Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/431

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426
JONES.
JONES.

JONES, Mrs. Jennie E., poet and story-writer, born in Dansville, N. Y., 17th May, 1853, and is now a resident of Mornellsville. N. Y. In her early years she displayed a talent for literary JENNIE B. JONES. work, and she has always been in sympathy with the movements for the advancement of women in the United States. She has written much, in both prose and verse. Her prose work has been confined mostly to short stones. She has contributed for years to local journals and magazines, and one of her longer stories, entitled "The Mystery of the Old Red Tower," has lately been published in book form. She has also published a volume of poems. She has published many stories in the newspapers. Her writings are characterized by a pure and elevating tone.


MAY C. JONES. JONES, Mrs. May C., Baptist minister, born in Sutton, N. H. 5th November, 1842. She was the daughter of an English physician. Her mother was a descendant of the Scotch Covenanters, and her fearless, outspoken defense of the truth proclaims her a fit representative of such an ancestry. At the age of thirteen Miss Jones began to teach school, which occupation she followed until her marriage. In 1867 she moved with her husband to the Pacific coast, spending over ten years in California. In 1880 she removed to Seattle, Wash., where she preached her first sermon in August of the same year, since which time she has been engaged in the gospel ministry. She was licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church of Seattle, and acted as supply in the absence of the regular pastor. Afterward the council, with representatives of other churches composing the Baptist Association of Puget Sound and British Columbia, ordained her on 9th July, 1882, and she became the permanent pastor of the First Baptist Church of Seattle. She has rare gifts as an evangelist and has been very successful as a pastor. Her last pastorate was with the First Baptist Church of Spokane, the second largest church in the State of Washington. That position she held four years, baptizing and performing the marriage ceremony and such other duties as devolve upon the pastor of a large and rapidly growing church. On 1st January, 1892, she resigned the charge to devote herself to the care of her invalid husband, who has since died. At the present time she is engaged in evangelistic work, accompanied by her talented daughter, a sweet singer, in which work they are much sought after and are very successful. Mrs. Jones is the founder of Grace Seminary, a flourishing school in the city of Ontralia, Wash. She has organized several churches and erected two houses of worship. She has a flexible voice of marvelous power and sweetness. She speaks rapidly and fluently, with a style peculiar to herself. Added to these gifts is a deep undercurrent of spiritual life.


JORDAN, Mrs. Cornelia Jane Matthews, poet, born in Lynchburg, Va., in 1830. Her parents were Edwin Matthews and Emily Goggin Matthews. She was born to wealth, and received all the advantages of liberal education and polished society. Her mother died in 1834. and Cornelia and two younger sisters were sent to the home of their grand- mother in Bedford county. In 1842 she was placed in the school of the Sisters of the Visitation, in Georgetown, D. C In school she led her mates in all literary exercises Her poetical productions were numerous and excellent. In 1851 she became the wife of F. H. Jordan, a lawyer of Luray, Va., where she made her home. During the first years of her married life she wrote a great deal. A collection of her poems was published in Richmond, Va., in 1860, with the title. "Flowers of Hope and Memory. During the Civil War she wrote many stirring lyrics. A volume of these, entitled "Corinth, and Other Poems," was published after the surrender. The little volume was seized by the military commander in Richmond and suppressed as seditious. In 1867