Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Mary Madden Jones

One of the mysteries I have not been able to solve is that of Mary Madden, widow of John Stilwell Jones.

This post is actually more of a fishing expedition than anything else.  I'm hoping if I put what I know "out there" that someone will recognize her and give me some clues.

I do not know if Madden is her maiden name or a married name.
I do not know her birth date or place. 
I do not know when or where she married John Stilwell Jones.
I do not know when or where she died, or even IF she has passed away, though if she was of similar age to John S., then I would expect her to be deceased.

I know that in April 1942, John S. Jones was living in Hankinson, North Dakota and listed his mother as his contact information on his military draft papers.  From this I infer that he and his first wife, Leita (Perry) Jones, were divorced by 1942.

Based on that, I assume that John married Mary Madden after April 1942.

From John S. Jones' obituary, I know the following:

In July 1972, when John died, he had lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for 30 years.
His wife is listed as "the former Mary Madden" and as surviving him.
His residence was 339 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

Based on the above, I assume Mary died after July 1972.  And that her home in 1972 was at 339 S. Main St.

Another small clue is found in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader newspaper story dated 6 August 1972 about evacuees from the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Agnes.  That story mentions: "Unforgettable for [Leo] Madden will be two deaths since the flood associated with the shelter.  The first was that of John S. Jones, who brought his wife safely to the evacuation center at GAR, then returned to his apartment at 339 S. Main St., for some things.  Later, Wilkes-Barre police found Mr. Jones had drowned in his home."

I find in curious that the person interviewed in that story has the surname "Madden" just like my mystery widow and that he mentioned the death of John S. Jones when interviewed.

A newspaper notice in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader and other papers dated 14 October 1972,  states that the Estate of John S. Jones is being administered by Stephen A. Teller, 730 United Penn Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre.  So his widow was not named Administrator of his estate and he apparently died without a will.

So that is all I have on Mary Madden, widow of John Stilwell Jones.  If anyone has suggestions of how to sort her out, please share them.


No comments:

Post a Comment