John W. Jones - Elmira, NY - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

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"John W. Jones - escaped slavery from Virginia in 1844 and settled in Elmira, NY. He became a stationmaster for the UGRR and helped over 800 individuals escape slavery. He also buried nearly 3,000 Confederate soldiers who died at the Elmira Prison Camp. He died December 26, 1900."

Description: "John W. Jones became an active agent in the Underground Railroad in 1851. In 1854, the Northern Central railroad tracks from Williamsport, Pennsylvania to Elmira, New York were completed. Jones made an arrangement with Northern Central employees and hid the fugitives in the 4 o'clock "Freedom Baggage Car," directly to Niagara Falls via Watkins Glen and Canandaigua. Most of Jones's "baggage" eventually landed in St. Catherines, Ontario. By 1860, Jones aided in the escape of 800 runaway slaves. He usually received the fugitives in parties of six to ten, but there were times he found shelter for up to 30 men, women, and children a night. It is believed Jones sheltered many in his own home behind First Baptist Church. Of those 800, none were captured or returned to the South. Jones became the sexton for Woodlawn Cemetery in 1859. One of his primary roles was to bury each deceased Confederate soldier from the Elmira Prison Camp. Of the 2,973 prisoners who Jones buried, only seven are listed as unknown. Jones kept such precise records that on December 7, 1877 the federal government declared the burial site a national cemetery." Date of birth: 06/21/1817 Date of death: 12/26/1900 Area of notoriety: Historical Figure Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link] Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed

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