Monongahela Valley Republic
Thursday, November 30, 1905
Death Seems Near

W. I. Jones is Sinking and Hope for his Recovery is Almost Abandoned.

Serious change is noted in the condition of W. I. Jones, who was operated upon one week ago last Sunday for appendicitis. He seemed about the same this morning as yesterday, but passed a bad night. A grave anxiety is felt among his numerous friends throughout the city and many inquiries are made concerning his condition but there is reason to believe that he will soon be convalescent.

The report was circulated at noon today that Mr. Jones was dead but it is untrue. While his condition is considered very serious there is still hope. His brother, David Jones, is here from Pittsburgh today.

Later - at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, D. G. Jones stated to a Daily reporter that his brother's condition is very alarming and he is not expected to live more than thirty-six hours. The physicians have almost given up hope.

The passing of W. I. Jones {age 35} from life's transitory stage is a sad blow to Monongahela. He can ill be spared from the community where his influence was always thrown for the right and his enterprise and public spiritedness coupled with an unusual degree of hard common sense made him of inestimable value to the city's welfare. He was ambitious, yet far above mere personal aggrandizement and ever thoughtful of the interest of his fellow man. That he should be taken away just at the time when he was at the zenith of his career and when he was needed most by his family and city is one of those acts of Providence which are beyond human men in accordance with the divine will.

William I. Jones will be sorely missed and long remembered by Monongahela. No one can fill his place because few men are endowed with such generous impulses and such far-seeing ability as he was. Applied to him the poet's words seem peculiarly fitting: "He was a man. Take him all in all. We shall not look upon his like again."

"His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, This was a man."

The Elks met last night and arranged to take charge of the funeral. Mr. Jones' four brothers and two brothers-in-law will be active pall-bearers and six honorary pall-bearers will be selected from the lodge. The lodge will also purchase a floral emblem.

The Y.M.C.A. will attend the funeral in a body and the board of directors will lead the procession. Every member of the association is urged to be at the room tomorrow afternoon at 1:30. There will be no men's meeting at four o'clock but the Sunday following a memorial service will be held in the rooms and the paper will be read which Mr. Jones had prepared to give at the men's meeting which he was to have lead just before he became ill. This paper was of most interesting character and reflected the Christian spirit which dominated his life.

Owing to Mr. Jones' death and the absence of Mr. Norman, the regular meeting of the school board will not be held next Tuesday evening.

Hundreds of Sorrowing Friends Brave the Chilly
Weather to do Homage to all That is Mortal
of William Ivill Jones.

The vast concourse of people who turned out Sunday afternoon to attend the funeral of W. I. Jones at St. Paul's Episcopal church was a touching and fitting tribute to the man and speaks volumes for the esteem in which he was held. All classes of people from every walk of life honored and respected him and it was therefore not surprising that the church was unable to furnish even standing room for those who gathered to do homage to the man, whose friends were legion, and to take one parting look at those once comely features now cold in death.

Shortly after two o'clock the cortege left the late home on East Main street. Mr. Jones' two brothers-in-law, William Holsing, of Canonsburg, and James Ternent, of this city, and his four brothers acted as pall-bearers at house and at the cemetery. At the church the Elks had charge of the services and R. E. Byers, Prof. C. B. Wolford, F. B. Wickerham, James P. Moore, F. R. Colvin and Fred Cooper were the pall-bearers. The beautiful Episcopal ritual was used, however, and Rev. J. P. Norman read a passage from the fifteenth chapter of Chronicles, commencing with the 20th verse. (This is probably meant to be I Corinthians, Chapter 15, verse 20 (BLFI).)

The church was entirely filled, with the exception of a few seats in front reserved for the family and immediate friends, when a dirge, sadly beautiful, was played on the pipe organ by Prof. Grundhoffer and the surpliced choir-boys marched down the center aisle, followed by the members of the choir and the pall-bearers, who slowly bore the rich casket in which silently reposed all that was mortal of William Ivill Jones. Then came the heartbroken widow, the three little children, the grey-haired father and the bereaved brothers and sisters. All hearts go out to Mrs. Jones and her children in the hour of their affliction. Nothing but the all-soothing hand of time can allay the grief which has come to them.

Banked near the coffin at the right of the altar was a veritable bower of beauty. Large clusters of American Beauty roses and sweet scented carnations in all their fragrances and loveliness were touching reminders of the sweet disposition of the honored dead and the beautiful character which he possessed. At the close of the service at the church the friends were allowed to pass down the aisle and look for the last time upon their departed friend, whose eyes now lustreless once sparkled with life.

Then the cortege passed on to Monongahela cemetery where the last sad rites were performed. In spite of the chilliness of the atmosphere and the dampness of the ground many encircled the grave and saw the body lowered to its final resting place. Men bared their heads and women wept. The day reminded one of the opening lines of Whittier's immortal poem:

"The sun that brief December day, Rose cheerless over hills of gray."

Besides the Elks, the Junior Mechanics and the Y. M. C. A. a large representation from the M. & M. association of Pittsburgh, which paid Monongahela a visit last summer, and the Lake Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal company each attended in a body. The special train from Pittsburgh made a record run coming up in 40 minutes and returning in 39. It brought 89 (?) passengers up and took over 200 back, some having come up the day before. Among the members of the L. E. and O. R. Ship Canal company were John E. Shaw, president, Burd S. Patterson, secretary, W. T. Todd, treasurer, George M. Lehman, chief engineer and Engineer Emil Swensen. Among the representatives of the M. & M. association, were J. W. Wardrop, secretary and treasurer, Harry Landis, J. L. Flind (?), Stephen Stone and F. R. Babcock, John Vi(t)chestain, a police magistrate of Pittsburgh, was also present.

Among the many beautiful floral emblems were: A medallion from the principal and teachers of the public schools, a large wreath or easel from the First National Bank, an emblem from the Y. M. C. A., a cluster of roses from the First National Bank of Wilson, a large velvet anchor from Dock No. Thirteen, a clock with the hour hand pointing at eleven from the Elks lodge, a basket of American Beauties from the M. & M. association, a vase of Beauties from the L. E. & O. R. Ship Canal company, another similar vase from the Big Hill Coal company of Cincinnati, Gates Ajar from the Johnetta mines of White Rock, a large six-spoked wheel with one broken spoke and a large harp from the family, a shower of carnations from St. Paul's Sunday school (and here it might be noted that just before going to the hospital Mr. Jones was thoughtful enough to make arrangements for the Christmas treat which he always gave the Sunday school children), a wreath from the board of education, an emblem from the Jr. O. U. A. M., a large panel of white carnations from the Hazel mines of Canonsburg, a cluster of white roses from the Buffalo office of the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Coal company and a large bunch of American Beauty roses from the First National Bank of Finleyville.