The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-13
HE SUCCEEDED BY
The GOLDEN RULE
CAREER DESCRIBED BY
MINNEAPOLIS RELATIVES.
Tho He Won His Way to Wealth and
Influence BY His Own Efforts, He
Never Forgot the Rule, the OBJ
servance Gave Him Unique Fame.

Samuel Milton Jones, the Golden
Rule mayor of Toledo, Ohio, died
last night after an illness from
asthma followed by an abscess on the
lungs.
town, where the newsboys and the
common people of the city were ac-
customed to greet him daily as he
passed thru the streets. Nowhere,
however, is the sorrow more poignant
than in Minneapolis, where live sew
eral of his nearest relatives, a de-
voted elder sister, two nieces and a
nephew. . u.s.. .....n
Over year ago Mr.. Jones lectured
in Minneapolis at Plymouth church
and the Sunday of his visit he occu-
pied the pulpit of Rev. Henry Holmes,
church. He came really to see his
aged sister, Mrs. J. M. Owen, 2433
Girard avenues, who had suffered a
serious injury. His Minneapolis
nieces are Mrs. P. A. Sharp and Mrs.
G.. w: Porter, and the nephew is
Alfred Owen. An intimate friend is
Rev. j. S. Montgomery of Wesley
from Toledo.
AS the family has gradually broken
up the remaining members are bound
by close ties. Of the eight children,
Mrs. Owen, a brother and sister in
Toledo, and Mr.. Jones, alone remain.
Mrs. owen has a loving and pardon
able pride in her favorite brother,
who worked from the lowest round Of
the ladder to a position Of affuence
and profound respect, having retained
thru all an unquestioned rectitude.
She relates many interesting circum-
stances in his life.
When he came from the famous old
stone hut, ely Mawr," in Wales, he
was a poor and uneducated boy. He
attended the country schools, but at
the same time betrayed strong
leaning toward machinery. To get
near steamboats, he left his work in
the. fields in New York and took a po-
sition on a Black river steamer. This
taste remained with him and he was
at the time Of his death head of a
company which makes gas engines
and oil we'll supplies. Knowledge Of
the oil business he gained at Titus
vile, Pa.
Worked for Employees.
His deep regard for the welfare Of
the workingman made him countless
friends in that class and many enc
mics among the weather. people. He
has worked toward one end, the ele-
walton of laboring men. When re-
monstrated with because no percep-
| tible change was noted from some of
his efforts and there seemed to be
lack of appreciation of his motives
and methods, he would say to mem
bers Of his family to wait and it
would come out all right. He be-
lieved they would come up to his
| measure.
Golden Rule" Jones preferred to
live among his men, but as a conces-
resided in a fine house. Once he
said: I'D rather live amongst the
working class than live in that pile of
bricks up where the 400 live" On a
stone at the door is inscribed: "A
wide door to lodge friend" On
teristic inscription In Welsh: "A
truth against the world" ." ...
The Golden Rule phase seems to
have been a later development Of his
life. His methods for the betterment
of his employees are well known. His
by an expensive chef, are famous
and his experiences as mayor Of To-
ledo in helping the needy and the
troubled, have been told in newspa-
per and magazine story.
Loved the Outdoors.
Mr.. Jones' socialistic tendencies are
we'll known. He was considered &C.
centric in some of his fads such as
that for physical culture. When ir
| Minneapolis he took a long walk be-
fore breakfast, which was nearly the
ruination of his nephew, who at.
tempted to keep pace with this re-
markable young old man.
On this same visit, too, he was dis.
cussing his gymnastic work with 6
little group of gentlemen at the Com.
mercial club, and to illustrate point
he removed the trinkets from his
pockets and stood upon this hands
with his feet against the wall. HI
was the oldest man present, but wa!
feat.
The family says that in recent year!
he modified to some extent his no
breakfast theory. This was formerl,
a half cup Of coffee. He was an ad
vocate and practitioner Of the Cos
pei Of out of-doors, and in his las
illness occupied a chamber which
was nothing more than a porch tot
with a protecting roof
Mrs. Owen remarked that in al
his campaigns her brother, a tenn
perate man, himself had not paid TO
a single glass Of beer. He carried
his principles into everyday life. (
Presbyterian, he paid for a pew il
church, but had held somewhat aloo
! by his dislike Of outward religion
He had contempt for the rich peopl
, who rode to church in carriages, thu
, keeping their servants from church
allowing them to sit outside, like S
! many Monkeys He was an intense
ly religious and devout man and pro
vided preaching for his employees.
director was employed to take charg
| of the music and lead the singing
In emergencies he himself led. H
t had the Scriptures at his finger end
and laid close hold on the golde
rule, the application of which t
everyday and business life has mad
him famous.
Wrote Books and Songs.
Se!f-development was not neglect
ed in Mr.. Jones' attempt to develo
others. Altho without higher educa
i ton, he mastered four languages
, French, German, Welsh and English
r He was a fine violinist and compose
Il many hymns, such as divide tn
. Day." set to music by his wife. H
! was thoroly acquainted with poetry
especially with Walt Whitman's, an
fine interpreter and reader Of poetry
+ Mayor J. G. Haynes can verify thi:
One night Mr.. Jones kept him unit
6 nearly dawn reading Walt Whitma
to him so beautifully that neithe
r mayor realized that sunup was abou
due.
To his attachments are added tina
= of authorship. The two famous book
are Letters of Love and Labor an
Il THE New Right"
The last illness. came from a col
4 taken in st. Louis about June !.