Toland Jones, M.D.
Dr. Toland Jones, physician and surgeon, London, was born four miles west of London, in Union Township, Madison County, Ohio, January 10, 1820. His father, Thomas Jones, was a native of Worcester County, Md., a farmer by occupation. and came of English parents on both sides His great-grandfather, on his father's side, was among the early English settlers of Maryland. His mother Elizabeth was a daughter of Dr. Edward Cropper, who also came from England. Thomas Jones, father of the subject of this sketch. becoming disgusted with the institution of slavery and wanting more room for an increasing family, emigrated to Ohio in 1816, locating first in Ross, but soon moved to what is now known as Union Township, Madison County, Ohio. Here he purchased a small tract of Iand which was afterward increased to 1,000 acres. Thomas Jones resided in Madison until his death at the old homestead in 1859. He was an Old Line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when his interest in the latter became as intense as it had previously been in the former. He took an active interest in politics, and under the old constitution served as Associate Judge from 1841 to 1851 inclusive, and was also a member of the Board of County Commissioners for many years. He was a charitable, warm-hearted man, and an enthusiastic partisan. He married Mary P. Truitt, a native of Eastern Maryland, who died in 1865. Their children, seven boys and one girl, all grew to maturity, and five are now living . Dr. Jones was reared on the home farm, where he remained until twenty years of age, obtaining only a limited education. He then came to London, and three months later went to Springfield where he remained three months. Leaving Springfield he entered the preparatory department of Granville College, in which two terms completed his literary education. Delicate health and inability to do farm work were perhaps the main reasons for his being sent away to school. He was named after Dr. Aquila Toland, of London, with whom he read medicine three years, and in 1847-48, attended one course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati. Scarcity of money precluded graduation. but the degree of M. D. was subsequently conferred by the Cleveland Medical College for the first successful amputation of the leg at the hip joint, in this State. After leaving college he commenced practice in London, ostensibly alone, but really under the tutelage of Dr. Toland. In 1862, he left a lucrative practice to enlist as a private in a company then forming in London, to assist in putting down the rebellion. He was, however, elected Captain of his company by unanimous choice. This was afterward Company A. of One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This position he continued to fill up to 1864, when he succeeded to the command of the regiment at the battle of the Kenesaw Mountain, and in this position continued to command it through all its fortunes, bivouacs, skirmishes and battles. His regiment belonged to that brigade which was always in the front -- the Second Brigade of the Second Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps. At the battle of Jonesboro, it led the brigade that captured everything before it. Col. Jones halted his regiment within sixty yards of the enemy's works under a terrific fire, dressed it up for a final dash, and carried all before it. Gen. Goran of the rebel army surrendered in person to him on his own breastworks, with all his headquarters, papers. etc. The spoils of the day were many prisoners, two cannon. one battle flag, etc. He marched with Sherman to the sea and back through the Carolinas, and was in the last grand battle of Sherman's army at Bentonville, where his regiment fought front and rear from both sides of its breastworks, capturing many prisoners. It was complimented by the Division Commander, in a general order with the remainder of the division, for saving the army on that day. His term of service lasted until July 6, 1865, when he and his regiment were mustered out at Louisville, Ky. Col. Jones returned to London, and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1878, he purchased the drug store of Dr. A. H. Underwood and has since been engaged in that business in connection with the practice of medicine. He owns Toland Block in London, and about sixty acres of land within the corporate limits. He is a member of the Ohio Medical Society, Central Ohio Medical Society, Madison County Medical Society and the Masonic Fraternity. He has been President of the Madison County Medical Society, and has undoubtedly performed more surgery than any other physician who has ever lived in this county. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as member of the board of the City Council of London, and of the board of Public Schools. In 1866-68, Dr. Jones was member of the Ohio State Senate from Madison, Clark and Champaign Counties. Dr. Jones was married March 19, 1846, to Frances Ann, daughter of his preceptor, Dr. Aquila Toland. They have four children living, viz.: Imogene, wife of E. K. Stewart, of Columbus; Eva, widow of Z. T. Graham, and now the wife of W. B. Hamilton, of London; William Pitt, and Bessie Mary, wife of John Riley, of London. Dr. Jones is a man of much natural ability, and considerable culture, firm in his convictions and just in his dealings with his fellows. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of his town and county, lends his assistance freely to any enterprise tending to the good of the people, and is always found ready and willing to make any reasonable sacrifice for the upbuilding of the moral condition of the community. His military record, of which he may be justly proud, is one far above the average.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Hon. Toland Jones, M.D., of London, is not only distinguished in his profession as a physician and surgeon of more than ordinary skill, but he has acquired a high reputation as a business man and as a public-spirited citizen, whose name is inseparably linked with much that has contributed to advance the material interests of village and county and to promote their welfare in a higher sense.
