JONES, James E.
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 485

James E. JONES, editor and proprietor of the "Kilbourn Mirror-Gazette," is a 
man of prominence in his profession. He was born in Lynchburg [Campbell 
County], VA, in 1849, and was the son of Archibald M. and Susan M. (DALY) 
JONES. James E. JONES was the youngest of a family consisting of three sons 
and three daughters, and attended school at Lynchburg and other places in his 
native state. He enlisted in Sep 1864 in Company C, 2nd CO, at Kansas City 
[MO], where he had gone for the purpose of enlistment. He served about one 
year on garrison duty and frontier service in KS and AR. In Dec 1866 he 
enlisted at St. Louis, in the regular army, serving five years in the 3rd U. 
S. Cavalry Band, playing different instruments. He spent six more years in 
government topographical work, covering all states and territories from the 
Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. He then went to Chicago [Cook County, 
IL], where he engaged in journalism, as proof reader on the "Daily News" for 
some time, and at other special work on different journals, and in 1884 came 
to Kilbourn [Columbia County, WI], and established the "Mirror-Gazette," 
which he has since published. The "Mirror" was established in 1856, in the 
first building ever erected in the town. The paper flourished for a time, 
and when our subject took charge of it and became proprietor he revived it 
and soon after combined it with the "Gazette." It has a widespread 
circulation, and is considered one of the brightest exchanges of the 
newspaper world. Mr. JONES is original in his writing and possesses a 
remarkable degree of distinctiveness of thought and language, and many of his 
articles are copied by leading journals of the state and nation.

Our subject was married in 1888 to Anna BAUER, daughter of Fred and Helen 
BAUER, of Kilbourn [Columbia County, WI]. One daughter has been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Jones, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Vera. Mr. JONES has 
been a consistent member of the Methodist church for a number of years, and 
takes an active part in the affairs of that denomination, and especially the 
choir work. He is active and prominent in secret society circles, holding 
membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and John Gillespie Post, No. 51, G. A. R. In the last named he was 
commander three years, adjutant six years and chief of staff for the 
department of WI for two years, and an aide on the national staff for one 
year under Commander WEISSERT, of Milwaukee. He is ever ready to promote any 
movement for the advancement and upbuilding of the town of Kilbourn and his 
county and state, and justly occupies a prominent place in the minds of the 
people of Columbia County.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly