The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-05
DEATH OF HENRY JONES.
An Old Citizen and Pioneer Of Shasta
County Dead.
He Lived and Died a Frontiersman,
and Was Typical American
and Californian.

A telegram this morning announces
the death Of Judge Henry Jones, a we'll
known pioneer and respected resident OF
Shasta County, who died at the age Of
nearly IS years.
Judge Jones was born in Hamilton
County, o., November II. l60S, and has
all his life been Western pioneer. He
removed from his native State to In
DIANA from there to Illinois, thence to
Iowa, when that State was yet a Terri
tory. In 1919 he organized a company Of
gold-hunters and piloted them across the
plains to Shasta County and located at
Lower Springs. near the old town Of
Shasta, With the exception of an in
terval Of four years he has been citizen
of that town and county ever since.
In 1850 he returned to Illinois and in
the fall of 1857 was elected County Judge
in Livingston County, but resigned in
1859 to conduct another party across the
plains and TO Shasta County, and has
been resident of that county continu-
Ously until the day of his death. Judge
Jones leaves four children to mourn his
death. two daughters in Illinois, one
daughter, Mrs. NJ. J. Paige, in Shasta,
and one son, IL. c. Jones, Well-known
resident OF Santa Cruz. Among his
grandsons are James L. Paige Of Shasta
and Charles l.. Paige, at present con-
nected with the RECORD UNION re-
portorial staff.
Judge Henry Jones was a typical
American pioneer, and belonged to a
class of men to whom their country owes
much for their sterling qualities of un-
swerving loyalty, inyinCiDle integrity
and undaunted spirit.
Starting in life fortified with three
weeks schooling, the subject of this
sketch was confronted with all the hard
ships known to our Western pioneers in
the early development of the vast terri
tory west of Ohio: and, although he never
had another opportunity OF attending
school, he did not lack thorough, prac
teal and comprehensive education, and
stood always among the leaders of his
community.
He held many positions of resposlbil-
ity and trust during his lifetime, but al
ways preferred the frontier, and was one
OF those foremost in pushing further
West, until, upon the shore of the Pa
citic, they were compelled to pause.
His life was one Of adventure through
out, and Judge Jones could relate incl
dents enough, coming under his own
observation, to form q comprensiVe and
interesting history Of the great western
portion OF the continent, and especially
of this State.
He conducted three trains of wagons
across the great plains and mountains.
encountering all the hardships, dangers
and difficulties that could obtain. lie
passed through trials of endurance that
taxed to their utmost both mental and
physical strength, and which formed in
him an integrity and tirmness OF charac-
ter in all emergencies. and developed a
wonderful measure ofphpsical hardihOod
and self reliance,
Until within few days Of his death he
lived upon a homestead which he entered
and proved up" taking it from the
Government timber lands in western
Shasta County, where the colony of
Whitmore is now located. There he
cleared Of heavy timber about twenty
acres OF land and put it out in choice
fruit trees, which are now tlOurishing
and form one of the finest young orchards
Of the locality.
He was thoroughly familiar with the
topography Of the section. the surveys
and landmarks, and rendered valuable
services to large number of settlers in
locating them upon railroad and Govern
mCnt lands.
ntil with the past two or three years,
although over 50 years Of age, he would
frequently walk distances OF forty or fifty
miles. He was sure shot with the rifle,
and took great pleasure in lining bees
-
trapping and other sports. Owing TO his
familiarity with camp life and his genial
disposition, he was always welcome
addition to a party in camp or in the
woods, and numbered among his friends
and acquaintance most of the old resi-
dents Of the county and many others.
In his death Shasta County and the
State loses one of the oldest pioneers, and
a man whO without seeking prelerment
or distinction, was identified with much
OF its history.
In the loss of such men a distinct and
characteristic type of the true American
is passing. They are perhaps nearest
representative of the original and distin-
gushing characters OF our history and
Government, fashioned by the circum-
stances under which they lived, bred and
reared upon the soil in most instances,
under distinct and separate conditions,
apart from the more cosmopolitan and
conventional influences which bear upon
later generations.