Harold Morris Jones, 1896 - 1978

I have posted lots of photos from the attic of the John R. Jones home in Hankinson, North Dakota, but I haven't written much about the Jones family itself.  This is partly because I have not been actively researching the line in recent years.  I thought, however, that it might be good to start writing about the family once in awhile.  So I am starting with the family member who was the last to live in the old home in Hankinson, Harold Morris Jones.

Harold M. Jones

Harold was born 26 October 1896 in Hankinson, Richland Co., North Dakota.  His parents were John Roberts Jones and Mary Elva Stilwell.  The family called him "Hal."

Harold M. Jones

Harold M. Jones

Harold served in the United States Marines; he enlisted at Minneapolis, Minnesota on 26 November 1917, and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina.  He served in 136th Company, Quantico, Virginia, from 26 February 1918, to 17 September 1918.  The he was sent to England, arriving there 29 September 1918, and he served there to 2 May 1919.  Next he was stationed at Fort Lafayette, New York from 16  June 1919, to 14 August 1919, serving in the 12th Company from 14 August 1919, to discharge. He was discharged at New York, New York on 30 August 1919, as a Private.

Harold M. Jones

He also attended Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, where he was a member of the class of 1921.

Other than that, he seems to have spent his whole life in Hankinson, where he lived in the family home.   For some pictures of that home taken after Harold's death, see HERE.

He worked for his father, John R. Jones, in the family business (lumber, hardware, etc.) and after his father's death in 1938, he and his brother, Dan, took over running the business.

Harold never married.  His sister, Marycarol, said that he had been engaged to a young lady named Marguerite Wyatt, but that they broke up.  Among the photos I have is this one, labeled Marguerite.

Marguerite (surname unknown, but perhaps Marguerite Wyatt)

After Harold's mother, Mary Elva, died in 1955, he continued to live in the family home.  He lived alone, though he did have a long-time housekeeper, Gladys Langstaff.

Harold Morris Jones

Harold died in Hankinson on 6 February 1978.  His sister, Marycarol, told me that he slipped on an icy sidewalk and fell and died from complications of the injuries.  He was buried on 8 February 1978 in the Jones plot in Hillside Cemetery, Hankinson.

An obituary appeared in the Daily News of Richland Co., North Dakota, on 8 February 1978:

"Harold Jones.  HANKINSON, N.D. - Services for Harold M. Jones, 81, Hankinson, will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Wipperman-Frank Funeral Home Chapel.  He died early Monday morning at St. Gerard Hospital.
 Rev. Edward J. Krueger will officiate with burial in Hillside Cemetery.  Military rites will be given by the American Legion Post 88.
  Visitation is Tuesday afternoon and evening with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. led by the Hankinson Masonic Lodge No. 57 A.F. and A.M. at Wipperman-Frank Chapel.  There will also be visitation at the chapel until time of services Wednesday.
  Casket bearers are Harley and Kenneth Anderson, Verne and Lee Swanson, Ernest Johnson, and David Kruge.
  He was born Oct. 26, 1896 at Hankinson to John R. and Mary E. (Stilwell) Jones.  He grew up here and attended local schools before going to college at Northfield, Minn.  During World War I he was in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He returned to Hankinson where he managed and owned the Hankinson Lumber Company.
  He was a member of the Hankinson Fire Dept., Masonic Lodge 57, and American Legion Post 88. 
  He is survived by a sister, Mary Carol Jones, Carmel, Calif.; a half-sister, Margaret Hofman, Calif.; and a nephew, Danny Jones in Wisconsin."

After Harold's death, the old family home and its contents were sold in order to settle the estate.  It was during the inventorying and clearing of the house, that the Hankinson Attic Photos came into my possession.  None of the surviving close family members wanted them, so they passed them on to other descendants of John R. and Mary Elva (Stilwell) Jones.  I will continue to share them until I have posted them all.  I will also try to do blog posts on the family as I know it.  I'm sure there is much that could be added, but as I said, I have not actively researched the Jones line for many years.  I hope this is useful to others.