John Adams Jones. While the main work of his life for over twenty years had been education, and he had served fourteen years as superintendent of the city schools of Highland, Mr. Jones had many other interests and ties to connect him with that thriving town of Doniphan County. Besides his position as a Kansas educator, all the older base ball fans who followed the fortunes of the teams in the Western League know the name of Mr. Jones as a former pitcher and one of the steadiest and most resourceful players of the national pastime.
Mr. Jones was born at Edinburg, Indiana, October 29, 1874, but had lived in Kansas since he was ten years of age. The Jones family traces its lineage back to Wales, and in the earlier generations they settled in Ohio and from there moved to Indiana. Mr. Jones is a grandson of Isaac Jones, who in the early days had a farm in Brown County, Indiana, and lived there until his death in 1886.
W. F. Jones, father of John A., was born in Brown County, Indiana, in 1852, grew up and married there and entered actively upon his vocation as a farmer. In 1884 he removed to Elk County, Kansas, locating on a farm near Howard and developing his land from practically a virgin state. In 1908 he retired and had since lived at Fredonia. Politically he is a democrat. W. F. Jones married Elizabeth Woodsides, who was born in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1850. Their children are: Dillard, a photographer living in Oklahoma; John A.; Clarence, who died at the age of eighteen; Leonard, a traveling salesman with headquarters at Kansas City, Missouri.
John Adams Jones had his early training in the rural schools of Johnson County, Indiana, and similarly in the schools of Elk County, Kansas. In 1890 he graduated from the Howard High School, and for three years was a student in the old Fort Scott Normal. As a teacher he did his first work in Elk County, and then for five years taught in schools adjacent to Highland. His connection with the public schools of Highland covers a period of seventeen years. For three years he was a grade teacher, but for the past fourteen years had had the superintendence of the city schools, and the high standing of those schools is a matter of just pride to Mr. Jones, who had worked steadily for the upbuilding of the local system and the proper coordination of the schools with the increasing needs of the community. The schools of Highland now have an enrollment of 275 scholars and eleven teachers are in charge.
Mr. Jones’ experience in professional base ball covered about twelve summers. For eight years he was one of the stars in the Western League and played with the St. Joseph, Lincoln and Pueblo teams, acquiring an enviable reputation as one of the most dependable pitchers on the staff of those organirations.
Mr. Jones is also a Highland business man, owning a half interest in the Ward-Jones Lumber Company. He also owned a good residence on Main Street adjoining the lumber yard. He had served as a member of the City Council, is a democrat, is a member of Smithton Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Highland, and belongs to the Doniphan County and Kansas State Teachers’ associations and the National Education Association.
Mr. Jones married at Highland in 1905 Miss Minnie Overlander, daughter of G. W. and Sarah (Teener) Overlander. Her parents now reside at Highland, her father being a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have five children: Elizabeth, born April 1, 1907; Helen, born in 1910; Louise, born in 1912; Mildred, born in 1913; and John, born in 1915.