Thomas D. Jones, sculptor, was born December 12, 1811, in Remsen Oneida County New York, where he spent his boyhood and youth. His parents were David R, and Susan Jones, who were born in Wales but came to this country in childhood. With very meager opportunities for education the embryo sculptor reached the age of twenty, employed on a farm or at work with his father, who was a stonecutter, with his father's family he came to Ohio in 1837 and settled on what is known as "Welsh Hills", about two and one-half miles north of Granville, a well known college town. While living there he worked at carving tomb-stones out of freestone, which is abundant around Granville, and became skillful in cutting out figures of animals, and faces. Much of the stone work on the Ohio Canal was done under his supervision. During the winter months he taught school and while teaching studied the french language in which he became proficient. In 1841 he went to Cincinnati, where his first work was that of carving monuments, but before a year had expired he produced a bust of John H. Coleman of Cincinnati. His next work worthy of notice was a large bust of General William H. Harrison. In 1844 he modeled the features of Henry Clay and the next year carved the Statue of Francis Marion in wood. Soon afterward he made bust of Thomas Corwin, Lewis Cass and General Winfield Scott. The he went to New York City where he lived for six years, his finest works in New York are a medallion of Henry Clay, one of Daniel Webster, one of George Washington, one of Queen Victoria and a statue of Julia Dean, the actress. The Lincoln Memorial which stands in the rotunda of the State House in Columbus Ohio is the grandest work every produced by his hands, it will remain as enduring monument to his memory, his last works are the highest order of merit and universally admired. The winter following Abraham Lincoln's election to the Presidency was spent by Mr. Jones with Lincoln and his family in Springfield Illinois. He had many friends among distinguished writers and noted persons. It was pleasant to be with him, hear him read Shakespeare, tell anecdotes and talk of his travels and experiences in the different cities where he had been. In his last years he arose early and took a long walk before breakfast. In imagination I can see him now, as he started out for a walk, his long white hair hanging loosely over his shoulders, his broad-brimmed hat shading his face as he looked at the beauty of nature, or in the evening as gazed at the stars, no one was ever able to fathom his thoughts at such times. He had a kind of faith in the stars which was apparent to those who knew him best but which he never communicated to anyone.
He died in Columbus, Ohio, February 2, 1882, and was buried in the Welsh Hills Cemetery, by the side of his father and mother. A large granite boulder stone is inscribed with simply his name, date of birth and date of death. Of him it may be said truthfully "The sculptor hath so nobly done his part, we see a living presence not the art."
Although it's been a long time since I have had the pleasure of going to the Granville Museum on Broad, I do believe there is a self Portrait of him there. |
