I was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, in 1830. My people were poor. For many years they had fought for Ireland's freedom. Many of my folks had died in that struggle. My father, Richard Harris, came to America in 1835, and as soon as he became an American citizen he sent for the rest of the family. His work as a laborer with railway construction crews took him to Toronto, Canada. There I was brought up but always as the child of an American citizen.

While living in the northeast, I completed school, became a teacher, and married an iron molder. From my husband, George E. Jones, I learned how workers were struggling against abuses by unscrupulous employers.

In 1877, I was involved in the first nationwide strike in United States history where I supported railroad workers. Since then I have been organizing and attending every major labor strike...