H. W. Jones x2 & The 1909 Evangelistic Meetings

In 1900, H. W. Jones lived with his wife and young daughter in Canandaigua, New York.[1]  Less than 90 miles away (via what is now I-90) lived another H. W. Jones with his wife, son and two daughters, in Constantia, New York.[2]  In the spring of 1909 both of these men were in Idaho Falls, one holding a 4-week evangelistic crusade and the other the pastor of the Presbyterian Church.

Reporting on the evangelistic meetings in Idaho Falls in March and April of 1909, the Idaho Falls Daily Times named the leaders of the meetings only as “Evangelists Jones and Spear.”  However another Times article that reported on an evangelism training conference held midway through the crusade had a bit more information, giving their names as H. Wyse Jones and Professor E. H. Spear. 

From records of the Idaho Falls Presbyterian Church I knew that the pastor from 1906 to 1912 was H. W. Jones, so I wondered if Evangelist H. W.  Jones was the same person as Pastor H. W. Jones.  Finding connections to New York State both before and after this time for H. W. Jones seemed to also suggest they were one and the same.  But then finding a notice of Dr. H. Wyse Jones’ death that mentioned he was a retired Baptist minister got me on the trail of confirming that these were indeed two different men. [Although I have at times found errors in newspapers articles, so at first I thought the death notice could be in error regarding his church affiliation, and alternatively I considered the possibility that a Presbyterian pastor could have become a Baptist.]

Here’s what I could find out about each of these two both men:

H. Wyse Jones was born in Virginia around 1860 (5 sources show dates of birth between 1859 and 1863).[3]  His parents had also been born in Virginia.  He married a minister’s daughter, Matte Hardwicke, in Fannin, Texas in 1894.  Though born in West Virginia, Matte had gained a reputation as a speaker as a young woman living in Dallas, Texas:

“An old Dallasite, who is now a prominent Chautauquan, is Mrs. H. Wyse Jones, who as Miss Mattie Hardwicke was one of Texas’ best-known elocutionists.  Mrs. Jones now resides in Buffalo, where her husband, Rev. H. Wyse Jones, has charge of the Cedar Street Baptist Church.[4]

I could not determine whether or not H. Wyse Jones was pastoring a church in Texas before his marriage, but by 1897 the couple was living in Canandaigua, New York, with Rev. Jones pastoring the Canandaigua Baptist Church.[6] In 1901, he resigned, accepting a call to the Cedar Street Baptist Church in Buffalo.  The report of his resignation included:

“…his departure from the Baptist Church and from Canandaigua is a matter deplored throughout the whole village.  The church has experienced rapid growth during his pastorate hear, large indebtedness has been liquidated and the membership increased.”[6]

After 3 and a quarter years at Cedar Street Baptist Church, Rev. H. Wyse Jones resigned “to accept the Oregon state superintendency of evangelical work for the Baptist Board of Home Missions."[7]

“Rev. Jones’ departure will be sincerely regretted by his congregation, who gave him up, however, with the feeling that he is very worthy of the advancement.  His wife and children will join him at Portland, Oregon after a two-months’ stay in Texas.”[8]

So it was at this time that Rev. Jones became Evangelist Jones, and began conducting evangelistic campaigns throughout the state of Oregon.  The announcement of in Rogue River is typical:

“…H. Wyse Jones is coming from a successful series of meetings at McMinnville.  He has had wonderful success in evangelistic services since coming to the state.  Mr. Jones deals in no claptrap methods and does not try to get people in a corner.  He will speak the truth as he believes it. He is worthy the careful hearing of any man."[9]

Rev. Jones’ wife continued her speaking engagements.  Coming to the Glee Club in McMinnville, the Oregon Journal noted “Mrs. H. Wyse Jones is an impersonator and reader of national reputation.”[10]

In the spring of 1907, Rev. Jones returned to his former church in Buffalo, New York to conduct a three week mission,[11] and then returned to Oregon to do the same in various cities. In November of that year, Rev. Jones teamed up with Professor Eugene A. Spear for a series of evangelistic meetings in Roseburg, Oregon sponsored by the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches:

“Rev. H. Wyse Jones is doing the preaching, and Professor Eugene A. Spear is leading the music.  Large crowds are attending. Many have been converted, and the interest is deepening.  Mr. Jones is a most effective evangelist and Professor Spear is a fine singer.”[12]

