Person:Melville Jones (3)

Bruce E. Jones of Chicago, bkjones10@aol.com is a descendant of Melville.

Census: 1880 U.S. Census for Knox Co., IL, I.D. # 114-116: Melville Jones, farmer, age 33, born in IL; Mary, Keeps house, 28, b. in IN, father b. OH, mother b. OH, Illness-catarik; Charles, 8 born in IL; Daniel, 6, IL, Minnie E., 4, b. in IL. (Note that here Mary's birthplace is listed as IN).

Military: Melville was a Private in the 11th Illinois US Cavalry, Co. K. See the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System website of the Nat. Park Service. He was discharged Jul 2, 1864. Below is information about his unit:

Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database

UNION ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS

11th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Peoria, Ill., and mustered in December 20, 1861. Duty at Peoria till February, 1862. Moved to Benton Barracks, Mo., February 22-March 3, and duty there till March 28. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 25-April 1. (1st Battalion to Crump's Landing and joined Lew Wallace's 3rd Division, Army Tennessee.) Attached to 3rd Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862. 6th Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862 (2nd and 3rd Battalions). District of Memphis, Tenn., to September, 1862. and District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862 (1st Battalion). District of Corinth, Miss., to September, 1862, and District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862 (2nd and 3rd Battalions). Cavalry Brigade, District of Jackson, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, District of Jackson, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. Mizner's Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 15th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 17th Army Corps, and District of Vicksburg, Miss., to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to June, 1865. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE.-Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Purdy April 29. Pursuit to Booneville May 30-June 12. Coldwater Station, Miss., June 21 (3rd Battalion). Salisbury, Tenn., August 11. Bolivar, Tenn., August 30. Davis Bridge, Hatchie River, Tenn., September 25. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Pursuit to Hatchie River October 5-12. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. Lexington, Tenn., December 18, 1862. Salem Cemetery, near Jackson, Tenn., December 19. Huntington, Tenn., December 29-30. Parker's Cross Roads, Red Mound, December 30-31. Near Yorkville, Tenn., January 28, 1863. Dyersburg January 30. Operations in Northwest Mississippi June 15-25. Near Holly Springs, Miss., June 16-17. Hudsonville and on Helena Road, Miss., June 21. Bolivar, Tenn., July 10. Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to Grenada, Miss., August 12-23. Grenada August 17. Expedition from LaGrange to Toone Station September 11-16. Ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., and duty in that District till December, 1864. Expedition from Big Black River to Yazoo City, Miss., September 27-October 1, 1863. Brownsville September 28. Morris Ford, near Benton, September 29. Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Canton Road near Brownsville October 15-16. Near Clinton and Vernon Roads October 16. Bogue, Chitto Creek, October 17. Robinson's Mills, near Livingston, October 17. Livingston Road, near Clinton, October 18. Near Natchez, Miss., December 7. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2, 1864. Champion's Hill February 4. Jackson February 5. Hillsborough February 6. Brandon February 7. Morton February 8. Meridian February 9-13. Hillsborough February 10. Meridian February 13-14. Canton February 29 (Detachment). Brownsville March 3. Expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City May 4-21. (Detacbment). Benton May 7 and 9. Expedition from Vicksburg to Pearl River July 2-10. Clinton July 5. Clinton and Jackson July 7. Expedition from Vicksburg to Rodney and Fayette September 29-October 3 (Detachment). Expedition from Natchez to Woodville October 4-11 (Detachment). Woodville Octobcr 5-6. Operations in Issaqueena and Washington Counties October 24-31. Expedition from Vicksburg to Gaines Landing, Ark., and Bayou Macon, La., November 6-8. Expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City November 23-December 4. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., December. Grierson's Raid on Mobile & Ohio R. R. December 21, 1864, to January 15, 1865. Franklin Creek December 21-22. Egypt Station December 28, 1864. Franklin January 2, 1865. Expedition from Memphis to Marion, Ark., January 19-22. Marion, Ark., January 20-21, 1865. Duty on Memphis & Charleston R. R. between Memphis and Grand Junction, Headquarters at LaGrange, Tenn., January to September, 1865. Expedition from Memphis to Brownsville, Miss., April 23-26. Mustered out September 30, 1865.

Company "G" served detached as Headquarters Guard, 17th Army Corps, and participated in following: Movements on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30, 1863. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Messenger's Ferry, Big Black River, May 29-30 and July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. In Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8 to September 8, 1864. About Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Chattahoochie River July 3-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Little Ogeechee River December 4. Station No. 5, Georgia Central R. R., December 4. Siege of Savannah December 10-21.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 32 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 8 Officers and 237 Enlisted men by disease. Total 279.

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Occupation: According to notes received from Bruce E. Jones, descendant, bkjones10@aol.com, Melville worked in the Moline railroad station of the Burlington RR with the shipping of supplies.

Publication: Aspen Democrat-Times (Aspen, Pitkin County); Date: Sep 12, 1910; Section: Front page; Page: 1 JONES-WATSON Cards have been received announcing the marriage of Mr. Melville Jones of Grand Junction and Mrs. Julia Adam Watson , of Aspen , at Salt Lake City on September 6, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have arrived in the city and will be at home to their many friends after today, at their cosy residence on East Main St. Their host of friends will wish for them many years of wedded bliss

The Aspen Democrat-Times of Nov 1, 1910, page 7, reports that Melville and Julia left on the RioGrande train to spend the winter in California.

The same paper dated March 26, 1912, page 1, reported that Melville had a stroke last week.

The following is from the Aspen Democrat-Times of May 13, 1913, p1:

DEATH OF MELVILLE JONES. Last night at 9 o'clock occur ed the death of Melville Jones , after a prolonged illness. The deceased wns born in Maquon, III., Oct. 12, 1846,. being 66 years old at the time of his death . Mr. Jones had been suffering from the effects of a fractured hip whlch he received about a year ago and which finally resulted in his death. He was un old soldier , having entered the army May 4, 1862, and served under General Sheridan in the Civil war. He had made his home in Colorado for the past fourteen years , residing in Aspen since his marriage to Mrs. Watson of this city three years ago. He is survived by a widow , one son in Grand Junction , another in Chicago, and two daughters . He has also a brother in Frulta. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the family residence , 426 East Main street. Interment will he in Red Butte cemetery under direction of undertaker DeMarais. No flowers.

The same newspaper reported also that Melville's son, D. (Daniel) E. Jones and brother Lafayette arrived on the Midland train the morning of the 13th to attend the funeral. Furthermore, it says that "The store of Franklin & Watson will be closed tomorrow afternoon owing to the death of Mr. Jones." This leads to the conclusion that this is a store at least partially owned by Mrs. Julia Watson Jones.

From the Aspen Democrat-Times, May 14, 1913, p 1:

FUNERAL OF MELVILLE JONES The funeral of the Iate Melville Jones was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family residence , 426 East Main street. Rev. Coulter preached a very appropriate sermon touching upon the life of the deceased as an old soldier. He was assisted by the Methodist choir. Interment was In Red Butte cemetery.

On Wed, May 14, page 3, the same paper reported that D. E. Jones returned to his home in Grand Junction and LaFayette to Fruita last night after the funeral.

1. ↑ Bible of Viola Helen Jones family in collection of Barbara McCoy.
2. ↑ Bruce E. Jones, bkjones10@aol.com in email of july 8, 2009.
3. ↑ Illinois State Archive, Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database.
4. ↑ Notes received from Bruce E. Jones, Jul 6, 2009 at bkjones10@aol.com.

   _FOOT: Notes received from Bruce E. Jones, Jul 6, 2009.