John Welch Jones, (1826–1916) was a medical doctor, Civil War cavalry officer, superintendent of the Insane Asylum of Louisiana, and planter.
Jones led the reform of the care of mentally ill people in late nineteenth century Louisiana.
[3] (Sources differ) Whatever the case, William and Edith Hilton Jones resided at Jackson, Louisiana near the end of their lives in 1871.
[1][3] At the outbreak of the Civil War, Jones organized 115 men at Buehler's Plains (an unincorporated community in northern East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, which was founded by German immigrant John Christian Buehler[7] and located 11 miles south of Jackson, Louisiana.)
[1][3] The end of the Civil War found Jones in poor health with impaired vision and reduced financial condition.
Jones's impaired vision left him unable to practice medicine; however, he was able to engage in the retail drug trade at Jackson.
[3] He organized the stronger inmates into farm workers and had them start gardens to provide food for the hospital.
[1][3] Five buildings were built with the bricks and the capacity of the Asylum was increased from 166 to over 600, which permitted the closure of the infamous Marine Hospital at New Orleans, with 130 inmates being transferred in one day.
[2][3] After fourteen years of service and with the Asylum now greatly enlarged, improved, and providing humane care to its inmates, Jones resigned from his position as Superintendent and returned to private life.