Jedd Jones Sr., Pioneer, Builder, Called by Death
Was a Leader in the Development of Malad City and This Valley
Jedd Jones Sr., 83, who has taken a most prominent part in the development of Malad valley for half a century, died at the family residence early Thursday morning after an Illness of about 24 hours. Mr. Jones has enjoyed remarkable health for a man of his age, and was around town Tuesday afternoon and evening. He suffered a stroke early Wednesday morning and passed away the following morning without regaining consciousness.
Mr. Jones was born at Brigham City, Utah, Sept 17, 1855. He came to Malad in 1865 with his brothers William and Ben, and his sister Mary Ellen, and has been a resident of Malad valley since that time.
March 20, 1883, he was united in marriage at Malad to Miss Sarah Daniels, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Daniels, one of the prominent pioneer families of the valley. Their early married life was spent on a farm, and the foundation of a most successful career was laid by tilling the soil.
When the First National Bank was organized in 1907, Mr. Jones became president of that institution and has held that position continuously since. He is also interested in many other business enterprises of the town and county.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, two sons, Jedd Jr., and Lawrence and one daughter, Mrs. Lyle Tapper.
Funeral services will be held at the Malad Stake tabernacle Sunday at 1 p.m.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE FOR JEDD JONES SR. SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Many pay Tribute to One of Malad’s Outstanding Leaders
The Malad stake tabernacle was filled to capacity Sunday afternoon by persons who gathered to pay tribute to the memory of Jedd Jones Sr., who died Thursday morning.
Bishop Thomas D. Evans of the Malad Third Ward presided. The speakers were R.N. Hill and Clyde Hanson, and a biographical sketch of the life of Mr. Jones was given by Mrs. Hannah Deschamps. The invocation was offered by J.M. Isaacson, the benediction by J.H. Dredge, and the musical numbers consisted of solos by Mrs. Margaret E. Jones and Mrs. Dorothy Jacoby, and a selection by a quartet consisted of Morgan Tovey, Lester Tovey, Edward Woozley and N. Melvin Yearsley. The grave was dedicated by H.I. Mills.
The acting pallbearers were: Oscar D. Jones, Ben T. Jones, Dan O. Daniels, George Daniels Jr., Thomas D. Price, Bert Eliason.
The honorary pall bearers were – R.T. Owens, John L. Thomas, D. W. Jones, Howard Peck, T.J. Evans, Jess N. Ward, W.H. Richards, Dave Deschamps, Ben L. Jones, D.L. Edwards, John J. Evans, John W. Anderson, D. M. Thomas, Barney P. Jones, D. P. Jones, Sr., C. Hutteballe, Walen Thomas, Joe W. Ward, Griff Davis, Sr., David J. Davis, J. J. James, David W. Tovey, Dave S. Thomas, Joe Moon, David R. Evans, James Chivers, Ben Wilkes.
The biographical sketch given by Mrs. Hannah Deschamps was as follows;
“In the year 1850 the parents of Jedd Jones, Benjamin and Rachel Jones, and my grandparents, Richard and Mary Jones, all of Llanbyther, Wales, became members of the L.D. S. Church and decided to immigrate to America. They sailed on the vessel, Dan Jones. The journey on the ocean lasted six weeks with seasickness and home sickness combined. It was anything but a pleasure trip.
“Upon arriving in New Orleans they took passage on a steamship on the Mississippi to Saint Louis. There they secured wagons and ox teams and made the long tiresome journey to Salt Lake City, arriving in Sept 1851. They remained there for three years then moved to Brigham City, where Jedd Jones was born, Sept 27, 1851.
“Ten years after they arrived in Utah, the Benjamin Jones family decided to try their fortune in California. They made their home in Sacramento valley, but about a year later misfortune overtook them for their father died, to be followed two months later by the death of their mother. Before her death she requested her oldest boy, William Hugh, to return with the children to her sister, Mary. It required a great deal of courage for that 17 year old boy to assume the roll of father and mother and with his two brothers and a three year-old sister face the hazardous journey back to Brigham City. Upon their arrival they were heartily welcomed by my grandparents.
“In the year 1865 this double family moved to Malad to find only five families were ahead of them. They built a house on Bannock street near that of Thomas Daniels.
“The boys of the family did considerable, freighting and farming until they were old enough to make homes of their own. Jedd Jones married Sarah Ann Daniels, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Daniels, and of that union five children were born. , two sons and three daughters, two of whom have passed on.”
A MOST WORTHY CAREER IS ENDED
In the death of Jedd Jones Sr., Oneida County loses a man who has wielded a remarkable influence in the affairs of this community. Few men have had as great a faith in the possibilities of Malad Valley as he, and none have contributed more to its growth and development. His integrity and his ability made him a natural leader and these, coupled with an unswerving faithfulness to every trust laid upon him, made advancement with accompanying honors come as a matter of course to him. His success came through a reputation for a upright character and through his own natural ability.
He saw with clear-sighted vision the possibilities of this valley and became one of the most important architects in shaping the destiny of this section of Idaho.
Mr. Jones was ever ready and willing to aid and assist young men starting in business or beginning life on a farm, and his advice and financial assistance has greatly aided many persons in this valley in making a success.
His death is a severe blow to his wife and children, but they have the comfort of knowing that he was spared until his great life work was fully completed, and that as long as consciousness was spared him he had only tender word and a great love for them., and that he goes to his last rest, after his magnificent life work with not one reproach following him.