The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-08-21

Will JOuu w. jules VI Lie luduS
News of Blackfoot as president, E
r. Richards of HALEY, secretary an6
Mr.. Alonzo of Lewiston, historian
He told what had become of these
men as far as he knew, and in clos.
ing asked others to add something
formation. l knew Col. Jones very
| well and felt that here was an op.
! portunity for me to say something
| for him and his work and for my
! town, so l got the floor and talked to
| this effect: "Col. Jones founded a
paper at Blackfoot in 1886 and has
left the imprint of his personality
on the community. He came to us
when Blackfoot was on a windswept
| plain, in the days when home max
| ing was not much thought of, in the
days when people came and went
with little thought of making Idaho
| their permanent abode. They had
it in mind to make some money and
go back or go somewhere. Their
buildings were of temporary kind
and implanted as rule. Only the
Drawer spirits took stock in irriga
ton bitches and tried to grow any
thing on their lots. Col. Jones had
these people would live and die
there. Not all of them made for
tunes and went elsewhere to spend
it, and if they did they were apt to
return to stay. He advised making
permanent homes, and every spring
he put on drive through his paper
to get people to clean up and paint
up; to plant a tree or two or a row
of trees. People responded so well
that in few years Blackfoot took
on the name of THE Grove City"
and has ever since borne that name.
Once they became interested they
went on with other shrubs and flow
ers and for more than third of
century the thoughts he set in mo-
ton have been taking form in the
union of art and nature. 1t has
stamped its imprint upon the char
acter of the people and has had to
do with education and entertain
ments and in many ways distinguish
ed the community as a city of homes
81 want to say more of the ca
reer Of this son of the Old Dominion.
He made no secret of the fact that |
when he was strip of a boy he
enlisted in the Confederate army and |
when he surrendered with Lee at APP
pomatox, he had little left but a
uniform and his appetite. |
During his residence at Blackfoot he
often said he hoped that the United
States would never again engage in
war, but that if it had to be, he
ne could enlist and fight as hard un
Ter the Stars and Stripes as he had
lone under the Stars and Bars. If
ne could so serve that he might be
advanced to the same rank as he at
.ained before when opposing our
flag, he would have achieved his
hearts desire.
when the Spanish American war
began Col. Jones enlisted and was
given command of the Idaho regi-
nent and sent to the Philippines.
IN that hot climate he lost his health
and was sent home where he lin
yered long enough to meet and greet
he old friends before passing to his
'eward. In one Of the shady spots
n the Grove City cemetery the grass
crows green over his grave, and he is
leld in loving remembrance by
grateful people.
81 am much impressed with the re-
and opportunities of
he press. I believe they are al
Ways present whether we see them
II not. In all periods and under all
there Is something
vorth while to be done If we only
ave the vision and the energy to
ay hold of the task. In this case
,ol. Jones visualized the future, and
through the power of the press he
lade his dreams come true. He
TODD for better homes and better