Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 22.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[222] ‘He never spoke an unnecessary word, nor spilt an unnecessary drop of blood.’ Sir James Simpson to whom the world is indebted for the invaluable boon in the discovery of chloroform, conferred upon Dr. Jones a special diploma in obstetrics. He also took a special course in surgical pathology and operative surgery, under Sir Joseph Lister. Graduating at Edinburgh, he went to Dublin, and was appointed resident student in the Rotunda Hospital, one of the most extensive and renowned maternity institutions in Europe. While there he attended the clinics of Stokes and Corrigan, also the eye clinics of the talented Sir William Wilde, father of the aesthetic Oscar Wilde. From Dublin he went to London, and took the surgical courses of Ferguson, Erichson and Paget, attending the eye clinics of Bowman and Critchett, at Moorefield Eye Hospital, Leaving London he went to Paris and continued his studies in the hospitals under Telpeau, Nelaton, Jobert, Trousseau and Chassignac. During his studentship in Edinburgh he spent his vacations in visiting all the places of historical interest in Great Britain and on the Continent, embracing a tour through the Alps on foot. When the first notes of war between the States were sounded across the Atlantic in 1861, he returned at once to his native land, and on the personal recommendation of the late President Jefferson Davis, was assigned to duty in the Army of Northern Virginia, and served as surgeon in the famous Hood's brigade until the surrender at Appomattox. He attended the brigade in all its numerous battles and skirmishes, without a day's absence, endearing himself to his comrades. As the result of those gigantic conflicts in Virginia, Maryland and Penusylvania, he had a rich field in which to put into practice the sound surgical knowledge that he had imbibed from his masters in Europe, and soon became known as one of the most skillful operators in the Army of Northern Virginia. He was selected to take charge of General Hood, when that gallant commander was desperately wounded at Chickamauga, and had him carried by faithful litter-bearers a distance of sixteen miles, to a farm-house, where he remained with him until he was restored. At the close of the war, Dr. Jones made his way back to Texas upon the steed that had borne him through all his campaigns, and located at Gonzales, where he has since continuously resided and practiced medicine. He has served on all the examining boards of his judicial district; is county physician and health officer of Gonzales; is a member of the Texas State Medical Association, and has been elected one of