The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-28
JOHN T. JAKES
/; ISDEAD.
Was a Pioneer Postmaster,
Prominent LOdgeman, ;.
j, Devoted Christian.

John L. Jakes one Of the ..be,t known
men In Delaware, aud father Of d.. G.
Russell Jakes, died at the home Of his
daughter Mrs. William H. Rodlnile No.
I'LL West Eighth street at Q o'clock this
morning from complication of diseases
principal OF which was kidney trouble.
Mr., Jakcs' illness covered per'ol Of sig
months but not until ono month ago did
his condition become serious. Then he
was brought from his Wyoming home to
the home OF his daughter aud was. almost
constantly attended by his son aud DE-,
Walos.
MI. Jakes was born at Dinab's Corner,
Kent County. November 20, 1881. The
Jakes family are OF French Hugenots ex-
traction; the name was originally jacques
and thoy arc decondents from Henry
Jacques who was the immigrant. The
mother Of John G. was Nancy, daughter
Of William Anderson, a farmer of Kent
County At the time Of her marriage to
Mr.. Jakes she was the widow Of Robert
Hargadine. who loft two children, Will
liam A.. st, Louis merchant. and Julia,
the wife of Robert B. Wright of Kent
County. Mrs. Jakos was devoted christ
ian and died July II, 1868, at the age Of
sixty nine years.
John 7. Jakes attended the school of
his neighborhood until seventeen years OF
age when he accepted position rs clerk in
the store OF Mcssrs Luff and Green. at
Camden, which position he held until 1919
whom no formed partnership with Mr.,
Prouse and engaged In merchandising
under the firm namo Of Prouse and Jakss.
This business was carried on for two yeasa
whom Mr.. Jakes disposed Of his interests
Ho was first agent Of the Delaware Rail
road Company having boon placed In
charge Of tn, station at West Camden,
now known as Wyoming, in 1881, after
eleven years OF service he resigned. In
1852 he again embarked in the mercantile
pursuits Mt Wyoming which he success
fully conducted for years. In 1885 he.
organized az! started the post office and
was d pointed postmaster tho Same year.
He acted in this capacity for over sixteen
years. .,a. -. TX ~ ID
Mr.. lakes was noted Good Templar
and Odd Fellow. He served us = repre-
sentative from Delaware to the Grand
Lodge of Good Templars at the session
held in St. Louis in 1856 He became an
Odd Follow in 1854 occupied all the chairs
except that of Grand Muster, lnd in 1880
and 1882 was elected Grand Representa-.
tive to tho sovereign Grand Lodge OF the
United States.
He became member of the Methodist
Church In 1857 and served his church In
an official capacity for many years. He
was made life director of the American
Bible Society in 1873. and became treas-
urer OF the Kont County Bible Society in
1872 IIe wa, appointed agent of the
Adams Express Company in 1857 which
position no filled for many years, Mr.
Jakes was one of the few men who voted
for Abraham Lincoln for the presidency
in 1860.
Throo generations OF tie family voted
for President Hayes his father, himself,
and son. He married Miss Mary B.,
daughter of Bejanmin b. Townsend OF
Camden February IA 1853. Five children
have been born to them four Of are still
living, WilliaIa II. Charles Russell, Thos.
W. and Mrs. Maggie T. Redmilo.
His body will be sent to Wyoming this
afternoon. Intormcnt will probably bs
made on Sunday.