CHARLES H. JONES                        GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

South Kansas Tribune, Wednesday, April 29, 1914, Pg. 1:

 

ELDER JONES CALLED HOME.

 

            The long illness of Elder C. H. Jones, for more than a half a century a minister in the United Brethren church, and one of the most enthusiastic Christian workers in Kansas, closed Monday evening when he was called from labor to reward.  He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1840.  In early life became a Christian, and at nineteen entered the ministry and at twenty-one enlisted at the call of President Lincoln in the Thirteenth Illinois cavalry, serving with honorable credits.  On Feb. 22, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hinman, who for forty-nine years has been his loving companion.  To this union were born four children Miss Clella, a teacher in our city schools; Mrs. William Hagan of Nowata, Okla.; William, who lives in Rutland township, and Rev. Harry H., a minister at Dawson, Iowa—all of whom survive him.

            After the war he re-entered the ministry and early in the ‘70’s gave up a successful city pastorate to come to Kansas as a missionary for the United Brethren church and to this county in 1883, which has been his home most of the time.  He served the church on the circuit, in stations and as elder for thirty years—as pastor in this city eight years, and became the most widely known and most beloved of any pastor in the county.  As a citizen and pastor he was a stalwart and threw his whole soul into all the moral questions and was a power for good schools for temperance and for zealous Christianity, and always a Republican, and his friends were all who knew him.  He was thoroughly religious and affiliated with all the ministers not only in union services but in the Monday conferences.  In the past few years he has suffered great pain, but with little complaint, and while he could not lie down to sleep would walk up town whenever possible and greet the friends and less than two weeks ago was in our office.

            The funeral was held in the United Brethren church, with Elder Chambers officiating, assisted by the pastor, R. W. Wilson.

            Although the rules of his church would not permit his membership in the Grand Army, a secret organization, he was with it in spirit, and a large number of his old G. A. R. comrades were in attendance in respect to his memory.

 

Independence Daily Reporter, Tuesday, April 28, 1914, Pg. 1:

 

DEATH OF ELDER JONES

THE PASSING AWAY OF A GOOD MAN AND CITIZEN

HAS LIVED HERE SINCE 1883

Devoted His Life to Help and Aid His Brothers—His death Mourned by All Who Knew Him.

 

            Elder C. H. Jones died last night shortly after 6 o’clock at his home, 208 South Sixteenth street.  He was about 73 years of age and had made his home in this city since 1883.  About eight years of this time he was pastor of the United Brethren church.  He was superannuated in 1907 on account of failing health.  For a number of years he was residing elder of this conference district of the United Brethren church.  He entered the ministry when 19 years of age and devoted his life to the cause of the gospel and righteous living.

            He leaves a wife and four children, two daughters and two sons.  One daughter, Miss Clella Jones, is a teacher in the city schools and the other is Mrs. Hagan, of Nowata, Okla.  His youngest son, H. H. Jones is pastor of the United Brethren church of Dawson, Ia.  The oldest son, William Jones, lives on a farm about nine miles southwest of this city.

            Rev. H. H. Jones, of Dawson, Iowa, is expected to arrive some time today.  The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the United Brethren church in this city at an hour to be decided upon after the arrival of the son from Iowa.

            Elder Jones was an earnest, sincere man, a good citizen, a kind neighbor and friend, and left his impress on the community where he so zealously labored for years.  Elder Jones was a profoundly religious man and never missed the opportunity to do good.  A man of strong convictions and positive opinions he was an able defender of every cause he espoused, whether of a religious, political or civic nature, but through his acts there breathed the loving spirit, the broad charity, the kindness and forgiveness of the religion he taught.  In all the years of his life in this community while quick to denounce the wrong and contend for all that he believed to be right, he was ever ready to extend the right hand of fellowship to the man striving to lift himself up, and in the hour of distress and sorrow he had a word of consolation and cheer for the downcast.

            Since his retirement from the active work as a minister his services have been in constant demand by his old neighbors and friends, without regard to denomination, at the hours of death or in the happier hours when the wedding bells were ringing; and on all occasions he responded in the spirit that would bring comfort to the desolate heart or gladness and cheer to those in their hours of happiness and anticipation.

            A genial, companionable man, Elder Jones was loved and admired by all his acquaintances, and his death will be sadly mourned throughout this city and county and conference district, where for so many years he devoted all his efforts to lift men and women above the grossness of their natures and implant in their minds and hearts high ideals of living and the imperishable truths of Him who died that all men might live and have everlasting life.

Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.