Iowa Items

Some citizens of Des Moines, it will be remembered, in order to secure the location of the State capitol at their village, agreed to furnish capitol grounds and building free of charge to the State.  They borrowed the money from the school-fund for the purpose, and now, being unable or unwilling to pay, come forward, and ask that they be released from the payment of some $44,000, on the ground that they have furnished the State with a capitol!  If they succeed in this effort, we suggest that these “responsible” citizens of Des Moines had better try to get the different State asylums to their city, on the same terms, and wind up with the State Prison, so that said “responsibles” can finish their career as near home as possible.

At the municipal election in Muscatine last Monday, about 800 votes were polled.  George Mason was elected Mayor for the third time, John Wiley re-elected Treasurer, and Marx Block chosen wharfmaster.  No party lines were drawn.

Dr. Thompson, of Muscatine, on Monday last, extracted from the hip of Mr. Newton Brown, a ball, or rather the piece of one, which he received at the battle of Wilson’s Creek.  The ball entered the leg a little above the knee.

A soldier died very suddenly in Dubuque last Friday, from, it is supposed, congestion of the lungs.  A person thought he recognized him as one John Garon, formerly a resident near Dubuque; he is supposed to have been one of the regiment of Mechanic Fusiliers, recently disbanded at Chicago.

The Dubuque Herald says that Messrs. J. Throp, Wm. Canfield, and another miner, after laboring in the lead region for five weeks, have at last truck a lead at the depth of twelve feet from the ground.  They took out in three days, 3,000 bounds of mineral, which they sold at $34.50 per thousand – being $11.50 a day for each man.

It has been proposed in our Legislature to change the names of Floyd and Jones counties respectively to Baker and Lyon.  It was ascertained, in the course of debate, that Floyd county was named in honor of a sergeant in Lewis and Clark’s expedition, and consequently is not intended to perpetuate the name of the traitor secretary.  The Anamosa Eureka says that George W. Jones, then surveyor-general, gave his own name to Jones county, which then contained about two hundred inhabitants.  The Eureka is anxious that the county should be purged of the traitor’s name, and something more honorable be given it.

MORMONS IN LEE COUNTY. – The Keokuk Constitution says there is now a Mormon church in Des Moines township, in that county, which numbers thirty members, who have a preacher and hold regular meetings every Sunday, and have preaching and prayer meetings one a week.  They are followers of young Joseph Smith.

WOLVES. – During the first two weeks of February, twelve wolves and one wild cat were killed in this vicinity.  It was not much of a time for wolves either. – Montezuma Rep.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 10, 1862, p. 2

Geo. W. Jones

No public demonstration was made on the arrival of this extinguished citizen of Iowa at Dubuque, but we ascertain form his toady of the Express that a number of his friends called on him. – From the same authority we learn that the story which was put in circulation about him having addressed a letter to Jeff. Davis, which was found accidentally among his papers, is pronounced by Jones to be false.  If Geo. W. Jones said that he lies – under the very grievous charge of an intentional deception upon his fellow sympathizers.  Jones might swear till his face was as black as his character to the truth of what he avows, and he could not change the facts in the case.  Jones, - we are informed, and appeal to Senator Grimes for the truth of the statement, - did write a letter to Jeff. Davis, and addressed it to Hon. Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confederacy, in which he sympathized with the arch-traitor, and avowed his own determination of assisting him in his treason.  He might as well attempt to palliate the conduct of his son, taken at Fort Henry with arms in his hands, fighting against the country that raised him from a puling, puking infant in his nurse’s arms to manhood out of the pap-bowl in his father’s hands, that all that time had been replenished from the treasure of the country he since has so ignominiously betrayed.

The senior Jones says that in those letters that were made the foundation and pretext of his arrest, he “denounced the secession theories which have resulted in the existing rebellion, and reproached the South for not endeavoring to maintain its right in the Union.”  A pretty story this.  It’s enough to make a horse-block laugh to see the squirmings and wrigglings  of this modern Othello.  A gentleman in the act of appropriating his neighbor’s wood-pile, might be excused on the plea of short-sightedness; but there is no palliation in the unblushing effrontery of a denial in the face and eyes of a fact that has been interwoven with the history of this rebellion as a part and parcel of the same.  We have no faith in these Joneses, there is bad blood in the old one’s veins, that seven times dipping in the pools of Washington, nor a journey to Mecca nor Bogota, would remove.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 5, 1862, p. 2

