Individual Details
Burton R. Jones
(25 May 1894 - 1 Feb 1959)
On the 1920 U. S. Census of Rockwell City, Center Township, Calhoun Co., Iowa, Burton R. Jones is single and a teacher in the public school.
On the 1930 U. S. Census of Spencer City, Clay Co., Iowa Burton Jones is married and Superintendent of public schools. His wife is Helen and they have 2 daughters, Barabara and Frances. Burton and Helen were both 27 when they married.
Burton R. Jones is superintendent at Creston from The Iowa Recorder, Greene, Iowa, November 6, 1940.
Burton R. Jones is superintendent at Creston, Iowa from the Iowa City Press Citizen newspaper, Iowa City, Iowa January 9, 1950.
Obituary from unknown Creston, Iowa newspaper, February 2, 1959:
Supt. Burton R. Jones Dies, Headed Creston Schools for More than 25 Years. Rites will be held Wednesday at 2 P. M.
Burton R. Jones, 64, superintendent of the Creston schools for just over a quarter of a century and engaged in the field of education for 40 years, died Sunday evening at the Greater Community hospital after a week long battle against a ravaging heart attack. Death came at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Members of his family were with him, his condition which had been very serious all week long having worsened during the day Sunday. His brother Cassius C. Jones of Des Moines, whose wife is quite ill in a Des Moines hospital, came Sunday to be with him. Other members of the immediate family came during the week to be with him and Mrs. Jones.
Last Monday.
Mr. Jones had been few days last week from work as he had not been feeling well. The serious attack struck him about 8 o'clock last Monday evening. He was immediately transferred to the hospital. After a couple of days he rallied a bit against the overwhelming odds that were running against him, but on Sunday he finally gave out. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian church, of which he had served as an elder for many years. The Rev. Donald C. Beisswinger, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery. The body is at the Coens Home for Funerals and will lie in state until taken to the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The casket will not be opened after the services.
Memorial at School.
Plans are being worked out today for a memorial service at the Creston high school, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for the students to attend. School is to be dismissed Wednesday afternoon. For those who wish, memorials may be given to a memorial fund to be devoted to the field of education. These may be left a Coens, either at the store, or at the Home for Funerals.
Mr. Jones was a native of Story city, Iowa, born there May 25, 1894, the son of Lloyd H. and Emma Francis Brisco. He was a twin, however the twin died at birth. His father died when Burton was only nine months old. He attended the old West Des Moines high school and was graduated from Salem, Ore., high school in 1913, he and his mother having moved there to be with a sister.
In World War I
He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Drake University in 1918, where he was active in many college organizations. He left college to enlist in the U. S. army in March of 1918 (World War I) and served with the 89th division in chemical warfare. He received his discharge in January of 1919, and then began his career in the field of education as a high school teacher at Rockwell City, He soon became principal there and in 1921 went to Manning high school. A year later he became superintendent of schools there, a post he held until 1927. In 1928 he obtained his master of arts degree at the University of Iowa, and became superintendent of schools at Spencer, Ia., a post he held until 1933 when he came to Creston, as superintendent. His work in the field of education was one of the most comprehensive chapters in the state educational circles. Under his leadership the Creston schools maintained the highest standards of academic and instructional excellence. The "three R's" never lost their [in]structional excellence. The "three R's" never lost their importance under his leadership. But at the same time, the Creston schools expanded their curriculum to include technical and vocational courses in keeping with a broad education offering for people attending the schools.
Field of Education
The Creston Junior college, which had started only a few years before he came to Creston, continued to be an important educational force for the first two years of college work. During that period when a number of junior colleges fell by the wayside, the Creston program kept it strong and active and today it is filling a greater place than ever before. In fact only the week preceding his fateful attack, he was working with state school people in the field of technical training courses as a prospective addition to the junior college curriculum. He ranked high in the field of education. He had served on the Iowa State Teachers Association executive board; was a past president of the Southern Iowa Teachers association, which holds its annual meetings in Creston; a life member of the National Education Association; a member of the Walt Whitman club of educators of Iowa; an official in the Parent Teachers Association; and when the new ISTA office home in Salisbury house in Des Moines was opened a few years ago, his name was among those specifically listed one of the outstanding educators in Iowa.
