Jones, Mrs. Lavinia Burton 1826-1891

JONES, BURTON, HOWARD, GIDDINGS, WADE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/29/2011 at 14:34:36

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 8, 1891

MRS. LAVINIA BURTON JONES

This most estimable Christian lady, who died on the first of the month at her home three miles northwest of town, at the age of sixty-four, was the daughter of Rev. William Burton, a native of Vermont near Montpelier. He removed to Western Pennsyvania before her birth in 1826, and was pastor successively at Chillicothe, Circleville, Jefferson, and Austinburg,--dying in his last pastorate. Her mother having died when she was two years old, she not only had in after years the care of his home and family, but was also his amanuensis in the writing of books. She was converted in very early childhood, and first married Dr. Howard, whose son's death followed the bite of a rattlesnake at North Bend, Nebraska, 1857, two years after she came here. At Jefferson, Ohio, she married Mr. Publius V. Jones, who survives her at the age of seventy-three, and who was born at Ashtabula, a son of Judge Lynde Jones, who was a cousin of Hon. J.R. Giddings and brought up Hon. Ben Wade. The Judge gave all his children Latin names, being fond of Roman literature, and in his zeal for anti-slavery stumped Ohio with the statesmen named. The four oldest of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, three sons and a daughter, were born at Jefferson, where he was in prosperous business and served the public as constable and sheriff. Seeking better surrounding influences for the training of a family they came here in September, 1865, to the toils, self-denials, and hardships of farm life when all was new. Several of their children have been students at the college; the oldest, Prof. Marcus E. Jones of Salt Lake, graduated in '75; and one is now a student at Oberlin. All were present at her funeral, which was conducted by Rev. Mr. Vittum, Dr. Magoun and Prof. Buck, and four sons were the pallbearers.

Few persons have ever died here who were so thoroughly and prominently Christian in character as Mrs. Jones. With an eager thirst for spiritual truth, uncompromising principle, and a devout, consecrated, self-denying spirit, her life was full of godliness. She loved the house of God, evangelical teaching, the prosperity, peace, and good order of the church, Christian missions, and moral reform. Nothing that had on it the stamp of Christ was uninteresting to her. No form of disloyalty to His word and will approved itself to her. The relations of everything to His cause in the earth stood first in her esteem. Her last audible words were, "Dear Jesus." Her life was consistent, devoted, and exemplary; her end was peace. G.F.M.