This seemed to mark a turn in Rev. Jones’ ministry, of holding meetings not only on behalf of the Baptist church in a city, but rather being sponsored by a coalition of the cities' churches.  Also “Evangelistic Conferences,” what we would more likely call “Evangelism Training Conferences,” began to be mentioned in reports of their meetings.  In January 1908, the Grant’s Pass Baptist Church held a week of prayer prior to two weeks of evangelistic meetings led by Rev. Jones and Prof. Spear, and then held a two-day “Workers Conference on Evangelism,” to which pastors and members of Grants Pass and the surrounding area were invited to participate.[13]  Following the series in Grants Pass, Rev. Jones and Prof. Spear expanding their outreach to California, first to the cities of Willows and Oakland.[14] Later in 1908 the duo conducted campaigns in McMinnville and Portland, with newspaper reports now referring to Rev. Jones as “General Evangelist of the Pacific Coast.”

Then the following year they came to Idaho Falls, and held 4 weeks of meetings, 6 nights per weeks.

After the first week, the Idaho Falls Times reported:

“There has been an evident deepening of interest in the evangelistic meetings being held at Broadway hall night by night from the very first.

“Jones and Spear, the evangelists, have the hearty sympathy of all the Christian people of the city.  Rev. Jones is not by any means a sensational evangelist but rather relies simply upon the power of the old time religion and upon the power of the simple gospel.  And that gospel is saving in these meetings as it always has.

“The singing is rapidly improving under the leadership of Prof. Spear. In the big meeting Sunday night, assisted by an orchestra, the congregational singing reached its height.  Mrs. Spear as a soloist is without a peer.  She has a finely cultivated voice and all her songs are messages.  Either Mr. or Mrs. Spear, or both, sing at each service.

“Professor Spear began his children’s meetings Sunday afternoon. The Sunday schools were visited during the morning and all the children were tagged to advertise the meetings.  In the afternoon they all gathered at the Baptist church.  The meeting was most interesting.  It was immense.  Mr. Spear gave an excellent chalk talk.  These meetings will be held at the same place every afternoon this week except Saturday at 4 o’clock so that children can go direct from school.  They are for all under the age of twenty.

“Rev. Jones will conduct a Bible reading in the afternoon at 3 pm at Broadway Hall. All are invited to these meetings. They are very helpful, strengthening our knowledge and convictions.  Excepting Saturday, there is a meeting in Broadway hall every night this week.  The meetings begin at 7:30 and everyone that possibly can will do well to attend all of these services. The attendance is increasing right along.  These meetings are proving of the greatest interest and bid fair to become the greatest movement for righteousness the city has ever seen.”[15]

The Times reported after the second week:

“These meetings have more than half passed now and the results thus far apparent fully justify the hopes of those who had called these evangelists to hold the meetings.  Friday and Sunday nights were the best meetings. being very largely attended.

“Professor Spear’s meeting with the children in the Baptist church last week were as good as any that he has ever held.  They proved so much better in every way than was expected that whereas they were planned for just one week it has been decided to continue them on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week.  The striking feature of these meetings is the intelligence and simplicity and clearness with which the story is told and the apparent firm grasp the children get of the truth.

“On Wednesday night of this week the service is being arranged especially for young people. The details of the service have not yet been made public but considering the strong hold the evangelists have with the young people with whom they have come in contact in the meetings it is assured that it will not only be a pleasant but a highly instructive and devotional service.

“It has been planned to have an all-day prayer service on Thursday of this week in the Methodist church from 9 am until 3 pm.  Any Christian who desires may step into the meeting at any convenient hour and pray for the meetings and then go again to his work. This is a strong feature of Rev. Jones' work with the churches.