In Community Affairs
Mr. Jones had a warm interest in Creston and community affairs. He had served on the board of directors of the chamber of commerce, was a member and past president of the Creston Rotary club; a member of the Creston library board for years, including a number of years as president; had served as a member of the Union county welfare board. An many, many more community committees could be listed on which he contributed and time and effort in behalf of his community. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and served on the board of elders. He was a Mason and a Knight Templar. In addition he was a 40 year member of the American Legion and was also a member of the golf club.
Survivors
He was married to Helen Bell Graham of Springville, Ia., near Cedar Rapids, June 15, 1921, who has been closely identified with the field of education also. She survives. Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. F. W. (Barbara) Jones of Duluth, Minn., and Mrs. Walter B. (Frances) Gronert of Des Moines; four grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. B. I. Robbins of Tacoma, Wash., and a brother Cassius C. Jones of Des Moines. A sister, Ethel Jones, who had visited often in Creston, preceded him in death.
On the 1930 U. S. Census of Spencer City, Clay Co., Iowa Burton Jones is married and Superintendent of public schools. His wife is Helen and they have 2 daughters, Barabara and Frances. Burton and Helen were both 27 when they married.
Burton R. Jones is superintendent at Creston from The Iowa Recorder, Greene, Iowa, November 6, 1940.
Burton R. Jones is superintendent at Creston, Iowa from the Iowa City Press Citizen newspaper, Iowa City, Iowa January 9, 1950.
Obituary from unknown Creston, Iowa newspaper, February 2, 1959:
Supt. Burton R. Jones Dies, Headed Creston Schools for More than 25 Years. Rites will be held Wednesday at 2 P. M.
Burton R. Jones, 64, superintendent of the Creston schools for just over a quarter of a century and engaged in the field of education for 40 years, died Sunday evening at the Greater Community hospital after a week long battle against a ravaging heart attack. Death came at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Members of his family were with him, his condition which had been very serious all week long having worsened during the day Sunday. His brother Cassius C. Jones of Des Moines, whose wife is quite ill in a Des Moines hospital, came Sunday to be with him. Other members of the immediate family came during the week to be with him and Mrs. Jones.
Last Monday.
Mr. Jones had been few days last week from work as he had not been feeling well. The serious attack struck him about 8 o'clock last Monday evening. He was immediately transferred to the hospital. After a couple of days he rallied a bit against the overwhelming odds that were running against him, but on Sunday he finally gave out. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian church, of which he had served as an elder for many years. The Rev. Donald C. Beisswinger, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery. The body is at the Coens Home for Funerals and will lie in state until taken to the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The casket will not be opened after the services.
Memorial at School.
Plans are being worked out today for a memorial service at the Creston high school, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for the students to attend. School is to be dismissed Wednesday afternoon. For those who wish, memorials may be given to a memorial fund to be devoted to the field of education. These may be left a Coens, either at the store, or at the Home for Funerals.
Mr. Jones was a native of Story city, Iowa, born there May 25, 1894, the son of Lloyd H. and Emma Francis Brisco. He was a twin, however the twin died at birth. His father died when Burton was only nine months old. He attended the old West Des Moines high school and was graduated from Salem, Ore., high school in 1913, he and his mother having moved there to be with a sister.
