The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-09-05
Had Been nj For Number Of Months;
Suffered Stroke Of Paralysis;
Excellent Citizen
From Thursdays Daily.

On Tuesday afternoon of this
week one OF the best known resi-
dents of the town of Lyra passed
away after an illness of several
months duration. Although in feeble
health for several years, it was not
until February g. 1913, that he gave
up sufficiently to remain in bed,
and a few days later suffered
stroke of paralysis which rendered
him perfectly helpless. From the
very start he had the best medical
attention and every care that skill
and loving devotion could lavish up
on him. For a time he seemed to
improve and was able to spend
much of the summer months in his
wheel chair. On August 81 he sus-
tanned another stroke after which
! he continued to decline despite all
that was done for him.
! Native of Wales,
| John o. Jones was born January
! 6, 1927, near Bala, North Wales. He
was one of a family of eight chill
dren, all of whom passed away
, some years ago. Mr.. Jones came
| to America in 1851 and located at
| Utica, N. Y.
/ On August IS, 1854, he was united
| in marriage to Mrs. Mary Williams.
! On account of failing health he was
obliged to give up his position in
/ the car shops at Utica and decided
to try change of climate. He came
to Mankato, Mimi, on March 10,
1865, where he soon became identi-
i fed with the growth of this city,
which at that time was only vii
lage of perhaps less than 1000 in
habitants He was employed in the
construction of the Union school,
the normal school, the old Presbyter-
ian church, Congregational church
and various business blocks on Front
street.
| Witnessed a Hanging.
Living at the corner of Main and
Fifth streets he witnessed the hang
ing of John Campbell who murdered
the Jewett family near Good Thun-
der in May, 1866.
In August 1867, he bought the
farm in Lyra which he had occupied
continuously since May 2, 1872, and
the wilderness and prairie was grad
ually converted into one of the best
farms in Blue Earth county. He
began life unaided, but by hard Ia
Dor and constant application of the
old proverb, "By the sweat of thy
brow thou shalt eat bread" he ac-
cumulated enough of this worlds
goods to afford him peace and plen-
ty in his old age and surrounded by
his wife and children he enjoyed
privilege scarcely ever enjoyed by
elderly people-an unbroken family
circle.
Mr.. Jones was a faithful member
of the Welsh Congregational church
in, Utica, N Y, and afterward was,
for many years, member and reg
ular attendant of the Old .CoHgrega-
tional church in Sterling, until 1t
was disbanded few years ago.
Truly good man has passed
away and to his family the loss is
irreparable. He leaves wife and
four children, namely Gertrude NJ,
Frank D., Minnie L., and Herbert,
all of whom are at home, and one
step-son, John o. Williams of Ia
coma, Wash.
Eagle Lake, August ga number
of Eagle Lakers autoed to LeSueur
this week and were taken on
tour of inspection through the vege-
table canning factory at that place.
The trip was taken with view to
starting canning factory in Eagle
Lake, if the plan meets with ap-
prevail. The party was warmly well
coined and very pleasantly enter
tanned. The visitors we're shown all
through the establishment, and all
the information asked for, was read
lily and cheerfrlly given. It was
something of a surprise to the WIS.,
itors that plant of this kind, doing
. so large business as 1t is, was To-
Gated near Eagle Lake, and so little
known of it. The factory will can
! about 100000 cases of Minnesota's
8 finest corn and peas this year Those
q who made the trip were very favor
) ably impressed with the proposition,
] and are considering the erection of
8 a plant here.
The cemetery association is lay
ing tile from the cemetery along the
s roadside, and the covering of the
ditch is black lcam. AS the tile is a
q great benefit to the cemetery, the
lot owners have assured the associ.
4 alton that gravel will be furnished
free to cover the ditch and make
the roadside a convenient place to
hitch teams during funeral services.
Home For the Dead.
The superintendent of the Eagle
4 Lake cemetery has just completed
a very beautiful individual vault or
sepulchre for laying away the re-
mains of those who have passed in
to the Great Beyond. 1t is con.
! structed of waterproof Portland
cement, glazed with, layer of liquid
glass. 1t is five and one-half feet
B deep, and rises about foot above
the level of the earth. The outside
is exquisitely nodded with a border
I of rosettes around the top. There