“Sunday morning there will be a union service of the churches at the Broadway hall at 11 am.  The evangelists will conduct the service.  At 3 pm Sunday afternoon Rev Jones will conduct a meeting for men only in Broadway Hall.  The regular union meetings in the hall will be as usual every night but Saturday."[16]

Rev. A. B. Clark of the Idaho Falls Baptist Church penned an editorial after the meetings concluded that read in part:

“Well, the evangelistic meetings are closed.  For four weeks Jones and Spear have held meetings six nights a week in Broadway Hall, Idaho Falls, and on most of these nights there was a good attendance.  They certainly had a good hearing.  The evangelist was a good speaker and best of all a good man.  Night after night he proclaimed the full message of the gospel with all the conviction that a sincere heart can contain.  His speech has been simple, plain and direct.  He has preached a gospel of love but preeminently a gospel of truth.  He has preached the whole truth without special privileges of any one or for any class.  The gospel message has been forcefully and sweetly sung by Prof. and Mrs. Spear.  These songs have gone to the heart with a great directness that touches and convicts.”[17]

Following the pattern started in Grants Pass, a evangelism training conference was held following the nightly meetings.

“The Eastern Idaho Evangelistic conference held last Friday in the Methodist Episcopal church of Idaho Falls proved a delight to all who were privileged to attend. The conference began at 9:30 am with devotional exercises led by the chairman of the day, Evangelist H. Wyse Jones.

“Many topics of interest and inestimable value to the Christian worker were presented and discussed.  Among the topics presented in the morning were ‘Agencies in Evangelism,’ ‘The Word of God,’ ‘The Spirit of God,’ and ‘The Evangelistic Method.’

“The afternoon services opened at 1:30 with song and an address by Mrs. E. A. Spear on ‘Influences.’

“The general topics of the afternoon were: ‘The Soul Winner – What Must He be?  What Must He know? What Must He Do,’ ‘Child Evangelism – Can Children Be converted?  Means and Methods of Child Evangelism,’ ‘The Evangelists Means – The Bible in Personal Work – Casting the Net.’

“These topics were well presented and ably discussed by different members of the congregation.

“Besides the presence of the local pastors and representatives of the different congregations of the city, the conference was honored and greatly benefitted by the presence of Evangelist H. Wyse Jones, Prof. E. H. Spear and Mrs. Spear, Rev. Lawrence of Pocatello, Rev C A Dickson and two of his workers from the Indian mission, Rev. P. H. Evans and wife of Blackfoot, Rev. Phillips of St. Anthony, Rev. Redfern of Boise who is secretary of the American Sunday School association of Idaho and Rev. Rankin.

“This conference bears the unique distinction of being the only one of the kind ever held in Eastern Idaho and it is anticipated that much benefit will ensue from the bringing together of the different denominations to consider questions of vital interest to all.”[18]

Following the series in Idaho Falls, Evangelist Jones held campaigns in cities in California, Salt Lake City, Utah, and numerous cities in Oregon over the next five years.  His obituary states that he had been Director of Evangelism for eight Pacific Coast States,[19] and thus he likely conducted campaigns in other states as well.  A notice of his death was reported in the Lewiston Tribune of August 3, 1939, suggesting he may have held meetings in other cities in Idaho also.  During these years he and his family lived in McMinnville, Oregon.

In 1914, he returned to Buffalo, New York, accepting a call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church there.[20]  Starting in 1916 reports of his activities referred to him as Dr. H. Wyse Jones. By 1920 he assumed the position of Director of Evangelism for the New York Baptist Convention and later for the Pennsylvania Convention.[19, 21, 22] He retired in 1931 at age 71, and passed away in 1939 in Penn Yan, New York.[19]

His partner in the Idaho Falls and many other campaigns, Professor Eugene A Spear, lived in Portland during their association,[23] then around 1920 took on the pastorate of a church in Los Gatos, California.[24] In 1930 he and his wife were living Bellingham, Washington, but by 1935 they had moved back to California.[23] He passed away in 1949 in Sacramento.[25]  Most of these years, included those he served as pastor, he was a practicing chiropractor.[23]

Now, for the other H. W. Jones.

Hugh William Jones was born in North Wales about 1867, the son of Welch pastor Reverend John Jones.[26] He emigrated to the United States when he was 16.[2] He married at age 27, in 1893, to Anna K. Mooney, in Lafayette, Indiana; at the time he was working as a clerk.[28] Their first son, Arthur, was born later that year, in Illinois.[2] By 1895 the family had moved to Constantia, New York, with Hugh serving as a minister.[2] Two daughters and another son were born in Constantia between 1895 and 1898.[2,29]

