Location: 1837 S. Prairie (910 Prairie), Telephone: South-215 (1892)
Occupants: Fernando Jones, Wilbur F. Storey, G. R. Grant (1892)
Life Span: 1866-1942
Architect: John M. Van Osdel
Edwards’ City of Chicago Directory for 1867
Jones Fernando (Jones & Sellers), r. 910 Prairie av.
Edwards’ City of Chicago Directory for 1869
Jones Fernando (Fernando Jones & Co.), r. 910 Prairie av.
Edwards’ City of Chicago Directory for 1870-71
Jones Fernando (Jones & Sellers), r. 910 Prairie av.
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
Jones Fernando (James A. Sellers) r. 910 Prairie av.
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Storey Wilbur F. editor and prop. Chicago Times, 5th av. nw cor. Washington, house 1834 Prairie av.
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Jones Fernando, house 1834 Prairie
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Jones Fernando h 1834 Prairie
Chicago Evening Post, March 2, 1869
A Splendid Piano.
The chief attraction just now at Reed’s Temple of Music is a $2,000 Chickering Grand Piano made to order to match the furniture of one of our leading citizens, Fernando Jones Esq., No 910 Prairie avenue The piano is elaborately carved and gilded and with its novel style of legs and ornaments constitute one of the finest instruments ever brought into the West. The inside and the tone, strong, rich and sweet are equal to the beauty of the outside. For years among the people of wealth and culture in the Eastern cities, these concert grand pianos have been used in the parlor in preference to the square piano, and Chicago is rapidly following the same custom, to the delight of all good players and lovers of music. Messrs. Reed will have this grand piano on exhibition during this week and invite eery one interested in music to call and see it. No. 47 Dearborn street.
Inter Ocean, February 21, 1886
Saturday evening, Feb. 12, Mrs. Fernando Jones and Mrs. George R. Grant gave a dinner of eighteen courses, at their residence, No. 1834 Prairie avenue, in honor of the distinguished African explorer, Colonel Charles Chaillé-Long.
- 1834 S. Prairie
Chicago Tribune, November 9, 1911
Fernando Jones, Chicago’s oldest settler, died yesterday morning at his residence, 1834 Prairie avenue. For decades his name has been almost synonymous with ploneer life in Chicago. Seventy-five of the ninety-one years of his life were spent in Chicago.
Mr. Jones death came suddenly and unexpectedly. He had been in good health until Tuesday morning. when his physician and frlends prevailed upon him to go to bed, where he stayed only about twenty-four hours before his death. So sudden did the end come that Grahame Jones, the only surviving chlld, whose residence is New York City, was not notified until after his father’s death. He will arrive in Chicago today and will then arrange for the funeral.
Breaks City’s Link to Past.
With the death of Mr. Jones comes the breaking of a connecting link between Chicago as a swampy village—with one bridge and a major population of Indians—and the Chicago of today, fifth city in the world.
Mr. Jones was born in Forestville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., on May 26, 1820. When 4 years old the family moved to Buffalo, where he received his early education and where he was once thrashed by his schoolmaster. Millard Fillmore, who later became president of the United States.
When 16 years old Mr. Jones followed his father to Chicago, where the elder Jones had established a hardware store on South Water street. He came in a sloop carrying a cargo of stoves. He found employment in the government land office.
Takes Up Realty Business.
In 1837 Mr. Jones attended Canandalgua (N. Y.) academy, where he met Stephen A Douglas. When he returned to Chicago he engaged in the real estate business, but soon went south for his health. Then he took up newspaper work in Jackson Mich.
Mr. Jones once was employed as a bookkeeper in the business office of the Democratic Press before its consolidation with The Tribune.
He then took up again his real estate business in Chicago until retirement from active work.
Mr. Jones married Miss Jane Grahame in 1853. His wife died in 1905. After the Chicago fire he was one of the most useful men in Chicago because of his long acquaintance with land titles and the destroyed records of Cook county real estate.
Mr. Jones was alderman of the Third ward during the administration of Mayor John C. Haines. He was supervisor or the south town during the war, in charge of Camp Douglas when it was re@stablished, trustee of a number of state institutions, and held office in the New York society and in the Pioneers of Chicago.
Chicago Tribune, January 5, 1942
Firemen Get 21 Bark Salute from 20 Dogs in Apartment
Firemen of the 9th battalion received a salute of honor 21 barks when they arrived to put out a fire in an. apartment building at 1834 Prairie avenue last night. They extinguished a $1,500 fire on the vacant third floor and then stopped to acknowledge the dogs’ welcome at the second floor apartment of Miss Marion West. The firemen said she told them she had only 20 dogs. One of the dogs barked twice.
Chicago Tribune, February 15, 1942
WRECKING—1834 Prairie
Walnut staircase; stained glass; window guards, 2×6, 2×8, 2x10m 3×10 white pine limber. All lengths, Victory 2299.
- 1834 S. Prairie Ave.
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
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