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John W. Jones, Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York, photos

The grave and tombstone of John W. Jones in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York.

The grave and tombstone of John W. Jones in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York. Jones was born as a slave in Leesburg, Virginia on June 21, 1817. He escaped slavery as a runaway slave in June 1844 and arrived in New York in July after traveling over 300 miles. During the course of his life, he was credited with helping more than 800 others escape slavery via the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, Jones was hired to bury the dead Confederate soldiers from the nearby Elmira Military Prison. Over the course of thirteen months, between July 1864 and August 1865, he personally buried 2,973 Confederate soldiers and kept careful, detailed records of each burial. He is credited with burying each of the soldiers with respect, honor and dignity. His records made it possible for others, more than 40 years later, to accurately and individually mark the grave of each soldier with a permanent marker. John W. Jones died on December 26, 1900 in Elmira, New York and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Jones was 83 years old. Very near the grave of Jones is the grave of the author, Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens). See the additional photos below.

The memorial plaque at the base of the tombstone of John W. Jones, Elmira, New York.

The memorial plaque at the base of the tombstone of John W. Jones. The text reads:

John W. Jones - 1817 - 1900
Runaway Slave - Woodlawn Sexton

"He risked his life to escape bondage, then dedicated his life to bury those who might enslave him.
As a runaway slave he helped 800 others escape to freedom through the Elmira Underground Railroad.
As Sexton of Woodlawn National Cemetery, he buried with honor and respect 2,973 Confederate Soldiers who died in the Elmira Prison Camp."

Image of John W. Jones on the descriptive signs at the location of the former Elmira Military Prison Camp.

An image of John W. Jones on the descriptive signs at the location of the former Elmira Military Prison Camp. In the background is a sample of his handwritten records recording each burial of a Confederate soldier.

Monument honoring John W. Jones, a former slave, who dug the graves and buried each of the 2,973 Confederate soldiers buried in Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, New York.

A photo of the monument honoring John W. Jones, located in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, New York, near the Confederate soldiers that he personally buried.

The original small tombstone of John W. Jones in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York.

The original small tombstone of John W. Jones in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, New York. This is located just to the left of the newer, larger tombstone.

Elmira is in Chemung County, New York.

View historical photos of Elmira Military Prison, Elmira, New York

View Confederate Soldier Graves in Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, New York

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