House, Watson Jones 1820 - 1912

HOUSE, NICHOLS, WEBER, FLINN, HURD

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/12/2006 at 16:20:22

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lillian Wheeler

WATSON JONES HOUSE 1820-1912

Watson Jones House was born at Sanstead, Canada, November 11th, 1820, and died in Oak Dale, Iowa, January 14th, 1912, aged ninety-one years, two months, and three days.

He was married at Potsdam, New York, in 1843, to Miss Rhoda L. Nichols, who died last September. Of this marriage there were born the following children, six of whom survive their father: Edwin L. House, Kansas City, Mo.; Hersey D. House, Clear Lake, South Dakota; Lucious O. House, Riceville, Iowa; Mrs. Janett L. Weber, Los Angeles, Cal.; Mrs. Alice M. Flinn, Los Angeles, Cal.; Gertrude M. Hurd, Neosho, Mo.

Mr. House first locate in Iowa in 1845, at Cresco, on the sopt where the Howard County Court House now stands. In 1855 he moved to the old town of Wentworth in Mitchell County, now McIntire, and in 1856 he located permanently on the old homestead where he has remained practically ever since.

For fify-six years, this home has been the scene of his hopes and fears, joys and sorrows. He wandered away from it at times but always returned to the "Old Farm", his dearest earthly treasure, his richest earthly possession. Here tenderly cared for by his son Lucious House and his wife, surrounded by his grand children, he passed to that better land to meet the loved ones gone before.

"When the Springtime touch is lightest
When the Summer-eyes are brightest
Or the Autumn sings most drear
When the winter air is whitest
Sleep, Old Pioneer.

Safe beneath the sheltering soil
Late enough you crept
You were weary of the toil
Long before you slept.

Well you paid for every blessing
Bought with grief each day of cheer
Nature's arms around you pressing
Nature's lips your brow caressing
Sleep, Old Pioneer."