John Jones (ironmaster) facts for kids

John Jones (born February 22, 1835 – died July 18, 1897) was a very successful businessman and politician in Wolverhampton, England. He worked with his brothers, William Highfield Jones and Joseph Jones. All three brothers became important local leaders. They each served as the Mayor of Wolverhampton, helping to run the town.

Working with Iron

Starting a Business

John Jones and his brother Joseph were very good at making things from iron. In 1857, they started their own company called the Corrugated Iron Company. This company made special metal sheets. These sheets were either flat or had wavy ridges, which is called "corrugated." Corrugated iron was used a lot for roofs and walls because it was strong and lasted a long time.

Leading the Town

Becoming Mayor of Wolverhampton

John Jones was an Ironmaster, which means he owned or managed an ironworks. He was also a respected local leader called an Alderman. He became the Mayor of Wolverhampton for three years in a row. He served from 1878 to 1879, then from 1879 to 1880, and again from 1880 to 1881. This was one of the longest times anyone had been mayor consecutively in Wolverhampton's history.

Facing Tough Times as Mayor

During John Jones's time as Mayor, the town faced a very difficult period. The economy was struggling, especially the iron industry. Many businesses that made iron had serious problems. Some well-known companies, like the Chillington Iron Works, even went out of business.

The biggest iron company in Wolverhampton, G. B. Thorneycroft & Company, also faced huge losses. They decided they had to close their factories. This was a terrible shock for all the ironworkers. Many other iron factories in the area also shut down. Hundreds of people lost their jobs and couldn't find work.

A Harsh Winter Hits Hard

To make things even worse, a heavy snowfall hit Wolverhampton on January 12. This was followed by a very cold frost that lasted until the end of March. The freezing weather stopped all outdoor work, like building projects. Soon, thousands of families were struggling to find food. Crowds of hungry workers gathered near the Town Hall, asking for work or bread.

Helping the Community

Mayor Jones acted quickly to help the people of Wolverhampton. He started a special fund to collect money from the public. People gave generously to help. He immediately set up places where people could get bread, oatmeal, and coal.

Soup kitchens were also opened in different parts of the town. These kitchens provided warm meals, especially for women and children. Members of the town council formed groups to help. They gave out tickets for relief in an organized way. Other local officials also worked hard to reduce the suffering.

The company that Mayor Jones helped, G. B. Thorneycroft & Company, was very important. It had been started in 1824 by the first Mayor of Wolverhampton, George Benjamin Thorneycroft.

John Jones's Family Life

John Jones was born in Wolverhampton on February 22, 1835. His father, Edward Jones, was a jappaner (someone who applied a type of varnish). His mother was Rebecca Highfield.

John married Elizabeth Leigh, and they had nine children together. After they married, they lived on Goldthorn Hill in Wolverhampton. His brother and his family lived nearby. Sadly, his first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1874. John later married Amelia Sing, and they had three more children. John Jones passed away in Wolverhampton on July 18, 1897.