In World War I
He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Drake University in 1918, where he was active in many college organizations. He left college to enlist in the U. S. army in March of 1918 (World War I) and served with the 89th division in chemical warfare. He received his discharge in January of 1919, and then began his career in the field of education as a high school teacher at Rockwell City, He soon became principal there and in 1921 went to Manning high school. A year later he became superintendent of schools there, a post he held until 1927. In 1928 he obtained his master of arts degree at the University of Iowa, and became superintendent of schools at Spencer, Ia., a post he held until 1933 when he came to Creston, as superintendent. His work in the field of education was one of the most comprehensive chapters in the state educational circles. Under his leadership the Creston schools maintained the highest standards of academic and instructional excellence. The "three R's" never lost their [in]structional excellence. The "three R's" never lost their importance under his leadership. But at the same time, the Creston schools expanded their curriculum to include technical and vocational courses in keeping with a broad education offering for people attending the schools.
Field of Education
The Creston Junior college, which had started only a few years before he came to Creston, continued to be an important educational force for the first two years of college work. During that period when a number of junior colleges fell by the wayside, the Creston program kept it strong and active and today it is filling a greater place than ever before. In fact only the week preceding his fateful attack, he was working with state school people in the field of technical training courses as a prospective addition to the junior college curriculum. He ranked high in the field of education. He had served on the Iowa State Teachers Association executive board; was a past president of the Southern Iowa Teachers association, which holds its annual meetings in Creston; a life member of the National Education Association; a member of the Walt Whitman club of educators of Iowa; an official in the Parent Teachers Association; and when the new ISTA office home in Salisbury house in Des Moines was opened a few years ago, his name was among those specifically listed one of the outstanding educators in Iowa.
In Community Affairs
Mr. Jones had a warm interest in Creston and community affairs. He had served on the board of directors of the chamber of commerce, was a member and past president of the Creston Rotary club; a member of the Creston library board for years, including a number of years as president; had served as a member of the Union county welfare board. An many, many more community committees could be listed on which he contributed and time and effort in behalf of his community. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and served on the board of elders. He was a Mason and a Knight Templar. In addition he was a 40 year member of the American Legion and was also a member of the golf club.
Survivors
He was married to Helen Bell Graham of Springville, Ia., near Cedar Rapids, June 15, 1921, who has been closely identified with the field of education also. She survives. Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. F. W. (Barbara) Jones of Duluth, Minn., and Mrs. Walter B. (Frances) Gronert of Des Moines; four grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. B. I. Robbins of Tacoma, Wash., and a brother Cassius C. Jones of Des Moines. A sister, Ethel Jones, who had visited often in Creston, preceded him in death.
Events
| Birth | 25 May 1894 | Story City, Story Co., Iowa |  | ||
| Marriage | 15 Jun 1921 | Springville, Linn Co., Iowa - Helen Bell Graham | | ||
| Death | 1 Feb 1959 | Creston, Union Co., Iowa | | ||
| Burial | Graceland Cemetery, Creston, Union Co., Iowa | |
Families
| Spouse | Helen Bell Graham (1894 - 1966) |
| Child | Barbara Louise Jones (1924 - 1994) |
| Child | Frances Jones (1928 - ) |
| Father | Lloyd H. Jones (1852 - 1895) |
| Mother | Emma Francis Briscoe (1857 - 1926) |
| Sibling | Ethel May Jones (1882 - 1946) |
| Sibling | Lulu B. Jones (1885 - 1979) |
| Sibling | Cassius C. Jones (1888 - 1981) |
| Sibling | Bertrum Jones (1894 - 1894) |
Endnotes
1. 1910 Census Polk Co., Iowa.
2. Unknown Creston Iowa newspaper, Obituary of Burton R. Jones (n.p: February 2, 1959, n.d).
3. 1930 Census Clay Co., Iowa.
4. Irma Miller.
5. Unknown Union Co. Iowa newspaper, Obituary of Helen Jones (n.p: March 30, 1966, n.d).
6. Irma Miller.
7. Unknown Creston Iowa newspaper, Obituary of Burton R. Jones (n.p: February 2, 1959, n.d).
8. Irma Miller.