Peter Jones 1826-1917

JONES, DUFFY, HAND, HOPSON

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 8/31/2010 at 14:22:18

The Palo Alto Tribune
Emmetsburg, Iowa
19 Dec 1917
Page 1

Peter Jones

Mr. Peter Jones, whose death we mentioned in our last issue, was born in the parish of Amiskens, in the county of Cavan, Ireland, in January, 1826. He became united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Duffy in Ireland. In 1849 they came to America. The following year they moved to Pittsburg, Pa. Later they moved to St. Louis where they lived for three years when the moved to Parksville, Mo. In 1854 they moved to Lansing, Ia. For seventeen years they farmed in Allamakee county. In 1870 they came to this county and secured a farm in Great Oak township where they lived until 1888 when they gave up farming and came to this city and established a home. They worked their way to success by honest toil. They were industrious and frugal and made it a point to always meet their obligations promptly. They labored long and well together and performed the duties of parents faithfully. Death has severed the companionship of seventy years and has left a dear old lady in sorrow and quite alone. While she still has living a daughter and five sons, there is no one who can ever, in her mind and heart, take the place of him who has been called to his final reward.

Mr. Jones leaves to her the fond memory of a kind, devoted and dutiful husband, to his children the memory of a faithful, self-sacrificing father and in the community he will be remembered as a thorough gentleman, a good citizen, a true christian and a man at all times. To the surviving members of his family who mourn his loss, we extend sincere sympathy.

The Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
19 Dec 1917
Page 1

Death of Peter Jones

One of the Oldest and Most Highly Esteemed Residents of Our County.

Last week we published a short item announcing the death of Peter Jones at his home in this city, which occurred on Monday evening, December 10. The funeral was held on Thursday. Services were conducted at the Assumption church, Rev. William Veit celebrating a requiem high mass. Though the morning was intensely cold, a large number of old friends and neighbors were in attendance. The burial was in the family lot in St. John's cemetery. The members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, to which he belonged, attended in a body. They were represented in the honorary pall bearers by Michael Fleming, William Walsh, M. F. Kerwick, John O'Brien, Daniel Burns and M. F. Brennan. The active pall bearers were P. H. Donlon, F. E. Hand, John Burns, W. I. Branagan, William Murphy of St. Paul and Al Murphy of Montrose, S. D.

Mr. Jones was born in the parish of Amiskens, in the county of Cavan, Ireland, January 16, 1826. He was married to Elizabeth Duffy on November 28, 1847. On November 28, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Jones celebrated the seventieth anniversary of their marriage. Some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jones walked eight miles to attend midnight mass at Christmas time. Mr. and Mrs. Jones came to America on June 18, 1849. They landed at Castle Garden, New York. In 1850 they sailed for Philadelphia and from there came to Pittsburg. Later they took a steamer down the Ohio river and landed at St. Louis. In 1854 they came north, sailing up the Mississippi river as far as Lansing, Iowa, where they located on a farm. While in Allamakee county, Mr. Jones built a stone church and a stone school house, which are still standing. He was employed as a mason for bridge work on the Milwaukee road when it was extended from McGregor along the river towards St. Paul. His sons William and Charles also worked for the company. In 1872, Mr. Jones, accompanied by John Hand and James Keenan, came west. They walked from Algona to Emmetsburg. Mr. Jones bought a quarter section farm in Great Oak township, paying $7.00 per acre for it. He had earned the price of the land on the railroad during the previous year. In 1888 he gave up farming and located in Emmetsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Jones subsequently made their home in the Third ward in this city. Mrs. John Hand of this city was a schoolmate of Mr. Jones in Ireland. The families were close neighbors in Great Oak township for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones were the parents of fourteen children. Mrs. Jones, four of the sons and one daughter are living. The sons are Robert Emmet, who is in Chicago, Peter D., who is an attorney at Stanley, N. D., Bernard of Mason City and James P., who is still at home with his mother. The only daughter, Mrs. William Hopson, is at present living in Mason City.

Mr. Jones was a sincere, practical, level headed, upright gentleman. He was patriotic and was always prepared to do his duty as a citizen of his adopted country. He did his own thinking. While he was always willing to listen to others, he based his actions on his own knowledge and he relied on his own judgment. While he loved fair Columbia, he always took an active interest in the affairs of the land of his birth. He was deeply moved by her many and sad reverses and he contributed freely and liberally towards relieving her people, who were often and sorely oppressed by a cruel foreign government. He longed earnestly for the day when Ireland would be granted home rule. He was for thirty-one years a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of this city. Mr. Jones was a devout member of his church. He was at all times obedient to its teachings and he did cheerfully his duty in aiding to provide for its necessities. He was a kind, obliging and helpful neighbor and he was warm and generous in his hospitality towards those whom he esteemed. For almost a century he served faithfully his God and his country and he filled creditably and honorably his station in life. After passing four score years and ten, his health and strength failed steadily and he was at last willing and anxious to be called to his eternal reward. The memory of his well spent, upright career will be fondly treasured by the surviving members of his family and by the many others who knew him. Mrs. Jones and the sons and daughter have the sincere sympathy of all in their bereavement.

The Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
5 Dec 1917
Page 5

Last week Peter Jones, Sr., received word that his only surviving brother had passed away in Australia. He was nearly ninety years of age. One of Mr. Jones' brothers, when a young man, went to Egypt from Ireland and was accidentally drowned in the river Nile. The members of the family were pretty well scattered in all parts of the world.