Mrs. Mary Adeline Seabury-Jones

SEABURY, JONES

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 8/22/2015 at 14:40:20

OBITUARY

Mrs. Mary Adeline Seabury-Jones, well and favorably known in Denison as a refined and christian woman, departed this life on March 3, 1915, at Des Moines, Iowa, where she had resided for a few years in order to be with her two granddaughters, Orpha and Isabel Marshall, both teachers in the Des Moines schools. If all the good things that have been said about the christian woman since her death were collected and printed it would take a large volume to contain the eulogies pronounced upon her life and labors. Her life was devoted to education, the building of Christian character and demonstrating that the Christian religion is helpful to anyone who embraces it In her quiet and refined conduct she lived her Christianity as all who knew her are able to testify.

The deceased was born in West township, Albany county, New York, Sept. 8, 1830. She was the daughter of Cornelius and Adeline (Crary) Seabury. She commenced teaching in the public schools of New York at the age of fifteen, and, with short interruptions continued in that work until her marriage to Marcus S. Jones, of Harrisburg, Lewis county, N. Y., in September, 1865. She graduated from the Albany, N. Y., State Normal school about 1851. Among outlier places she taught were Stephentown and Martendale, N. Y. Egremont, Mass., and for several years in the city schools of Brooklyn, N. Y. Her husband died in November, 1871, and she came to Denison with her two youngest stepsons, Marcus and Adelbert, in the fall of 1872. She taught school in this city several years. Upon the death of her step-daughter, Mrs. George B. Marshall, in 1889, she made a home for her young grandchildren, Orpha, Fay and Isabel Marshall, until Mr. Marshall's death at Wausau, Wis., and thereafter at Denison. She was with her granddaughters, both of whom were teachers at Des Moines. Iowa, at the time of her death in that city March 3, 1915.

She leaves surviving her brothers, Isaac C. Seabury. of Sedro-Woollcy, Wash., and Augustus P. Seabury, of Plainview, Neb., both of whom wire former residents of this city, and Charles F. Seabury, of West Township, New York her sons, G. D. Jones, of Wausau, Wis. Marcus E. Jones, of this City Adelbert Jones, of San Diego, Cali., and their families, and her grandchildren. Orpha and Isabel, of Des Moines, and Fay A. Marshall, now of lihinelauder. Wis.

Mrs. Jones had great capacity for loving and for self-sacrificing service, and her cheery and wholesome personality and cultured mind made her loving labors most benelicent. She was the child of loving Christian parents and became a member of the Baptist church of West Township at a very early age, and for nearly eighty years she served her Saviour with the whole strength of her loving heart.

Her life was complete in years. It was grandly successful when measured by the highest standards—those of service, of usefulness and of Christian faith. Her memory will live long in the affection of those she loved and this includes the entire world of her acquaintance.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist church on Saturday afternoon, the Rev. E. P. Williams, pastor of that church, officiating. The selections of the choir were favorite hymns of the deceased, the remarks of the pastor were singularly appropriate and the short address delivered by Sears McHenry, a former pupil of the deceased, made a deep impression on all who heard him. We publish, by permission, what Mr. McHenry said on the occasion:

"The life which has gone out from us was exemplary and we mourn her demise. In order to more clearly express myself I have written a few things I would say in her memory.’

“Mrs. Jones was my first school teacher in a little three-room house facing the north just back of where Mr. Bolton's carpenter shop now stands. There I learned a little out of
my primer, much out of her pantry, and more than you can imagine, out of her heart. Then came Sunday and she was teacher again. Here she was even better equipped than in day school. For she did not walk in the vanity of her mind, but knowing God and understanding His will, she walked in His love. Her prayer must have been 'consider how I love thy precepts quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving kindness.' Or else how could she so have impressed the boys of my age as she did regarding her God and Redeemer? Her teaching, her example, her beautiful life, I count among my greatest treasures and blessings, and fortunate were we the boys and girls and older, friends, who shared the sweet influence of her life. I have known her most of my life time. She was always the same modest, kind, helpful, thoughtful, loving Mrs. Jones. Like the good woman of old, 'Strength and-honor are her, clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opened her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law
of kindness. A woman that feareth tho Lord, she shall be praised.'

"Friends of my youth, now men and women, scattered over many states, will regret the passing of this friend, but will associate the call with God.

"Never doubting her ground, I imagine her petitions and obeisance were with that of the Psalmist:

“ ‘With my whole heart have I sought thee; O let no not wander from thy commandments.

“ ‘Make me to so in the path of thy commandments for therein do I deliight.'

“ ‘Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.'

.” 'Stabllsh thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.'

" ‘So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever.'

"And now that she has passed into the great beyond, I can see her reward and she would send back to us this message, 'Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto His people, Israel, according to all that he promised there hath not failed one word of His good promises, which He promised by the hand of Moses, His servant.’”

After the services at the church the body was taken to Oakland cemetery for burial.

The following relatives of the deceased from out of town attended the funeral: Mr. Augustus Seabury, of Plainview, Neb. Chas. F. Seabury, of Altamont, N. Y. George A. Seabury, of Omaha, Neb. Fred Seabury, of Logan G. D. Jones, of Wausau, Wis.

Mrs. J. A. Miles, of Scranton, Iowa, and the Misses Orpha and Belle Marshall, of Des Moines.

Source: The Denison Review, Denison, Crawford, Ia., 10 Mar 1915.