Dr. Jones is a representative of a well-known pioneer family of Madison County, and he was born in one of its early homes, January 10, 1820, a son of Thomas and Mary P. (Truitt) Jones, who were natives of Worcester County, Md. They came to Ohio in 1816, and after a year's residence in Ross County, removed to this county and township, and took their place among its prominent pioneers who were most active in laying the foundation of its future prosperity and substantial growth. Mr. Jones entered upon his work of redeeming the soil from the wilderness with characteristic energy, first building a small log house to shelter his family. He brought a colony of twenty young men with him, the most of whom settled here and became useful citizens. He purchased a thousand acres of land, developed a fine farm, and continued to reside here until death closed his career. He was one of the foremost men of the county while he lived. He was Associate Judge of the Bench quite a number of terms, and was often Commissioner of the county. Though not a regular lawyer, he was well read in law, and was often called upon to do legal business for the people, such as drawing up mortgages, deeds and wills. In politics, he was a Whig. The paternal grandparents of our subject were William and Sarah (Cropper) Jones. His grandmother was a daughter of Dr. Edward Cropper, of Maryland, of which State both she and her husband were natives, the latter a planter, who lived in Maryland all his life. Both the Jones and the Croppers came from England originally.
Our Subject is one of eight children, the names of the others being James J., William G., Edward A., Eliza J., John E., Kendall P. and Edison S. In his younger days, the doctor passed his life on a farm and in attendance at the common schools, where he laid the foundation of a liberal education. He later attended school at London and Springfield, and was subsequently a student at Grandville College. Deciding to fit himself for a physician, he read medicine with Dr. Aquila Tolland, of London, and afterward attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. Having thus become thoroughly familiar with the principles of his chosen profession, he entered upon its practice in London with bright promises for a brilliant career, as he had shown in his studies a special aptitude for his vocation. He soon acquired local fame as a sensible, practical physician, of progressive methods, and his successful amputation of a patient's limb at the hip joint borught him into wider notice, as up to that time there had been but one other case of the kind successfully treated, and he received an honorary diploma in acknowledgement of his surgical skill.
The Doctor continued busily engaged in his profession in London until 1862, when he laid aside his hopes and ambitions for a while to throw his energies into the great contest that was raging between the North and the South, and during the remainder of the war did invaluable service in defense of the Union. He took a company of soldiers to the front, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and was placed in command of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, and was in command as Colonel until he retired from the army at the close of the war. He displayed admirable qualities as a leader, was always at his post, and his unfaltering patriotism, unflinching courage, and bold, resolute front in time of danger inspired his men to do their best in every situation. He was first with Gen. Rosecrans, and later fought under Gen. Grant at Missionary Ridge. From Chattanooga, he went with Gen. Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and made a good record as a fighter in the various battles of that campaign. At Jonesboro, he was taken off his feet by a ball from the enemy's works, but he luckily escaped unhurt from various other dangers that he encountered in the heat of battle, and returned home to his friends unscathed.
Our subject's military life extended over a period of two years and eleven months, and he then quietly resumed the practice of his profession, in which he reaped new honors. He was Surgeon-General of Ohio during ex-Gov. Foraker's administration, and he was formerly Surgeon for the Little Miami Railway. The Doctor has been exceedingly fortunate in money matters and is numbered among the wealthy men of the county. He has handled his finances with coolness and caution, and at the same time, with farseeing enterprise, has invested his funds so as to secure good returns. He owns the Toland Block, in the village of London, which contains a public hall, a bank, stores and offices, and Toland's Opera House. He has other valuable property at this point, and he laid out Jones' Addition and Toland's Addition to the village, and has given an impetus to its growth in various ways. He wields considerable influence in local politics as one of the foremost Republicans of this vicinity, who assisted in organizing the party, and in 1866 and 1867 he represented this district in the State Senate, showing the same versatile talent as a statesman as in other departments of life. Mr. Jones was the Presidential Elector for his district and was chosen to make the report of the State Electors of the State, at Washington, in favor of Benjamin Harrison. He belongs to the Loyal Legion of the United States, is a Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. Jones and Miss Frances A. Toland, of this city, were married in 1846. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Dr. Toland, who was one of the prominent and wealthy men of London. He was conspicuous in business circles as one of the organizers of the Madison County National Bank, of which he was President and one of the largest stockholders of the institution. The Doctor and his wife have had four children, three daughters and one son. Their son William P., who was a bright and prominsing young man, a graduate of Dartmouth College, died while attending lectures at the Medical University of Pennsylvania. Their daughters are Imogene, now Mrs. E. K. Stewart, who has five children: Frank, Handford, Margaret, Alice and Edward; Eva, Mrs. Graham, who has one son, Toland, and Bessie, Mrs. Riley, who has one son, Stewart.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]