JOHN D. JONES.
John D. Jones is an important factor in the industrial circles of southeastern Washington as he is president of the Self-Oiling Wheel & Bearing Company of Walla Walla, many of whose products are manufactured under patents which he has taken out. He was born in Wales, November 15, 1863, a son of Richard N. and Ellen Jones, who in 1881 emigrated to Canada. For a year they resided in Montreal and then removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they have since made their home.
John D. Jones was educated in the public schools of his native country and in the night schools of Minneapolis. When he accompanied his parents to the United States at the age of nineteen years he entered the shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. When fifteen years old he had apprenticed himself to the machinist's trade in Wales and during his residence in Montreal he worked in the shops of the Grand Trunk Railway. While there he assisted in putting the first air pump on an engine on the Grand Trunk system. For several years he was connected with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railways and was the first machinist to be employed by the latter road in Minneapolis. In the fall of 1888 he came to the Pacific northwest, entering the shops of the Oregon-Washington Railway & Navigation Company at The Dalles, and later he worked at various points along their system. On severing his connection with that road he engaged in the butchering and restaurant business in La Grande, Oregon, after which he went as far east as Marshalltown, Iowa, where he was employed by the Iowa Central Railway. However, after his life in the west he found the east too restricted and unenterprising and again came west. He entered the shops of the Oregon-Washington Railway & Navigation Company at Portland and was later transferred to the Umatilla shops. In 1895 he left there and came to Walla Walla, where he entered the employ of Gilbert Hunt. Subsequently he was appointed master mechanic of the Washington & Columbia River Railroad under Joseph McCabe and about that time was also appointed chief engineer of the state penitentiary by Governor Meade, which appointment, however, he refused to accept. He became superintendent of the Mill Creek Railway and held that position during the time that its track was changed from narrow gauge to standard gauge. In addition to his other railroad experience he has at times served as an engineer and ran one of the first narrow gauge engines that entered Walla Walla, it running on the old Dr. Baker railway.
HOME OF MARTIN CAMPBELL
In 1905 Mr. Jones went into business for himself, opening a machine shop on South Second street, Walla Walla. He built up a large business and also took out a number of patents and in 1914 he organized the Self-Oiling Wheel & Bearing Company, which manufactures goods under his patents. Up to the present time he holds about twenty-eight patents on automobile parts and harvesting machinery. The plant of the company is one of the best equipped in Washington and the employes are skilled mechanics. The goods manufactured include farm machinery of all kinds, gas engine pistons and ring stocks, self-oiling devices for pulleys, hay blocks and warehouse truck wheels. The company's most important product is without doubt one of the most successful combined harvesters ever built. This machine, which is manufactured under patents owned by Mr. Jones, is capable of harvesting and sacking grain under four cents per bushel and is so simple in its design that it can be operated with only a third of the usual horse power. The great wheat country of eastern Washington, of which Walla Walla is the center, affords an unsurpassed market for improved farm implements and it is but natural that the Self-Oiling Wheel & Bearing Company should have built up a large trade, even within the few years of its existence. From the organization of the concern Mr. Jones has served as its president and has given his entire time and attention to looking after its interests. To his thorough and practical knowledge of mechanics he adds executive ability and keen business insight and is generally recognized as an industrial leader.
In 1887 Mr. Jones was married to Miss Catherine L. Morris, of Langollen, North Wales, and to them have been born three sons: Griffith, who is athletic instructor in the high school at Pendleton, Oregon; Wynne, superintendent of the foundry of his father's plant; and Richard L., a student at Whitman College.
Mr. Jones belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M., and to Oriental Consistory, A. & A. S. R., of Spokane. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and has many friends in fraternal circles. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian Science church and give their support to all good works. His career from the time that he apprenticed himself to the machinists's trade has been one of continual advancement, gained through his industry, determination and sound judgement.