Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-16
OUT Or THE DIM PAST.
Ex-senator Jones, Of Iowa, at
the Age of Eighty-Eight
Recalls a Thrilling His
toric Event.
He Gives a Graphic Description ofthe
Fatal Cilley-Graves Duel, In
Which He Was a Second.
CHICAGO Times' dubuque Letter.

Chicago Times Dubuque Letter. s,5
He comes down the street looking
like an antique painted on ivory whicl
has stepped out of frame. His fea
tures are delicate and aquiline. will
Jet black eyes that have looked tn
world in the face for over eighty.sevel
years Upon head of wavy curIs
spotlessly white, sits an antique sill
hat, polished till 1t shines anew. Tit
Van Dyke beard is white and curley
and the snowy mustachios are artist
cally waxed. Around his shoulder
hang q military cape of the pattern O.
1890. Under the cape is long, blacl
Prince Albert coat and waistcoat o.
fancy stuff. His boots are small and
exquisitely polished. From his watch
pocket q curiously carved golden
charm hangs on black silk fob. He
carries slender gold-headed cane.
His figure is light, sinewy, graceful,
almost jaunty in its bearing.
He stops now and then and looks
around him with the wondering air
of man who is in q new and strange
country. An electric street car flashes
by him and he watches it out OF sight
with an almost startled look in his
eyes. He has courtly salute for ev-
cry lady and smile for the bright
eyed girls who bid good-day as they
pass. The writer saw him at the
opera the other night, carrying his
ninety years as though they were but
thirty. He enjoyed the music heartily
and between the acts visited the
various boxes to chat with the oc-
cupants. This is Gen. George W.
Jones.
He 10 historical character, and not
Of this generation For quarter of
q century he has lived in retirement.
But the story Of his life is the history
of the development of the great west
Born in Vincennes, Ind, in 1904,
when Indian territory included the
entire northwest he removed in 1927
to Sinsinawa Mound, eight miles east
OF Dubuque, in the then territory of
Michigan. During the Black Hawk
war he made the acquaintance of JEFF
ferson Davis, then a Lieutenant sta
toned at Prairie du Chen. After this
war he was elected Judge of the Court
of the Western district of Michigan.
When Wisconsin territory, including
all the county west to the Pacific coast,
was created, he was triumphautly
elected its first delegate to Congress.
When the territory of Iowa was es.
tablished, he was appointed Survey
or General with headquarters at Du-
buque. When Iowa was admitted to
the Union as a State Gen. Jones was
elected its first representative in the
United States Senate, serving two
terms. In 1859, under the admins
tration of Presldens Buchanan, Gen.
Jones was appointed to represent this
government at Bogota, After serving
three years he was recalled and i'm.
prisoned for several months in Fort
Lafayette because he had written q
personal letter to his old friend, JET
ferson Davis. Released without the
formality Of a trial he came back to
Dubuque, where he was given the
distinguished honor of public recep p.
tion and banquet.
Since then Gen. Jones has lived |
quietly in retirement, respected and
honored by the entire community
which he served 80 long and SO faith
fully in public life. This wonderful
old man, now in his eighty eighth |
year, is as active in mind and body as
q man Of forty. He is a mine of his
torical information and anecdote, and
the treasures of his memory are worthy |
q more substantial setting than news
paper article. Gen. Jones is now
busily engaged in writing his autobio.
graphy. When completed it will be
invaluable as collection of unique
historical "reminiscences. Few men
now living can boast of the personal
friendship of Daniel Webster, John G.
Calhoun and John Quincy Adams,
and personal acquaince with every
President of the United States since
Monroe.
Gen. Jones has been kind enough to
give the Times correspondent some of
the interesting anecdotes and reminis-
cences which will be incorporated in
his autobiography.
Here is his story of the way in
which Miss Anna, the beautiful daugh.
ter Of John G. Calhoun, made it posi-
BILE for the territory of Iowa to be or
ganized:
In 1887 I was delegate to Con.
gress from Wisconsin territory, and
drew up and introduced bill to di-
vide the territory of Wisconsin and
establish the territory Of Iowa. Ichose
the name Of Iowa for the new terri
tory as ! had previously chosen the
name Of Wisconsin. | carried with
me letters Of introduction to Daniel
Webster, John G. Calhoun, John
Quincy Adams and other prominent
members Of both Houses, from my
brosher-i -in-law, the Hon. John Scott,
OF Missouri, for long time a men,
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