JOHN S. JONES History of Arizona, 1896 Mr. John S. Jones is not a native of the United States, but was born October 3, 1848, in Monmouthshire, Wales. The following excellent sketch of his life is taken from a recent issue of the Arizona Mining News, of Jerome: At the age of six years he came to America with his parents and settled at Columbus, Ohio where he received his education in the public schools, after which he entered what is now the machine shops of the Pan-Handle Railroad system, where he served his apprenticeship, from the machine shop he went to the drawing room of the locomotive department. He left this company to accept a position as assistant chief engineer of the Ohio deaf and dumb institution under the administration of Governor Hayes. He afterward served as chief engineer of the same institution. In 1870 he left Columbus to go to Washington territory but on reaching Nebraska he changed his mind and after investing some money in land there and remaining for a short time, went to St. Louis, Missouri where he entered the employ of the Missouri Car Wheel and Foundry Company as chief engineer, remaining with the company until 1873--the year of the great panic--when the works closed. It was at this time that Mr. Jones took his first step in the mining line. Recommendations which he had brought from his home in Columbus brought him in contact with J.L. Ferguson, one of the capitalists of St. Louis. Mr. Ferguson suggested to Mr. Jones that he invent a quartz mill and that they then go into the business of manufacturing mining machinery. The mill was invented and the company formed. The Mining Machinery Company of Ferguson and Jones was successfully operated until 1878, Mr. Jones during the life of the company having traveled through all the mining districts in the U.S., South America and Mexico, placing his machinery in all the districts visited. During his visits to these mining districts he became familiar with mining in a practical manner and it was the experience thus gained which has enabled him to successfully handle the mines in Chaparral Gulch. In 1878 he was back in St. Louis and went from there to New Hampshire, where he superintended the erection of mining machinery for Commodore Garrison and Brothers. In December 1879 he returned to St. Louis, and from there going to the San Juan country in the interests of some eastern capitalists. After remaining in the San Juan country one year he returned to St. Louis, where he still made his headquarters and continued to deal in mining machinery and doing an extensive expert business. Leaving St .Luis he went to New York City, where he opened an office at 293 Broadway, remaining there three years. It was here that he became acquainted with capitalists, who were interested in mines in Arizona. In 1886 he came to Arizona as manager for two New York companies, who were operating on Groom Creek. He resigned the management of these companies and for nearly two years did not do any mining of any account. He then came into Chaparral and located seventeen mines. Among those located and best known to the public is the Chaparral, situated in Yavapai County about sixteen miles southeast of Prescott. That Yavapai County mines are of the best has been proven by the work that has been done in this rich gold camp. The richest ore taken from the mines here has been found at a depth of from 350 to 600 feet. The veins are both large and very rich. The ledges run north and south, or nearly so, with an occasional cross ledge. The formation is usually of granite and porphyry or slay and porphyry. Generally the ore bodies are found in slips or pockets but in some instances in continues veins. Among the mines which have brought Chaparral Gulch to the front as a profitably mining district is the Little Jessie, owned by John S. Jones. Mr. Jones came to the gulch in 1889 and from that time on the district has been a paying producer. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. submitted by burns@asu.edu