JONES, Ben F.

JONES, KIMBALL, LLOYD, MOORE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/29/2013 at 13:33:40

Ben F. Jones, D.D.

BEN F. JONES, D.D., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, began his work upon the prairies of Western Kansas, and has had a thorough training in hardships well known to the pioneers of that state. He has preached in sod houses, school houses, tents, and in the open; has ministered to congregations where the cow-boy and plainsman formed an interesting part of the audience; has had a full-fledged poker game going on in one end of the building while trying to east out devils at the other end. He gives as his experience that a sermon and a poker game can get along in the same building if they have to.

Mr. Jones was born in Plummers Landing, Fleming County, Kentucky, March 21, 1868. He was married April 09, 1889, to Charlotte Gladys Kimball, daughter of George W and Harriette (Lloyd) Kimball. They have five children: Ben C, born January 17, 1892; Linn Irl, October 04, 1893; Alice Judith, May 31, 1896; Charlotte Frances, August 07, 1906; Minnie May (by adoption), May 31, 1886. Minnie May is now Mrs. Harry E Moore of Trenton Missouri.

Mr. Jones entered the ministry when twenty years old, and has served continuously in the regular pastorate until the present. For sixteen years he was a member of the Southwest Kansas conference, transferring from that to the Missouri conference in the spring of 1905. For three years and six months, he was pastor of the first Methodist Church at Trenton Missouri, coming from there to Kirksville, where he has the pastorate of the First Methodist Church. On June 02, 1910, the Memorial University of Mason City, Iowa, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans, of which he has served as Chaplain, Division Chaplain and Chaplain of the National Commandery, having been connected with that order twenty-three years; has belonged to the K. of P. lodge since 1890, and is a member of the local lodge at Kirksville; was made a Mason in 1895; belongs to Adair Lodge, No. 366, and Caldwell Chapter, No 53, Royal Arch. He is independent politically, but leans to progressive Republicanism.

SOURCE: VIOLETTE, E. M. A History of Adair County, Missouri.
Part IV "Biographical Sketches." Denslow History Co. 1911.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2013