The Rebel Jones

The ex-Hon. Geo. W. Jones, having been released from Fort Lafayette, by a recent decision affecting that class of rebels, is expected home at Dubuque this week.  There are enough rebels in that city to turn out and give him a warm reception for the distinguished part he has recently played in behalf of rebeldom.  Whether they will be permitted to make any open demonstration of their sympathy with the secession proclivities of the gentleman who has cast a stain upon the fair name of Iowa, remains to be seen; but we hope there is enough Union sentiment in Dubuque to forbid the public manifestation of any such feeling.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 28, 1862, p. 1

An Iowa Traitor among the Fort Henry Prisoners

Among the rebel officers captured at Fort Henry is a young man named Geo. R. G. Jones, who commanded an artillery company.  He is a renegade Northerner, a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, and a son of Hon. George W. Jones, late Minister to Bogota, and now a prisoner at Fort Lafayette.  The Fort Henry correspondent of the New York Times says the son is a young man who never did anything in particular, except to use a subsistence from the fortunes which his father earned, or rather gained from the people of Iowa; yet the moment the war broke out, he, together with a half dozen other fellows from Dubuque, bolted South, and offered his service to the rebel Government.  He has always lived North, has been supported by the North, (through his father,) and turns against the country which has fed him at the very first opportunity to raise his hand against his patron and supporter.  A large number of his townsmen are among the soldiers who captured him, and they became so indignant at finding this young ingrate at this place,  ready to train his guns upon his former associates, that they discussed the propriety of shooting him.  Wiser counsels, however, prevailed, and he is left to enjoy his infamy undisturbed. – Chicago Journal.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 2

We are informed that . . .

one of Jones’ sons is in the Federal army, and doing faithful service to the Government.  Perhaps the Gazette will say this too is all nonsense. – Dubuque Herold.

It’s all moonshine – We doubt if one of the generation is fighting on the side of his Government.  If the Herald will prove it, we will gladly publish the fact.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 20, 1862, p. 2

George W. Jones

GEORGE W. JONES was born in Vincennes, Indiana, April 12, 1804. His father, John R. Jones, was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. The son, George W., was educated in Transylvania University in Kentucky. When a small boy he served as a drummer in a volunteer company in the war with Great Britain. In 1823 he made the acquaintance of Jefferson Davis who was a young officer in the military service on the frontier. They met again in the Black Hawk War and later served long together in the United States Senate and were warm friends. George W. studied law and in 1827 removed to Michigan Territory where he engaged in mining. During the Black Hawk War he served on the staff of General Henry Dodge. In 1835 he was elected delegate from Michigan Territory to Congress. Michigan at that time embraced that region of the northwest which was divided into the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas. He secured the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin, in 1837, was the first delegate in Congress from that Territory and procured the establishment of Iowa Territory. In 1845 he was appointed Surveyor-General of Iowa and removed to Dubuque. In 1848 he was chosen one of the first United States Senators from the State of Iowa. He was thoroughly devoted to the interests of the new State and during his long term of service in the Senate worked untiringly for its material prosperity. His intimate knowledge of needs of the northwest, derived from long residence on the frontier and his wide acquaintance with the public men of that period, enabled him to secure such legislation as was required for the rapid development of the great natural resources of the new State. In 1852 he was reelected for a term of six years but before its expiration the State passed under the control of the Republican party. As General Jones was a lifelong Democrat he could not hope for a third election and President Buchanan appointed him United States Minister to New Grenada in South America. After his return from that mission in 1861 General Jones was arrested by a United States marshal and confined in Fort Lafayette for about two months on a charge of disloyalty. He had written a private letter to his old friend, Jefferson Davis, which had been intercepted by a Government official. In the letter were found indiscreet if not disloyal expressions and in that time of great public excitement over secession and Rebellion the arrest followed. He was never indicted or placed on trial and President Lincoln soon ordered his release. In 1892 General Jones was granted a pension by special act of Congress for services in the Black Hawk War. In April, 1894, Governor Jackson and the General Assembly of Iowa then in session, tendered to General Jones a public reception in recognition of his valuable services in the formative periods of the Territory and State. General Jones died at his home in Dubuque July 22, 1896, at the age of ninety-two.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, History of Iowa, Volume IV: Iowa Biography, p. 146-7

The Traitor Jones

Geo. W. Jones, the Iowa traitor, is now in Fort Lafayette.  A few feeble remonstrances against his incarceration were made by some of the newspapers at the time of his arrest.  We have never had any doubt that he merited the punishment he is receiving.  He was not only disloyal himself, but he encouraged his sons to be disloyal too.  One of them G. W. G. Jones, went south and joined the rebel army at Nashville, and was made a captain.  He was under Tilghman at Fort Henry, and is the Captain Jones who was taken by General Grant.

