Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1910-05-25
WHERE NATURAL ABILITY WON.
Death of an. UneduCated Man who Achieved
Great Success In the Industrial Life.

cerning the late Capt. M. L Jones
Of Thomasvil'e, as an inspiration
to those who are striving for sue
cess and higher achievement in
life. It is short story but worth
careful consideration and emu.
lation. It is the story of man
who did things though lacking in
education and training, This,
however, is is no plea for ignor.
ance, for how mucl more might
he have succeeded, il he had been
educated and trained
"All who knew him experienced
a distinct shock Thursday when
word was passed that Capt. Milt
L. Jones was dead in Thomas
Vile. He was one Of the most
prominent men in the county and
stood unique in all the state be-
cause of his amazing achievements
in the industrial snd business
world, a man the county could ill
afford to lose.
Double pneumonia of rapid de.
velopment caused his death at the
Thomasville hotel about 5 o'clock
Thursday morning. A few days
before he was exposed to a rain
during an automobile trip to
Greensboro with d party of
friends, one lung became congest-
ed and then both, and although
every thing that medical science
could do for him was done, it
availed nothing, and he proved q
swift victim to the dresd disease.
Captain Jones was born in Gull
ford county April goth, 1862. He
spent his school days working in
a mine at 30 cents day and for
years afterward he knew nothing
more than what tie rough life of
day laborer in a mine offers.
Without education or training Of
any kind whatsoever, from the
depths of poverty he finally rose
and became payer in the devel-
opment of this county by build
ing a railroad from Thomasville
to Denton, 20 miles, that opened
up to a shut.off country world
of opportunity.
The secret of his success and
triumph over insuperable difficult
ties was his keen native common
sense and quick judqment, the
boundless energy and iron deter
mlnation of him He may not
have been hero to those nearest
hln, but he was of the clay of
n hich those men are made who
do things in this busy world of
ours, and the people from Thom-
asville to Denton ought to erect a
monument for him at Denton. for
be did more for them and that
whole section of the state than
any other man ever has or ever
will do for them.
"Rough, caring not snap of
his finger for the little things
that many worship, he met rich
men in their swell Offices north
without collar or tie, and dealt
with them on the same level. The
keen eyes flashed supreme conf
dence ard fear of no man And
no man could be more generous
and kind when occasion called for
it. He was possessed of a keen
sense Of humor and knew human
nature as very few men know it.
He was such a man as one liked
whatever his faults may have
} been. He was no double dealer
When he spoke, he meant what he
said anu said what he meant, end
when he started anywhere, he got
there. He was very remarkable
i, man, and we wish we might dc
} him full justice.
r "Capt. Jones made a mint oi
money out of the lola gold mine
in Montgomery county, and this
with his railroad and othar hold
> ings made him a rich man. What
3 his estate is worth is not known
9 He had an elegant home IN Den
\ ton and was planning railroad
] shops for the town and an exten
sion of his railroad On to tn,
south. He was right in the mids
of fruitful and successful caree
when the summons came.
: "Captain Jones was twice mar
ried, and his wife, three sons an,
one daughter survive him. Tn
funeral and burial was at Fai
Grove Friday. A large numbe
of naonle attended the services -