This Rev. H. W. Jones accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of Idaho Falls in 1906,[30] which at that time was meeting at Shoup and A Streets.[32] Over the next six years, he was frequently called on to perform weddings, funerals, speak at civic events and school functions, address young people’s societies of the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, Sunday school conventions and business dinners.  In 1909 he was elected president of the Idaho Falls ministerial association.[32]  In April 1912 he resigned his position to accept a call to the Fifth Presbyterian Church in Spokane, Washington.[33] While in Spokane, he earned a Doctor of Divinity degree.[34] Also during his years in Spokane, he made several trips to Idaho Falls to visit his sister, whom Rev. Jones had brought to Idaho Falls from Chicago in 1907 when her husband died. By 1920, Rev. Jones was director of an orphanage (then called a “Home Finding Society”) in Spokane.[35] The Idaho Falls Times-Register reported the death of Rev. Jones’s wife in 1929, in Brooklyn, New York.[36]  So evidently the couple had moved back to New York in the 1920’s.  In the 1930's Rev. Jones taught at the National Bible Institute in New York City.[37]

[1] U. S. Census, 1900, Canandaigua, New York.

[2] U. S. Census, 1900, Constantia, New York

[3] Records that show the year of his birth include census records of 1900, 1910 and 1930, his first marriage record and a photo of his gravestone shown on https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110204641/h.-wyse-jones

[4] From an article about Texans who became prominent on the Chautauqua circuit, Dallas Morning News, Aug. 1, 1903, p. 9

[5] Buffalo Evening News, March 20, 1897, reporting on the Annual Convention of the Societies of Christian Endeavor, mentioning that Mrs. H. Wyse Jones directed the junior convection and was elected vice president of the junior societies for the following year.  The Buffalo Evening News of November 6, 1897 noted that H. Wyse Jones was the pastor of the Baptist church in Canandaigua.

[6] Buffalo Evening News, April 1, 1901, reporting on news from Canandaigua.

[7] The Evening Tribune (Hornell, New York), Sept. 17, 1904, p. 8.

[8] The Buffalo Sunday News, Sept. 18, 1904, p. 6

[9] Rogue River Courier, Feb. 16, 1906, p. 6.

[10] Oregon Journal, May 19, 1906, p. 7

[11] Buffalo Evening News, April 13, 1907, p. 6.

[12] Oregon Daily Journal (Portland), Nov. 8, 1907, p. 7

[13] Rogue River Courier (Grants Pass, Oregon), Jan. 3, 1908, p. 9

[14] Rogue River Courier (Grants Pass, Oregon), Jan. 31, 1908, p. 8; The San Francisco Call, March 22, 1908, p. 38.

[15] Idaho Falls Times, March 2, 1909, p. 2.

[16] Idaho Falls Times, March 30, 1909, p. 1.

[17] Idaho Falls Times, April 20, 1909, p. 10.

[18] Idaho Falls Times, April 13, 1909, p. 1.

[19] Richmond Times Dispatch, August 3, 1939, p. 6H.

[20] Buffalo Evening News, Sept. 5, 1914, p.4.

[21] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110204641/h.-wyse-jones

[22] Schenectady Gazette, Sept 26, 1929, p. 5.

[23] U.S. Census, 1920, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; 1930, Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington; 1940, Turlock, Merced, California.

[24] The Evening News (San Jose, California), Nov. 17, 1922, p. 4.

[25] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPFD-2VQ : 26 November 2014), Eugene A Spear, 09 Jan 1949; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

[26] See FamilySearch profile and references for Hugh W Jones, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQ88-2Y3

[27] US Census, 1900, Constantia, New York.

[28] Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFXH-SW8 : 13 January 2020), Hugh W. Jones, 1893.

[29] See profiles for children of Hugh and Anna Jones accessible from Hugh’s profile, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQ88-2Y3

[30] Records of the First Presbyterian Church, Idaho Falls.

[31] https://www.fpcidahofalls.org/history/

[32] From news items in about 40 issues of the Idaho Falls Daily Post, 1907-1912, accessed via GenealogyBank.com.

[33] Idaho Falls Times, April 30, 1912 & Dec. 19, 1912.

[34] Idaho Falls Times, Oct. 28, 1921.

[35] U.S. Census, Spokane, Washington, 1920.

[36] Idaho Falls Times-Register, Oct. 25, 1929.

[37] Post Register, Sept. 10, 1934, p. 5 (of a special insert).