C. E.Jones
C. E. JONES, prominently connected for thelast twelve years, as division road master between Bushnell, Illinois,and St. Louis, Missouri, of the St. Louis division of the Quincy Railroad,with headquarters at Beardstown, was born on a farm near Baldwinsville,New York, February 11, 1847. He was there reared and educated, becomingearly acquainted with hard work. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted inthe Scott’s Nine Hundred Cavalry, but before he reached the front he wasovertaken by his father, and compelled to return home. In 1863, he enlistedin Nine Hundred of New York State Militia, and served until July, 1864,when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty-fifth New York RegimentVolunteer Infantry, Colonel Jennings and Captain O. K. Howard, commanding,and this regiment was assigned to First Division of the Fifth Army Corps.He fought as a brave soldier at Hatcher’s Run, Petersburg, Weldon and Quakerroads and Five Forks; was in the pursuit of Lee, and was at Lee’s surrenderat Appomattox, where his company lost their First Lieutenant, the lastman killed of the Army of the Potomac, and, later, he participated in thegrand review at Washington, District of Columbia. He had many narrow escapesfrom capture and wounds, especially while serving as a scout for GeneralChamberlain, and for the period of nine months his was one of the fightingregiments of the war. He was one of the first to obtain a piece of thefamous apple tree at Appomattox Court House, where Lee held his last consultationwith his staff and decided to surrender. He is honestly proud of his militaryrecord, and was honorably discharged June 11, 1865.His connection with the Chicago, Burlington& Quincy Railroad system began in 1867, and after a period of two years’service with the bridge department, with headquarters at Galesburg, hehelped in the construction of the large railroad bridges over the Mississippiriver at Burlington, Quincy and Hannibal, Missouri. He was also engagedbetween Hannibal and Moberly, Missouri. Later he was assistant track layerfor the new road. then known as the Hannibal and Naples, now part of theWabash system. All these years he has proven himself a good man, and hispromotion has been won by his own efforts, He helped build what is knownas the Louisiana branch of the Q. system, and after the completion of thatroad he became section foreman, and later extra gang foreman, which ison line of regular promotion, and after nine years was promoted to assistantroad master of the St. Louis division, with headquarters at Beardstown.Two years later he became roadmaster from Bushnell to St. Louis. He nowhas control of 136 miles of track, with two yards, thus putting him overa large number of men. Since May, 1880, he has been the Q. road-master,and has achieved a just prominence by his indomitable energy and devotionto the interests of the company. He is a good citizen, and a leader inall local and public matters.
For several years he has been a working memberof McLane Post, No. 97, G. A. R.,
of Beardstown, of which he is now Past Commander.He is also a member of the Beards-town Lodge, K. of P., No. 207, and wasa charter member and the first Chancelor Commander, serving for three terms,and is now Deputy Grand Master of the district, and has taken an activepart in all its work, and he is a member of the orders of Woodmen and Workmen.He is also active in local politics, is Chairman of the Republican CountyCentral Committee, and has been a member of the Board of Education. Hebelongs to the Road-masters’ Association of America, is an ex- Vice Presidentof it, and is a member of the Executive Board.He was married in Quincy, Illinois, to AlmiraE. Stedman, of Pike county, formerly of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Shewas only twelve years old when her parents came to Illinois, and she grewup in Pike county. Their living children are: Bertha, Anna, Althea, Rayand Almira Edrie.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 210-211.
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