LH Jones

JONES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/15/2010 at 21:31:00

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

L H Jones
By L H Jones

I have had the privilege of living and seeing the history of The First United Methodist Church from the opening in 1916 to the present time. My grandfather, L H Jones, came to Sioux City from Des Moines and opened the first piano store here in 1898. The Jones home was located at 30th and Jackson on the site of Blessed Sacrament Church. My mother came from Wilton Jt, Iowa, to visit her sister, Mrs G R Whitmer, next door to the Jones home. It was there my parents met, were married, and had five children.

My mother sent my brothers and me to Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church. When the Methodist Church, at 19th and Nebraska Street, was opened in 1916, the family made it our church from then on.

I have known all ten Preachers and think how fortunate the Congregation has been to have such great, dedicated men serve in our church.

My Aunt, Jennie Jones, was killed in a car wreck at 4th and Jackson in 1916. The Jones family gave a grand piano to The First Methodist Church in memory of Jennie, replacing it with a new grand in 1927, which is still in the Sanctuary today.

Members of the church thought it would be nice to have an Easter Sunrise Service at Grandview Park for all the people in the city. The services were from 1925 to the mid ‘30’s, when a snow storm convinced us to give it up. My father, brothers and I would hall a piano up to the south side of the water tower, where the services were held, the People standing on the south slope of the Park.

Mrs Byron Brown was organist at First Church for many years. The Brown’s youngest son, B Roy Brown, graduated from Duke University in the ministry, becoming the first member of our church to enter the ministry. He married my sister, Mary, and after serving in many churches, they are retired in Ottumwa, Iowa.

P.S. At the time Blessed Sacrament Church was built, the Jones house was moved to the south-west corner of 32nd and Nebraska Street, and is still in use.