Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-11

/ CFrom Argus 50th Anniversary Edition,
1922
Nearly every reader Of the Chicago
papers has heard of Fernando Jones,
but very few. if any, know that this
patriarch whom Chicagoans delight TO
honor was. at an early day, resident
of Rock Island. and largely identified
with the citys early growth. No ac-
count of Chicago's early history is
written that fails to include refer
ence TO Fernando Jones. He arrived
in Chicago May &c, 1885, which, by the
way. was the 18th anniversary of his
birth, coming in a sailing vessel from
Buffalo and landing at old Fort Dear
born after a trip of 10 days. Like .
wondrous dream the dark swamp mists
that met his gaze on that May morn
ing have long since unfolded, and now
in his S3rd year he sees instead the
imposing structures of a great modern
city with their towering points against
the sky.
There is but one thing that bothers
me-" said this man Jones, speaking to
a newspaper man the other day, and
that's my birthday-it keeps coming
back on me every year" But if he
would keep his age to himself no one
would know it. He has the step of
man of 40, the bright eve of an eagle
and the rosy cheeks of a schoOlbOy.
On the sailing boat that brought Fer
nando Jones to Illinois was George
Sinclair another old resident of Chi
cago. then a mere lad. When the
small boat reached the landing Jones
picked up young Sinclair and carried
him ashore. Many years afterwaTd
this fact raised a discussion as 10
whether Jones or Sinclair was entitled
10 a gold medal offered by the Old
Settlers society of Chicago TO the old
est living male settler in Chicago Sin
clair maintained that he reached the
village first because Jones held him in
front of him. But il was decided that
the medal belonged TO Jones, as he set
his feet on land before he put down
Sinclair.
Mr. Jones was born in Forrestvine
Chautauqua county, New York. a short
time after he came 10 Chicago his
father followed him and started the
III ST udIG " al = SAOIG III llt DidCG ~
rando went 10 work there. The family
residence was at that time at the
southeast corner of Dearborn and Ran
dolph. and on the site of their old barn
the tall Unity building has been erect
ed In 1887 Chicago was incorporated
as a city. and about this time young
Jones went 70 New York and completed
his education in the academy at Ca
His early education was
received IN Buffalo in the public
schools, where one of his teachers was
Willard Fillmore, who afterwards be
came president Of the United States. /
After Jones had finished his college
course he returned TO Chicago. On
account of III health he went 10 Jack .
son. Mich, in 1870, and while there
started three newspapers.
Two years later he returned 10 Chi .
cago and a few months later came 10
Rock Island, where he engaged in the .
real est ate business, and subsequently f.
was instrumental in laying out the Chi I
cago or Lower addition. which was
plated by Jones. Beardsley & Gam /
sey. Mr.. Jones had great faith in the
location Of Rock Island. r
and believed that IL had q future. II
1854 he went back 10 Chicago. and in .
that year began the publication of
set of abstract books there and the
system he adopted then is practically I.
the same as in use there today.
There are few newspaper men IN I
Chicago who do not know Fernando .
Jones. He is the best informed man .
On the early history Of that city now
living, and his knowledge on real es-
ale matters Is Invaluable. He has
retired from active business, but stiu
retains an interest in the Title Guar /,