Biography of Walter D Jones, Mississippi Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: Sep 1998
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Bibliography: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas.
Chicago:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.

Dr. Walter D. Jones, Osceola. There are few men of the
present day whom the world acknowledges as successful more worthy of
honorable mention, or whose history affords a better illustration of
what may be accomplished by a determined will and perseverance, than
Dr. W. D. Jones. He was born in Newburg, N. Y., in 1842, and was the
fifth of eight children born to Dr. William and Charlotte M. (Wheeler)
Jones, the father a native of Shoreham, Vt., and the mother of New
York. The paternal ancestors were of Welsh descent, and the maternal
of German. Dr. William Jones began the study of medicine at
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in his youth, secured his diploma, and has been a
practicing physician for over fifty years. During that time he has
risen to the position of one of the leading practitioners among the
Eclectic school of physicians, and is well known in the profession
throughout the length and breadth of the United States. He has held
the office of president, treasurer, and has been one of the board of
censors of the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of New York. He
is now living in retirement at his fine home in Newburg, N. Y. Dr.
Walter D. Jones passed his youth as a student in the public schools of
Newburg, and naturally, perhaps, he evinced at quite an early age, a
strong desire for the study of medicine, and a precocious ability for
the practice of that profession. His greatest desire seemed to be to
reach a proud position in the ranks of eminent medical men, with whom
he has always been associated. He was solicited, in 1872, by the late
Prof. R. S. Newton, Sr., professor of surgery in the Eclectic Medical
College of New York City, to accept the chair of professor of anatomy.
In 1878 he was proffered and solicited by Prof. Franklin, professor of
surgery in the Homœopathic College of St. Louis, Mo., to occupy the
chair of surgery in that institution, but having a few days previous
closed his contract with the A. L. Clum Medicine Company, declined. At
the age of seventeen he entered the medical department of the
University of Pennsylvania, remaining there one year, after which he
entered the Jefferson Medical College, where he spent but one year,
and then returned to the University. In 1861, after one year in the
last mentioned institution, he enlisted as a private in the Third New
York Infantry, and was detailed to the Hygeia Hotel Hospital, at
Fortress Monroe. He was in the battle of Little Bethel, was then
detailed to the Adams House Hospital, at Baltimore, Md., and later
mustered out at Albany, N. Y. At the end of one month he enlisted in
the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and was soon sent to Virginia, where
he was in all the fighting of the Shenandoah Valley; was in the battle
of Port Royal, Lynchburg, Winchester, Sheridan's raid from Winchester,
Va., to the White House, Waynesboro, Dinwiddie Courthouse, Five Forks,
Appomattox Courthouse, Clover Hill, and was present at Gen. Lee's
surrender, on April 9, 1865. He took part in the grand review at
Washington, on the 23d of May, of that year, and was mustered out at
Cloud's Mills, Va., in July. That year he returned to Philadelphia,
entered the University, resumed his studies and graduated in 1866. He
subsequently returned to Newburg and engaged in the practice of his
chosen profession with his father, continuing there two years. After
this he was in Brooklyn two years, then in St. Louis four years, and
then, in 1879, he came to Osceola, Ark. He discontinued the practice
of his profession while in St. Louis, to accept a position with the A.
L. Clum Medicine Company, of Red Wing, Minn., and came to Osceola in
the interest of that company. Seeing a favorable opening, he located,
and has remained here since, devoting his time entirely to the relief
of suffering humanity. He has built up an extensive practice, and is
one of the leading physicians of the county. He is of pleasing address
and most agreeable manners, possessed of a mind clear, penetrating and
comprehensive, thoroughly posted in [p.519] his profession, and a
practitioner of decided talent. He has bought a farm of 210 acres,
fifty of which are under cultivation, and he is clearing up the
remainder. The Doctor was married in 1868, to Mrs. Mary E. Wines, a
native of Brooklyn, L. I. (at that time), and of English descent. She
died in 1870, leaving one child, Edith Helen, who died in infancy. Dr.
Jones took for his second wife Mrs. Frances Carrie Goff, a native of
Georgia, and the daughter of William A. Goff, who followed the
occupation of an architect. Mrs. Jones was a widow with one child,
Jessie, when married to the Doctor. Dr. Jones is the only Eclectic
practitioner in Mississippi County. He was chairman of the Republican
executive committee for eight years, was president of the board of
health for four years, was alderman four years, and has been United
States deputy marshal. He affiliates with the Republicans in his
political preferences, and is the leading member of his party in
Mississippi County.