We learn that a number of young men in Dubuque, Iowa have been written to by rebel officers to come south and get positions.  It is not a compliment to any man to be written to by a traitor; but in this instance, probably, the persons thus addressed had no agency in the matter.  Their names were, no doubt, placed in the possession of the rebels by one of the Joneses – father or son. – Chicago (Ill.) Post.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 2

A Damaging Item

We cut the following significant item from the Shiloh correspondence of the New York Times.  The writer was in the battle of Wilson’s Creek and was at that time corresponding for the New York Times and the Dubuque Herald.  Doubtless the Jones family is very loyal, but it has been exceedingly unfortunate.  Our illustrious ex-Senator and ex-Minister has been guilty of writing a “love letter” – that is what he styles it – to Jeff. Davis.  One son was bagged at Fort Donelson, fighting against his country in the secesh army.  The other son, always claiming to be loyal, has sent a valuable recruit to Dixie, from the Mahony Democracy of the lovely city of Dubuque, with a most affectionate introductory letter.  One would think that a person, in standing a position so questionable would keep himself a little in the back ground.  But no.  Jones is apparently upon a pilgrimage among the people, holding himself up as a martyr, and seeking to organize a party in this State, the evident purpose of which is to aid the rebellion and assist in making satisfactory terms for Jeff. Davis & Co. when they are beaten and “subdued.”  But the letter introductory to Mr. Quigly:

In roaming about the woods I found a well worn letter, whose contents  may prove of interest.  It is dated:

DUBUQUE, Iowa, July 1, 1861.

DEAR HUNTER:  By this I introduce to you my Friend, Daniel O. C. Quigly, of this town, and bespeak your kindness and attention toward him.  I believe he will prove himself worthy of your friendship.  With every wish for your prosperity and happiness, your friend.

CHARLES D. JONES.

To Captain S. E. Hunter, Hunter’s Rifles,

Clinton, Louisiana

The Particularities of this document consist in the fact that the writer is a son of Gen. Geo. W. Jones of Dubuque, (late minister to Bogota, fort Lafayette, &c.) and a brother of the Lieut. Jones who was bagged at Fort Henry.  The Quigly spoken of, is a son of a prominent citizen of Dubuque, and one who, soon after the war commenced, bolted to the South and offered his services to the scoundrels who are trying to break up this Government.  I offer the letter for publication from the fact that the writer now lives in Dubuque, and pretends, as he ever has pretended since the war began, to be loyal. – How far such loyalty will be tolerated by a Government whose burdens are already heavy enough, should be tested.  The letter was given, and for a treasonable purpose, at a time when the gallant Lyon was struggling against the traitorous uprisings in Missouri – at a time when hundreds of Jones’ townsmen in the First Iowa, were toiling and suffering beneath the burning sun of Missouri, inspired only by motives of patriotism, by a wish to preserve intact their beloved Constitution – it was at such a time that Jones chose to perpetrate his treason and assist in the work of breaking up the Government.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 1

We are told that General Jones . . .

. . . although making very earnest inquiries, has failed to learn the cause of his imprisonment at Fort Lafayette!  He has a hopeful son also deprived of his liberty, being confined at Camp Douglas, Chicago.  Has the General been able to learn why he is imprisoned by the ‘Lincoln despotism?’

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 2

Gen. Geo. W. Jones, late of Ft. Warren . . .

. . . has been in our city during the last few days. – We see by the papers, that he has recently been at Keokuk, Davenport and other points. The fair presumption is that he is organizing throughout the state a party, whose head is at Dubuque, and whose purpose is to resist the collection of Federal taxes. The Dubuque delegation at the capitol last winter avowed their purpose of organizing a party with this purpose in view. That Gen. Jones is traveling in this work we have not a doubt, and that a secret meeting and consultation with the two dozen Burlington secesh was had we have just as little cause to doubt.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2

Capt. Jones, of Fort Henry

Among the prisoners captured at Fort Henry was one Captain G. R. G. Jones. We learn that this rebel captain is the son of Hon. Geo. W. Jones, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, now of Fort Lafayette. The Dubuque Herald says that it doubts if ever Capt. Jones’ family knew that he was in the rebel army! Nonsense, didn’t the rebel Jones in his letter state that he had a son in the Southern army? We are under that impression, and also that the public give him the discredit of having two sons there. We presume young Jones will be sent to sympathize with his father at Fort Lafayette. And unfortunate family, those Joneses.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 13, 1862, p. 2