Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-01-18
The Death Record.

this city, and one Of the original
pioneers who helped to build up our
city from its infancy, died at his home
on Washington street Sunday evening
at the advanced age of eignty-nine
years. While somewhat feeble, Mr..
Jones' health had been good up to a
short time OF his death, which was
sudden and entirely unexpected to
many of his friends. Deceased was
man who by his keen business ability
and uns werving integrity had built up
various enterprises, chief among which
is the present Wisconsin National
Bank, of which he was president for
many years. In 1875 he organized the
Marathon County Bank at Wausau, :,
and was it's president for some years.
He was also connected with numerous
other enterprises, including the old
Ford & Co. Wooden Mills.
Mr.. Jones was born at GoffstOwn,
n H., October 81, 1915. and came
west as a young man in the early 4O's.
After short residence at Milwaukee.
he came to Watertown in 1845. He
began his business career as a mer-
chant, later, in 1858, organized the
Jefferson County Bank, which con-
tinued business until 1865 when the
present Wisconsin National Bank was
organized by Mr.. Jones and the late
William NJ. Dennis.
In politics Mr.. Jones was lifelong
Democrat and held many offices of
trust, being a member of the council
and chairman of the board of super
visors. He received the title Of
Colonel while member of Governor
Taylors staff In 1843 he was mar
ried to Elizabeth Harger, who died
March II, 1890.
For over fifty years deceased was a
Warden of the local Episcopal church.
One sister, Mrs. Lydia M. Beaman, of
this city survives.
Mr.. Jones was fond of telling of his
early experiences. His "reminiscences
were mose interesting ard include the
following:
ct was in the spring of 1S43 when
I landed in Milwaukee and went into
the general merchandise business. |
sold everything from a paper of pins
to log chain. About a year after l
reached Milwaukee went into part
nership with j. T.. Bean and we had
the American House. In the spring
of 1845 we sold out to a man named
Rosister from Chicago, and I loaded
my goods into wagon and came to
Watertown.
1.-The roads were not what they are
today. l remember it took me two
days to make the trip in a light wagon
with good team. There were mud
holes ten feet deep and we Travelled on
corduroy roads. There was nothing
here at that time, but people were
coming fast. It was so crowded at the
tavern where we stopped that my wife
and myself were obliged to share our
room with another young couple, hav-
ing a blanket as partition.
Il started a general store and it was
through this that finally got into the
banking business. Most Of the settlers
came from the east and they brought
drafts with them. They would buy
goods at the store and offer the drafts
in payment. Often they would be
larger than I could change and they
would leave them with me to change
for them. This had to be done
through the Milwaukee banks and I
finally determined to go into the busi-
ness myself. In the spring of 1852 /
In 1853 the state banking law was
passed and with my brother-in-law, G..
j. Harger as partner, the Jefferson
County Bank with a capital of $75, 900
was organized. We took circulation
to tnat amount secured by $50, 900
Missouri state bonds and $500 Cali
fornia gold bonds. Everything ran
:. L, l.
began to demand gold tor our notes.
The Missouri bonds we had bought at
SO cents Cn the dollar and they went
down to 38. We sold the California
bonds, which were always at par and
with this money started in to take up
our notes as fast as they were pre-
sented. Gold was at a premium of 25
to 100 per cent. at this time. To