Patrick C. Jones

JONES

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/6/2014 at 16:48:30

Progressive Man

Patrick C. Jones one of Davenport's oldest citizens, passed away this morning at 10:20 o'clock. His death was not unexpected as he has been very low for the past three or four days and his last illness has covered quite a period. Mr. Jones has been identified with Davenport and its interests for the past 43 years. He has been connected with the C.R. and P. railway company here for the greater part of that time and always held responsible positions. He numbered among his friends the leading business men of the city and had the respect of all.

Mr. Jones was born in Crosswell, County Galway, Ireland and would have been 64 years old on March 17 next had he lived. He came to America in 1865 and engaged with the Mississippi and Missouri Railway company. The following year he assisted in bringing over the river the first locomotive engine that ever landed on Iowa soil- the locomotive brought over the river on the ice, being mounted on sledges and drawn by horses.
He continued in the employ of that company and afterwards in the employ of the C.R.I. and P., its successor until 1859 when he went south. At the breaking out of the war he was caught at Holly Springs and there engaged in the Confederate arsenal where he remained until August 1862 when an opportunity to get through the lines offered itself and he succeeded in getting into the Union camp at Bolina, Tenn., then in command of General Ross. He remained with the army until 1863 when he came north and was given back his old position with the railway company.

He remained with the company from that time until 1891 and during the greater part of that time was foreman of the freight depot in this city. Since he left the employ of the company he has been engaged in business of his own operating one of the leading express lines in the city.

Mr. Jones is survived by two sons, Oliver P. Jones chief clerk of the motive power department of the Denver and Rio Grande railway, residing at Denver and Christopher M. Jones, locomotive engineer in the employ of the C.R.I,. and P., residing at Kansas City and three daughters, Mrs. J.H. Kane of St. Paul and Mrs. Frank Harrison and Mrs. Maria Cosgrove of this city the last, together with her children making her home with Mr. Jones, at 756 Mississippi avenue. The time of the funeral has not been set owing to the uncertainty of the arrival of his son from Denver. As soon as this is definitely known the time of the funeral will be announced.

Source: Davenport Daily Leader, 06 February 1899.