Jones School, No. 2
Life Span: 1846/1862-1871
Location: Corner Clark and Harrison
Branch of Jones School, Corner Wabash and Twelfth st.
Architect: TBD
- D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859
Jones School
Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1862
REMOVAL.
Mr. Ryder, of a special committee, reported in favor of removing the school house now located upon the lot, corner of Wabash avenue and Twelfth street, to the sonthwestern corner of the Jones school lot, corner of Harrison and Clark streets, at a cost of $200. Adopted.
Chicago Tribune, January 12, 1868
Death of William Jones, Esq.
At half-past two o’clock on Saturday morning died, at his residence, No. 190 Wabash avenue in thie city, Mr. William Jones, one of the oldest citizens of Chicago, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.
Mr. Jones came to this city in the year 1835 having emigrated from Buffalo, New York. He at once entered into the business of selling goods, connecting himself with two other gentlemen, the firm being known as Jones, King & Clark. The firm occupied a small frame building near the river, on what is now South Water Street. At the time he came here, Chicago was an insignificant little village; but Mr. Jones saw at once how admirably it was situated, and he became possessed of a firm belief in the future greatness and prosperity. Making safe investment, capital rapidly increased in value and at his death he was possessed of property valued at nearly a million dollars. Several years since he engaged in the banking business, in which he was remarkably successful. He invested largely in real estate, and constructed many large business blocks, among which were the Lloyd block, on Randolph near Wells, and the marble block on Clark street, now occupied by the offices of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company. He laid off the “Jones” addition to the city of Chicago, which he situated in the South Division, and comprises property of immense value. An showing the unwavering confidence be felt instanced by him in the growth of the city, him may for the passion that ever possessed investing in real estate here. He used to invest all his available means therein, and frequently ran largely in debt for land.
Mr. Jones felt a warm interest in the cause of public education. In 1840 he was elected President which of the first Board of School Inspectors which Chicago possessed. This position he retained tor eleven years. For several years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago, institution has received most material benefit from him. The Jones School, on the corner of Clark and Harrison streets, was named in his honor. In the year 1858, Mr. Jones established the Jones School fund of $1,000, the interest of which sum is devoted to the benefit of that school, to be used in the purchase of text books for indigent children, and other charitable connected with education. purposes He was essentially a self-made man. Upright and honest in all his dealings.
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