MOSES J. JONES. POULTNEY, RUTLAND COUNTY, VERMONT.
After an illness of several months, following a stroke of paralysis, Moses J. Jones died at his home between this and the east village on Friday afternoon. The stroke which afflicted him in January left him with a weakened throat, and for weeks he had subsisted on liquids and in very small quantities at that, consequently he suffered greatly in his last days. The end, however, came peacefully, and he merely slept away, dissolution taking place without a struggle. His wife had ministered to him but a few minutes before, and left the room to see if he was comfortable, she found that his spirit had ascended into that great beyond from which no traveler returns.Moses J. Jones was born in Wales on the 12th day of March, 1842, and was the grandson of John Jones, who was a prosperous agriculturist of Anglesey, North Wales, and an active churchman of the Calvanistic Methodist Church. The father of the deceased was also John Jones, who was likewise born in Anglesey, where he was reared and received his education, but who, upon attaining young manhood, removed to Caernarvonshire, where he resided until his death, identifying himself with the industrial and commercial affairs of the community, and like his father, was prominently and actively associated with church matters.
Moses J. was the eldest of three children born to John and Ellen William Jones. He came to this country, settling in Salem, New York, where he remained for six years. There he was engaged in slate quarrying, and at once showed capabilities in this industry which warranted him the best of positions. In 1872 he settled in this town, and had ever since been a permanent resident here.
He located in South Poultney and began his business career with the firm of Griffith and Nathaniel. After serving them for several years he took the position of superintendent of the Auld and Conger quarries, which he held for seventeen years. He then became associated with J. L. Cresswell, operating in firm name of Cresswell and Jones. He continued his connections thus until 1900, when he accepted the position of superintendant of the Mathews Consolidated Slate company's quarries, continuing in this position for a number of years. Mr. Jones was engaged in quarrying up to the time when illness befell him, and his success as a quarryman is well known throughout the slate belt.
Mr. Jones married Jane Kneene on the Isle of Man in 1863, and to them were born six children. One died in infancy, John died in 1888, William, who lives here, Emily, wife of Postmaster Ross, Edward M., inspector for the Borden Condensed Milk Company, and Moses M., of South Poultney. Mrs. Jones died in 1891, and on November 2nd, 1894, Mr. Jones married his second wife Nettie L. Dowling, who also survives him.
In his political convictions Mr. Jones was a firm advocate of the principles of the republican party. He served as chairman of the republican town committee for a number of years, and had represented his party at various times as delegate in convention. He served as selectman of the town for thirteen years, nearly every year of which he was chairman of the board. Mr. Jones was fully determined in anything he undertook, and his strong convictions served to present one who was not easily influenced by the opinions of others.
Like most men of radical persuasions, he accepted defeat only only after aggresively contending for that which he considered right, and then he accepted with good feeling. In politics he was a leader for many years, and a majority followed the course he presented. His interest in political matters never waned, howevee, even after defeat, which every good fighter must suffer sooner or later, and he graciously bowed tothe will of the majority.
Mr. Jones was a prominent member of various welsh societies, having been president of the "Cymreigyddion," grand treasurer of the grand lodge of American True Ivorites, and was treasurer of the big eisteddfod held in Poultney in 1902. He had been for years a valued contributor to Welsh papers and periodicals, and his articles in the "Drych" had always proven of interest to his fellowmen. He had been for years prominently affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 37, F and A. M. Poultney Chapter No. 10. R. A. M., Morning Star Council No. 10 R and S. M., Killington Commandery No. 6, K. T., of Rutland, amd Mt. Sinai Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Montpelier. He was also a prominent Odd fellow, having passed through all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, was treasurer of the grand lodge, and was a member of Mystic Encampment. Mr. Jones was one of the charter members of Llywarch Hen Lodge of True Ivorites, organised in Middle Granville in 1875. Nine members of this order have died within the past year, and the only two surviving charter members are Rhys Owen of Granville and Owen J. Williams of Middle Granville.
The funeral was largely attended from the Welsh church on Monday afternoon. Prayers were said at the house at 1.30 by the Rev. Nelson Kellogg, rector of Trinity Church, and at 2 o'clock the Church was well filled when the remains were taken into the Church, the bearers being two sons, William and Edward, his son-in-law, Paul G. Ross, and three nephews, John O., Robert O. and Thomas O. Jones. The Rev. John W. Morris, pastor of the Church officiated. Music was furnished by the choir under the direction of W. W. Edwards, and Mr. Robert Morris of new York city sang beautifully "It is Well With My Soul," by P. P. Bliss.
After the services at the Church the remains were escorted to the Cemetery in charge of Morning Star Lodge, and the ritual of the service was given at the grave by Past Master William L. Farnham. The bearers at the garve were Benjamin R. Jones, J. L. Clark, W. H. Rowland, William Walters, William H. Lloyd and D. C. Sherman. Many floral tributes were in evidence, the pulpit being decorated with cut flowers and potted plants.