OBIT: George F. JONES, 1879, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Injured Himself While Lifting.

  Mr. George F. Jones, Superintendent of the First Lutheran Sunday 
school, is lying at the point of death.  He is employed in the machine 
shops and recently while pulling a heavy iron bar strained himself 
severely.  Some internal organ was injured, and since that time he has 
been gradually growing worse.  We very much hope that he may recover, 
as his place would be hard to fill in the community.
  LATER. - Mr. Jones died last night about ten o'clock, aged 33 years.  
He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss.  The funeral will 
take place on Wednesday, to meet at the house at 2 o'clock, and at the 
First Lutheran Church at 2:30 o'clock and proceed to Fairview Cemetery.  
Friends and relatives are invited to attend without further notice.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, December 16, 1879

The Late George F. Jones.

  Nothing but words of praise can be said of the character of the late 
George F. Jones.  He was all that the community could expect.  A good, 
honest, upright and fearless man, always ready to do his duty.  In his 
family he was a kind and indulgent father and husband.  He was a member 
of the First Lutheran Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday school.  
His pastor speaks of him with great affection.  He says Mr. Jones 
seemed to have a premonition of his approaching dissolution, having on 
one or two occasions spoken of it before he was taken sick.  He was all 
the more eager in his church duties.  Toward the last he was a great 
sufferer but bore it all patiently.
  Owing to his decease the Christmas services in the First Lutheran 
Church will be very brief.  The children will be called together, sing 
a few hymns and then dismiss.
  A number of physicians yesterday held a post-mortem on the body.  
They found that he died of peritonitis, or inflammation of the bowels.  
At first it was local, confined to the right side, almost making his 
case hopeful, but the rapid extension of the inflammation caused his 
death.  His case was remarkable, in that he lived so long after he 
received his injury, when the inflammation had extended to gangrene 
before his death.  The inflammation or disease, it is believed, was 
brought on by a sprain while at work in the company's shops.
  As already announced the funeral services will take place at the 
First Lutheran Church at half past 2 o'clock this (Wednesday) after-
noon.
  The members of the Sabbath school connected with this church are 
requested to meet in the Sabbath school room at 2 o'clock.

Morning Tribune, Wednesday, December 17, 1879

OBSEQUIES OF GEORGE F. JONES.

  Yesterday afternoon all that was mortal of George F. Jones was 
followed to the grave by hundreds of friends who had felt his tender 
care or received a kind word from him when in trouble.  It was a 
touching scene to see the flocks of children gathered round his bier to 
take a last sad look at the loved face they shall see no more forever 
until the last trump is sounded.  Brief funeral services were held at 
the house, but at the First Lutheran Church was where the hundreds of 
friends came to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of the 
deceased.  The Mountain City Odd Fellows' Lodge, 100 in number, met at 
their lodge room, dressed in dark suits and white gloves and each with 
a badge on his coat.  At the appointed time they proceeded to the 
church, where services were held by the pastor, Dr. Baker.  The body 
was laid in a neat casket in front of the altar, and near it reposed 
two beautiful floral designs, a cross and a wreath - fit emblems of the 
work from which Mr. Jones has gone to meet his reward from his Maker.  
At the conclusion of the church services the Odd Fellows' lodge filed 
out followed by the Railroad Men's Christian Association and the Sunday 
school pupils, all on foot.  Then came hearse, and friends in 
carriages, taking up their solemn march to Fairview cemetery.  At the 
grave the Lutheran Church service was finished and then followed that 
of the Odd Fellows, concluding with a prayer, a hymn and the casting of 
a piece of evergreen into the grave by each member as he filed past, 
fit emblem of the freshness with which his memory will ever be kept 
green by his comrades.  Thus concluded the last act of friendship 
possible to a man whose influence will be long felt in the community of 
which he was so lately an active member.

Morning Tribune, Thursday, December 18, 1879