John B. Jones was an American Confederate army officer and Texas Ranger captain. He played a major role in pursuing and capturing many criminals and outlaws, such as noted bank robber Sam Bass in 1878.
Background
John was born on December 22, 1834 in Fairfield District, South Carolina, United States, the son of Henry and Nancy (Robertson) Jones. His father went to Texas in 1838, settling first in Travis County, later moving to Matagorda, and finally to Navarro.
Education
The boy attended school in Texas at Matagorda, Independence, and Rutersville, and completed his education at Mount Zion College, Winnsboro, South Carolina.
Career
Upon his return to Texas after studies, Jones engaged successfully in farming and stock raising until the Civil War. Joining the Confederate forces, he served as private in Terry's Texas Rangers, but within a month he was made adjutant in the 15th Texas Infantry. In 1863 he was appointed adjutant-general of a brigade, with rank of captain, and the following year was recommended for the rank of major, but did not receive his commission before the war closed. Returning to Texas, at the request of friends, he went to search out a location for a colony, first in Mexico and later in Brazil, but found no place that he could recommend.
In 1868 he was elected to the Texas legislature from Navarro, Hill, Kaufman, and Ellis counties, but was counted out by the Republican returning board. His most distinguished service began on May 2, 1874, when Gov. Richard Coke appointed him major of the Frontier Battalion with instructions to clear the western border of Indians, and the interior of desperadoes. He organized six companies of Texas Rangers and established them on the Indian frontier from Red River to the Rio Grande. With a small escort he patrolled this line from one station to another, and in time developed the most competent corps of ranger captains that the service has ever known.
His most notable Indian fight was that of Lost Valley, near Jacksboro, July 12, 1874. With twenty-eight men he attacked a band of a hundred or more Indians, thought to have been Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches. Before the Indian trouble ceased, Jones turned his attention to the suppression of lawlessness among white men. The Horrell-Higgins feud was terrorizing the whole section around Lampasas. Indicative of his influence over the passions of rude men, on July 30, 1877, the Horrell faction wrote a letter to the Higginses proposing a cessation of the feud. The Higgins faction accepted the proposal. The letters are signed by the three leading members of the respective factions, and each letter was witnessed by "Jno. B. Jones, Maj. Frontier Battalion. "
Sam Bass, after robbing the Union Pacific in 1877, made his rendezvous in Denton County, Texas, and began a career of train robbing around Dallas. Finally, when Bass and his men entered Round Rock on July 19, 1878, Major Jones was there with a troop of Texas Rangers to receive him. Bass was mortally wounded and died two days later.
In 1877 Jones was sent to El Paso to quell a mob that had arisen in connection with what is known as the Salt War. Here he found Americans surrounded by infuriated Mexicans, who threatened to kill them. With a Catholic priest, he went into the midst of the mob, placated it, and got the Americans free. After he left the trouble arose again, however, and the Americans were killed. A commission composed of two army officers appointed by the United States, and Major Jones, appointed by the governor of Texas, was asked to investigate the disturbance, which was international in character. Jones made a minority report in which he presented the case of the Americans.
In January 1879, Governor O. M. Roberts appointed him adjutant-general of Texas. In this office he continued to direct the activities of the Frontier Battalion until his death.
Achievements
Membership
Jones was an active Mason, and in 1879 he achieved the position of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Austin.
Connections
On February 25, 1879, Jones married Mrs. A. H. Anderson, widow of T. J. Anderson and daughter of Samuel Holliday.