Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-12-27
]. JOBES DEAD
Over Forty-two Years a Resident Of
Audubon County. Born In 1920
and Died at SO Years Of Age

James S. JobeS was born in Onondagua
county, New York, July %, 1920. He
died at the home of his son, George A..
Jobes, at Cumberland, Cass county, De-
cember 18th, 1906, aged Sc years, mo-
and II days. In 1889, Mr.. Jobes moved
from his native state to Illinois.
On August 10, 1912, he was married to
Miss Mary e. Hill. In 1864, he and his
family came to Iowa. His home was in
the extreme northeast corner of Audu-
bon township and he was q resident of
our county over forty-two years, having
resided on the old homestead till the
death of his wife, April 10, 1905. Since
that time he made his home with his
daughter, Mrs. Henry Gest, just across
the line from the old home in Guthrie
county, and his son, George.
1t was the request of Mr. Jobes that
the funeral services should be held at
the Bear Grove church and conducted
by Rev. Colwell, the M. e. minister of
that was mortal of this old pioneer was
laid to rest in the Bear Grove cemetery
by the side of his life long companion
To Mr.. and Mrs. Jobes were born six
children, all of whom were at the funer-
al; Mrs. Henry Fish, Bolivar, Missouri;
Mrs. DR.. Archer, Adair; Mrs. Henry
Geist; Newell of Des Moines; George of
Cumberland; and Walter Of Bridgewater
In early manhood, Mr.. Jobes united
with the Baptist church and remained a
member till his death. When he came
to Iowa, this part of the country was al
most wild waste of grove and prairie,
the settlers We're few and far between.
The nearest settlement on the west was
Extra and vicinity, on the north, Old
Carrollton, Carroll county. was the
nearest settlement. The closest
neighbors on the south and east
were on Middle River, near the present
site of Casey. To the north and east a
few hardy pioneers like himself were
making homes.
The life of the deceased was long
and eventful one Since his birth there
having been undreamed of developments
in the arts and sciences. At that time
no one thought it possible for this coun-
try to reach its present development.
Land and the best of it could then be
had at $3.50. The slow stage coach
crept slowly across the state, taking
days or weeks to make the trip which is
now accomplished in few hours. At
that time there were stage stations and
barns at the old Irwin farm near Bear
Grove and at Dalmanutha north of the
present town of Casey. There being no
buildings. fences nor groves to break the
force of old Boreas. The winters were
extremely severe God tempers the
wind to the shorn lamb" may be beau
ti1ul hot air sentiment. But woe to the
luckless traveller who attempted to brave
one of those old time billiards.. We
have heard Mr.. Jobes relate many Incl
dents of those strenuous times when
often the stage driver with his coach
full of half-frozen passengers would pull
up at the Jobes home and stay there
until the blizzard had spent its fury.
They were very sociable and open heart
ed people and many tired and foot-sore
traveller found rest and a hearty welcome
at their home.
For more than thirty wears, Mr.. Jobes
kept the post Office in his house. But
on the advent of the rural route. the
office was discontinued. Jobes post
Office now exists, only as fond memory.
A loyal citizen, a good neighbor, a
loving husband and kind father has
heard and obeyed the summons "Well
done" and has gone to his reward.
Peace to his soul.