John Jones (1907)

JONES

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 7/31/2007 at 09:30:10

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 3, 1907

PNEUMONIA CLAIMS ANOTHER

John Jones, the Colored Mail Messenger Dies New Years Day

John Jones, the colored man who for years has carried the mail between the depot and post office, died on Tuesday after a week's illness with pneumonia. He came here about 20 years ago, and was employed by the railroad company during T. J. Hudson's administration as postmaster. He was a man little inclined to conversation and little is known of his history before coming to Winterset, or whether he had any kinsfolk.

To the credit of the Rock Island railway company, it may be said that the most remarkable thing connected with his work here was the fact that he was for years able to keep soul and body together on a salary of $10.00 per month. During the past year, he has been required to carry a pouch to and from the noon freight and the company was magnanimous enough to raise his salary to $15.00 per month. On this amount he clothed and boarded himself lodged in some old shed or barn and kept his horses used in carrying the mail.

The county authorities removed him from the old shop opposite Hudson's laundry to the office of Dr. Embree where he died on Tuesday, after an illness of one week.

Funeral services was held today at the M. E. church and burial made in the Winterset cemetery. A number of the business men bought a lot in the cemetery and thus prevented his burial in the Potter's field.
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The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 3, 1907

JOHN JONES DEAD

John Jones (colored) who has for so many years carried the mail between the post-office and the depot, died Tuesday about one o’clock after a sickness of but three or four days, from pneumonia He had no home or relatives that he knew of and had always lived in the barn where he kept his horses. After taking sick he was removed to Dr. Embree’s office where he was given every attention but to no avail.

John came to Winterset from Jasper county in 1884 and has lived here ever since. He had no relatives that he knew of. He has always been honest and industrious; reliable and trustworthy in all things committed to his care. The funeral services will be held this afternoon in the M. E. church.
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Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
February 24, 1907
Page8

Pauper Claims
James Foresman, digging grave for John Jones.... $5.00
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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
September 12, 1951
Page 1

Winterset Cemetery Has No Racial Discrimination

... one known negro and perhaps one other have been buried in the Winterset cemetery. A marker containing the inscription "John Jones Died Jan. 1, 1907" is located a few feet west of the cemetery tool house. The monument marks the last resting place of a man commonly known as "Nigger John," who live in Winterset for many years prior to his death He was a laborer.

Transcriber note: Transcribed as written with vocabulary used at that time.

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