves insisted that his wounded honor
had not been appeased, and
second fire also resulted haFmlessly.
Another attempt was m4de 20 call the duel a
draw, but Graves insisted on his right as
the challenger to go on. At the third fire
Cilley was shot dead, and Col. Jones states
hat afterwards, up to the time OF his DEATH
Graves was never known TO smile, and that
nc dragged out most miserable existence.
But 1t would be impossible at this writing
to convey even faint idea of
the marvellous life Of this great man, and as
both age aud experience has made him
somewhat Of a prophet, his opinions on cur
rent political matters may be justly consid-
cred al this time of especial weight and
value,
In referring to the probable outcome of
The presidential campaign, as a life long
Democrat, of more than the ripe judg-
meut Of age, Gen. Jones said
last night that be had the
utmost confidence in the ability of the Demo
ratio party to carry the election for
Cleveland and Hendricks. 1t was the first
time in many years that he hoped for a
Democratic supremacy, but he felt that the
victory was now assured. In Iowa, his own
state, he thought the Democratic majority
would be from j, ZOO to 10, 900. The Germans
lad come over to almost man and besides
This coalition had been formed with the
Greenbackers, while the Norwegians, like
the Germans, had come over to the Demo-
cracy. As 10 the talk OF the Irish boiling.
Cleveland he said that this was not the fact.
and that he did not believe there were ten
Irishmen in the state who would vote against
Cleveland. He had just came from
the Democratic Iowa state convention
which proved to be the largest ever held in
the state, and the result OF the November
election, 50 far as Iowa is concerned, was al
ready settled This result would be largely
owing to the prohibition laws.
While on his visit to this state Gen. Jones
called on his old friend Eugene Wilson. of
Minneapolis, and the latter on yesterday ar
ranged Il reception and dinner in honor of
his visit. He leaves to-day for home.