The daily sentinel., 1913-07-07
]. c. JONES WAS
L|NCOLN'S FRIEND

J. C. Jones was born near Peters,
burgh in Menard county, ILL.,, May
80, 1926 and died July 4, 1918, aged
81 years. l month and days.
He spent the greater part of his
life in and about the place of his
birth. He was married to Miss Eliz-
abeth Hickey. Five children were
born, three of whom survive him,
Mrs. Heneln Carter of Los Angeles,
Calf. James II. Jones of Oberlin,
Kas.. and Edward Jones of this city,
with whom he has lived for the last
fifteen years.
Fifteen years ago he left Illinois
and went to Kansas. Later he came
to Grand Junction to reside.
Mr.. Jones was a man of remark
able build, strong, hale and hearty
and never knew a sick day until the
weaknesses of age began to tell on
him.
He was personally acquainted with
the great martyred president Abra-
ham Lincoln. He admired him, felt
1t an honor to have known him and
never tired of giving personal remis-
cences of him.
When the Civil war broke out Mr..
JoLito nuo oht VI AAlt 'uot al my oNAe
from Illinois. He elisted in the l0Sth
Illinois regiment.
In Difference to his friends, and
they are many. / present some facts
which have been given to me which
may hhelp to clear up suspicion
held by some people concerning the
termination of r. Jones career in the
Civil war.
After serving about one year he
was taken prisoner by the Confed-
crates and would have been sent to
either Libby or Andersonville prison
with the rest of the squad if it had
not been for the fact that he possess
ed a knowledge fthe country which
the confederate officers wished to
use If possible. A quantity of corn
had been stored somewhere in the
country as Illinois was at that time
the center of the corn belt, and they
detailed him to guide them to it.
The yheld two confederate officers
and the only exchange they would
consider foor these two officers was
Mr.. Jones. When the exchange was
arranged the Union troops stripped
Mr.. Jones of his clothing, his watch
and his money and compelled him TO
don a filthy suit of clothes. Handing
him his parole papers they drove him
out of camp.
Mr.. Jones worked his way north
ward. not knowing the whereabouts
of his regiment. Being in great peril
with the Confederates all about him,
he decided that in the event of his
not finding his regiment he would re-
turn home, secure information of its
location and rejoin them as soon as
possible. On reaching home he found
1is wife in serious physical condi-
ton. He waited to see what the out
come of her illness would be.
Unfortunatel for him before he
could leave ner and return to the
ranks his regiment was mustered out
at Richmond. This left him without
any discharge papers.
After the war was over he applied
through the representative OF his
district in congress and the senate
for his discharge papers. His appll-
cation was favorably considered and
h. was found fully worthy of an hon
oIable discharge. The bill was passed
in both branches of congress When |
IL came before the president, because
OF the testimony of members of his
regiment who were either not con-
versant with the facts through pre-
judice, testified that he was a de-
serter, he would not sign it. This
prevented his securing his discharge
papers, and in the judgment of those
who claim to be conversant with all
the facts in the case he was unjustly
treated
His comrades who believe him
would like the public to know that
he has many friends in this vicinity
who gladly accorded him their friend
ship. A. FRIEND.