Charles Gasham "Gristmill" Jones (November 3, 1856 – March 29, 1911) was an American urban developer and politician in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Jones was responsible for bringing electrical power to downtown Oklahoma City and developing a railroad line between Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City. The town of Jones, Oklahoma, is named for him.
After arriving in Oklahoma Territory, Jones organized the construction of a canal to bring electrical power to downtown Oklahoma City and constructed the first flour mill in Oklahoma Territory.[a] In 1895, Jones and Henry Overholser organized the St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad Company and, in 1898, constructed a line from Sapulpa to Oklahoma City.[1] The town of Jones, Oklahoma, was named for Charles G. Jones and was platted by a friend, Luther F. Aldrich, in 1898.[3] Jones owned a farmstead in the town, which is today listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
The post office for the town of Elgin, Oklahoma was originally named "Ceegee, Oklahoma" using Charles G. Jones initials, when it was established in April 1902. However, after Post Office management intervened in August 1902, the name was changed to Elgin.
The statehood movement had begun and Jones served as chair of the Single Statehood Executive Committee that first met in 1903 and lobbied for three years for the successful passage of the Oklahoma Enabling Act, which created the state of Oklahoma.[4]
Political careeredit
A Republican, Jones was elected to the 1st, 5th and 6th Oklahoma Territorial Legislatures, representing Oklahoma County, served two terms as the mayor of Oklahoma City in 1896 and 1897 and 1901 to 1903 and was elected to the 2nd Oklahoma State Legislature.[2]
Deathedit
Charles Jones died of a stomach hemorrhage on March 29, 1911, at his homestead in Jones, Oklahoma.[2]
Notesedit
^The flour mill project caused him to be known by the nickname "Gristmill" Jones.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abAaron Bachhofer II. "Jones, Charles Gasham (1856-1911) November 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.] Accessed July 27, 2013)
^ abcBachofer II, Aaron. "Jones, Charles Gasham (1856-1911)" Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed April 16, 2018.
^ abHedglen, Thomas L. Jones June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed July 27, 2013)
^Wilson, Linda D. "Statehood Movement", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture 2012-11-19 at the Wayback Machine (accessed July 27, 2013)
May 03, 2024
charles, jones, charles, gasham, gristmill, jones, november, 1856, march, 1911, american, urban, developer, politician, state, oklahoma, jones, responsible, bringing, electrical, power, downtown, oklahoma, city, developing, railroad, line, between, sapulpa, ok. Charles Gasham Gristmill Jones November 3 1856 March 29 1911 was an American urban developer and politician in the U S state of Oklahoma Jones was responsible for bringing electrical power to downtown Oklahoma City and developing a railroad line between Sapulpa Oklahoma and Oklahoma City The town of Jones Oklahoma is named for him Charles G JonesMember of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the Oklahoma County districtIn office November 16 1907 November 16 1910Preceded byPosition established7th and 10th Mayor of Oklahoma CityIn office April 8 1901 April 13 1903Preceded byRobert E Lee Van WinkleSucceeded byRobert E Lee Van WinkleIn office April 13 1896 April 12 1897Preceded byNelson ButtonSucceeded byJames P AllenPersonal detailsBorn 1856 11 03 November 3 1856Greenup IllinoisDiedMarch 29 1911 1911 03 29 aged 54 Jones OklahomaPolitical partyRepublican Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Urban development 2 2 Political career 3 Death 4 Notes 5 ReferencesEarly life editJones was born in Greenup Illinois on November 3 1856 and arrived in Oklahoma Territory in 1889 1 Career editUrban development edit After arriving in Oklahoma Territory Jones organized the construction of a canal to bring electrical power to downtown Oklahoma City and constructed the first flour mill in Oklahoma Territory a In 1895 Jones and Henry Overholser organized the St Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad Company and in 1898 constructed a line from Sapulpa to Oklahoma City 1 The town of Jones Oklahoma was named for Charles G Jones and was platted by a friend Luther F Aldrich in 1898 3 Jones owned a farmstead in the town which is today listed in the National Register of Historic Places 3 The post office for the town of Elgin Oklahoma was originally named Ceegee Oklahoma using Charles G Jones initials when it was established in April 1902 However after Post Office management intervened in August 1902 the name was changed to Elgin The statehood movement had begun and Jones served as chair of the Single Statehood Executive Committee that first met in 1903 and lobbied for three years for the successful passage of the Oklahoma Enabling Act which created the state of Oklahoma 4 Political career edit A Republican Jones was elected to the 1st 5th and 6th Oklahoma Territorial Legislatures representing Oklahoma County served two terms as the mayor of Oklahoma City in 1896 and 1897 and 1901 to 1903 and was elected to the 2nd Oklahoma State Legislature 2 Death editCharles Jones died of a stomach hemorrhage on March 29 1911 at his homestead in Jones Oklahoma 2 Notes edit The flour mill project caused him to be known by the nickname Gristmill Jones 2 References edit a b Aaron Bachhofer II Jones Charles Gasham 1856 1911 Archived November 19 2012 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Accessed July 27 2013 a b c Bachofer II Aaron Jones Charles Gasham 1856 1911 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Accessed April 16 2018 a b Hedglen Thomas L Jones Archived June 29 2011 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture accessed July 27 2013 Wilson Linda D Statehood Movement Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived 2012 11 19 at the Wayback Machine accessed July 27 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles G Jones amp oldid 1217761993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
