OBIT: Rebecca (BURLEY) JONES, 1915, Tyrone, Blair County, PA

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MRS. REBECCA B. JONES
Her Life Spanned All the Period of Tyrone's History.

  A century ago the land whereon now stands the thriving town of Tyrone 
was an almost trackless forest knowing not the habitation of man.  That 
was at the time in world history outstanding by reason of the downfall 
of Napoleon at Waterloo, and when Andrew Jackson put an end, it is 
hoped for all time, to British aggression in America.  For the 
following thirty-five years, until the middle of the nineteenth 
century, this condition continued here, until the coming of the 
Pennsylvania railroad brought with it population and industrial 
activity.  Not until then, about 1850, did the settlement really begin, 
which was to grow into the village and later into the important town of 
Tyrone.
  In that first period before settlement there came to this section 
from Huntingdon Furnace a pioneer, Joshua Burley, who established a 
modest home in the midst of the forest, about 1827, at a point just 
without the present borough line of Tyrone, along the foothills at the 
present extremity of what is now Seventeenth street,  In his family was 
a daughter, then but three years old, Rebecca Harrison Burley, who was 
destined to pass her girlhood in that frontier home, then to see the 
start and growth of the village which later sprang up here, and finally 
to pass her declining years in the large and progressive community 
which we know at this time.  This child of that pioneer period grew to 
be Mrs. Rebecca Burley Jones, who at the advanced age of 91 years, 2 
months and 20 days, closed her eyes in the eternal sleep but Friday.  
She was the one living link binding those days of the wilderness with 
these days of teeming progress.  Her life had spanned all the long 
series of years from the time before history for Tyrone began, 
throughout the making of that history, until the present time.
  Mrs. Rebecca Burley Jones, who passed away in Tyrone on Friday 
morning, was the daughter of Joshua and Emily Hopkins Burley, and was 
born at Huntingdon Furnace, November 16, 1823.  Three years later, she 
came with her parents to this vicinity and her girlhood was spent here 
in the real experience of pioneer life.  At her parents' home on 
January 23, 1844, she was united in marriage with Jacob Waters Jones, 
and the young couple established their residence at Graysville in 
Huntingdon county, remaining there two years  when they removed to 
Birmingham and spent several years in and near that town.
  In 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their family came here, among the 
very first to become residents of the new village.  Indeed, Mr. Jones, 
who was a contractor and builder, had the erection of most of the first 
buildings of this town in charge, and for their own occupancy he built 
the third house to be erected upon the present site of Tyrone, a modest 
home which stood on the spot where is now located Dr. W. S. Musser's 
residence.  They remained here throughout the early period of the 
town's history and Mr. Jones was a member of the first borough council 
when the municipality was established in 1867.
  In 1867, they removed to Philipsburg where Mr. Jones carried on his 
business as a contractor and builder until advanced age obliged him to 
relinquish the exacting work, and in 1892, the aged couple returned to 
Tyrone to spent their declining years among their children who had 
become residents of this place.  Mr. Jones died here October 3, 1898.  
His good wife has lingered with her loved ones to reach an 
extraordinary age and to be a benediction to them, their children and 
their children's children.
  Weighted by age, Mrs. Jones had been in failing health for the past 
four years, and during the past three years she had been obliged to 
spend nearly all the time in her bed.  She had not been able to be 
downstairs in over a year.  Still she had no organic ailment and had 
never known a rheumatic pang in her long life, but her death came as a 
natural wearing out of a naturally rugged constitution.  Mrs. Jones 
passed away at 10.10 o'clock Friday morning at the home of her son-in-
law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Riddles, 1228 Logan avenue.  She 
had been making her home with Mrs. Riddles for several years past.
  Of the eight children who had the blessing of her motherhood, four 
survive her, Mrs. George C. Davison, Mrs. Walter Riddles, Mrs. A. 
Wesley Beyer and Louis C. Jones, all of Tyrone.  She was the last of 
the pioneer family of that early settler, Joshua Burley.  Her only 
sister, Mrs. Mary Waite died some years ago.  Her brothers, all of whom 
were actively identified with the growth of Tyrone, John, Jacob, Caleb, 
George and Jerry, all preceded her to the grave.  She was one of the 
first members of the First Methodist church of Tyrone, having been 
present at the very first prayer meeting held in this place, in the 
home of William Burley, when the church was organized.  Although she 
lived away from Tyrone for a number of years she never transferred her 
membership and practically continued her allegiance to the church with 
shoes founding she was identified.  She was an ardent Christian woman 
whose life was in keeping with her Master's teaching.  She was 
particularly devoted to her home, and it was there that her loving, 
motherly kindness and solicitude were beacon and inspiration for all 
who came under her influence.
  Private funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. W. Hartman, pastor 
of the First Methodist church, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. 
Wesley Beyer, 1236 Logan avenue, at 9 o'clock Sunday evening.  The 
family and friends departed on the train Monday morning for 
Philipsburg where the body of the revered mother was laid to rest 
beside that of her husband in the Philipsburg cemetery.

Tyrone Herald, Tyrone, Pa., Thursday, February 11, 1915