WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

February 22, 1907

 

CHARLES M. JONES

 

An Old Veteran of the 8^th Wis. Inf. “Eagle Regiment” Answers to the Last Call.

 

            Chas. M. Jones a veteran of the Civil War, who has, with the exception of over four years in the service of his country in the South, been a resident of this city and vicinity for over a half century, answered to the last summons, death, and passed to his reward, aged nearly seventy two years, on Tuesday morning, Feb. 19, 1907.

            Chas. M. Jones was born in Western New York, and came with his parents to Wisconsin in ’49 or ’50, settling in Wild Rose; his father being the late J. H. Jones who died eighteen years ago and the mother many years previous.  The father built the first store in Wild Rose and was the first postmaster.  He sold out and moved to Rural in ’53, or ’54 and built a house near where the Crystal River flows into Junction Lake.  He was a natural merchant, a physician or up in law, and having a practical education embraced journalism for a short time.  It came about this way:  He was anxious to see Rural become a leading city of the state.  In fact at one time it was one of the best villages on the great wagon freight road leading from the Wolf River at Gill’s Landing to the North country.  About a year and a half after the SPIRIT was established (’53) in this city; sometime in 1855 the Redfield Bros. Believing that there might possibly be a better field for them in Missouri leased their print shop and paper to J. H. Jones, Sr. who moved it to Rural, supply the news for a time for his wide awake village and its Waupaca Falls suburb; Chas. Jones acting as assistant at the case an roller when not working in the Rural sash and door shop.  But the Redfield boys not liking that “border ruffian state” returned in 1956 and moved the office back to Waupaca taking hold with more renewed energy than eyes making the paper an organ supporting the new party just born, the Republican party, advocating for president and vice-president Fremont and Dayton, afterwards in 1860 Lincoln and Hamlin.  And we notice that Mr. Jones Sr. for a time reserved a column devoted to his village, headed:  “The Rural Repository”.

THE WAR – JONES’ BOYS ALL ENLIST.

            The war came in ’61 the subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. A, 8^th Wis. Inf’y, known as the Eagle Regiment, on account of a live eagle that became its mascot.  He was in this regiment one year and was then transferred to the 8^th Wis. Battery, L.A. serving to the end of the war.  Four other brothers, Julius, Royal, Marcus and Seeley were in the service, all returned except Marcus who died in the Andersonville prison.

            Chas. Jones, was twice married, first, in 1855 or ’56; his wife being a Miss Durkee, by whom three children were born two of whom are living, Bert, who lives in Washington state, and Mrs. Chas. Meisner who lives at Pasadena, Cal.  In ’65 or a little later he married Miss Sarah Riley who with two sons, Frank W. of this city, Walter of Eland Junction, and Eva Mrs. T. F. Grimmer, of St. Paul, survive.

            Deceased was for many years a wagon maker at Rural and Parfreyville also kept a store in Parfreyville for a while.  About ten years ago he moved to this city and built a store building and residence near the depot, keeping a stock of groceries and notions, but failing health caused him to trade his store and building with Mr. A. Looker for the latter’s residence property in the 3d ward.  While still in poor health, he kept about until six months ago he had to take to his bed, where he has been a great suffer, requiring much care on the part of his wife and son Frank.

            Deceased was a member of the Rural Presbyterian church, joining many years ago, also was formerly a member of the G.A.R. post in this city, the Flag being placed at half mast by his old comrades in honor of his valiant service for his country.  While not affiliating with any church denomination of late he was a consistent Christian, a kid husband and father, an upright citizen.  He leaves to mourn beside his family, as above mentioned, two sisters, Ellen J. the wife of Dr. Ashmun, in Rural; Cornelia, Mrs. James McCrossen, who now lives in Pasadena, Cal.; and three brothers, Royal and Julius Jones of Wausau; and LaFayette of Los Angeles.

            Funeral Thursday afternoon from the residence at one o’clock, Rev. Webster Miller officiating; the interment was in Rural cemetery.