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Colonel Daniel Jones, Dead
An Honored Resident of Watertown
For Nearly Sixty Years
Died at His Home on
Col. Daniel Jones, an honored and
prominent citizen of Watertown for nearly sixty years, died at his home in
Though Mr. Jones was in feeble
health for years, his end came sooner than his relatives and friends
expected. On Thursday he was downtown
transacting business, and on Friday he complained of having a cold. He gradually grew weaker and passed away as
peacefully as a child going to sleep.
His death was a great surprise to
our people, for but few knew that he had been ill or had been confined to his
home. In the death of Mr. Jones,
Watertown loses one of its most successful business men, and a man who has
aided and financed many an enterprise here that has build up our beautiful
city.
Temperament
He was a conservative, honorable
business man, a man whose judgment and word could always be relied upon, and a
man who always dealt justly with all classes, hence his death is universally
regretted here.
He was a kind neighbor and took much
delight in the success of his fellowman, being particularly interested in the
welfare of the young.
Mr. Jones was born at Goffstown, New
Hampshire,
When quite young he removed with his
parents to Jefferson County, New York, and from there to Oneida County, New
York. In 1843 he came west and located
in Milwaukee, where he engaged in the mercantile business and for a year in
connection with a partner conducted the American House in that city.
Arrival in Watertown
Wisconsin National Bank
In October, 1845, he came to
Watertown and opened a store; in 1852 he opened a banking and exchange office
in connection with his store and organized the Jefferson County Bank in 1853, which
he continued until 1865, when the present Wisconsin
National Bank was organized by Mr. Jones in company with the late Wm. M.
Dennis, Peter V. Brown, Henry Mulberger and Charles Jacobi. Mr. Dennis was president of the bank for many
years, and after his death Mr. Jones was elected president of the bank and
remained its president until his advanced years caused him to retire from
active business a few years ago Aside from
his banking business he remained in the mercantile business until 1864, when he
associated himself with the late S. Ford & Co. in the manufacture of woolen
goods, and later conducted the business under the name of D. Jones & Co. He
continued this business till 1877 when he leased it to D. P. Price.
He was also personally connected
with various other enterprises here, and held many local offices, at one time
serving as chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.
In 1875 he organized the Marathon
County Bank at Wausau and was its president for many years.
Politically he was always a democrat
and received the title of Colonel as a member of Ex-Governor Taylor's
staff.
St. Paul's Episcopal
He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church for over 50 years,
which he helped to organize and has been a member thereof during all that time.
He is survived by one sister, Mrs.
Lydia M. Beaman, who has made her home with him since the death of his
wife.
Reminiscences
Mr. Jones' life was a very active
and eventful one and, when in a reminiscent mode, he would relate many things
of interest that took place in his life in early days here. Following is one of his reminiscences of
early days in Wisconsin and Watertown; it will prove of interest to the older
citizens here as well as to the younger generation:
"It was in the spring of 1843
when I landed in Milwaukee and went into the general merchandise business. I sold everything from a paper of pins to a
log chain. About a year after I reached Milwaukee I went into partnership with
J. L. Bean and we had the American House.
Arrival in Watertown
”In the spring of 1845 we sold out to
a man named Rossiter from Chicago, and I loaded my goods into a wagon and came
to Watertown.
“The roads were not what they are
today. I remember it took me two days to make the trip in a light wagon with a
good team. There were mudholes ten feet deep and we traveled 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, having a blanket as partition.
D. Jones Exchange Office
“I started a general store and it
was through this that I 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 business myself. In the spring of
1852 I opened the D. Jones exchange office.
Jefferson County Bank
“In 1853 the state banking law was
passed, and with my brother-in-law, C. J. Harger, as a partner [note: also brother-in-law of Ashley Harger?], the Jefferson County Bank with a
capital of $75,000 was organized. We took circulation to that amount secured by
$56,000 Missouri state bonds and $30,000 California gold bonds. Everything ran smoothly until the war and the
people began to demand gold for our notes. The Missouri bonds we had bought at
83c on 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 presented. Gold was
at a premium of from 13 to 100 percent at this time. To help out we shipped
produce, beef and pork to New York, ordering gold back. Sometimes it was a
tight squeeze to get enough gold from New York to carry us through the day, but
we did it and I am proud of it. We had
succeeded in taking up all but about $14,000 of our circulation when specie
payment was suspended. In the fall of 1854 the Jefferson County Bank was
closed.
St Paul Railroad
Chicago & Northwestern
“When the St Paul Railroad came here it was so
poor that I couldn’t pay for the wood it needed to run its engines. Alexander Mitchell was a great friend of mine
and he told me that if I would pay for the wood he would see that I didn't lose
by it. For two years I bought the wood
for it. When the Chicago &
Northwestern got this far it couldn’t get its iron, which was in bond. With
several others I signed the bond that released the rails and permitted the road
to go on. These acts cost me dear.
Plank Road
“I was one of the originators of the
Plank road, between Portland and
Oconomowoc, and it was a good investment until the railroads came through. They ruined the business and I lost what I
had in the enterprise.
Wisconsin National Bank
“In February 1856, the Wisconsin National
Bank of Watertown was organized. The
organizers were William M. Dennis, Peter V. Brown, Henry Mulberger, Charles
Jacobi and myself. I alone am living.
“In 1876 I organized the Marathon
County Bank at Wausau and still retain an interest in it."
Funeral
Wednesday afternoon Mr. Jones'
funeral took place from his late home to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rev. John
Barrett being the officiating clergyman, who preached a most eloquent tribute
to the memory of the departed.
The full church choir was assisted
by a male quartette composed of Messrs. Julius Wiggenhorn, Fred Lehmann, Wm
Sproesser and Max Rohr. The remains of
the deceased were placed in the vault at Oak Hill Cemetery and later on will be
placed in their final resting place in the cemetery.
The honorary pallbearers were
Messrs. M J Woodard, Dr. Edward Johnson, William P. Brown, John Robinson,
Ex-Senator William F. Voss, Dr. F. C. Moulding, H.
T. Eberle, George Hawkins. The active pallbearers were Messrs. J. F.
Prentiss, Gustav Buchheit, Henry Mulberger, J. C. Harrison, Jas. W. Moore,
Robert Dent. The Wisconsin National Bank, of which Mr. Jones was one of the
founders and president for many years, was closed during the afternoon out of
respect to his memory.
Watertown Daily Times, 1905
