Jones

(from newspaper clippings)

The Jones emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1851. Their reason for coming to Watford around 1865 is unknown. They told people that their father had gambled all their money away and it was presumed he had died when their mother Elizabeth Jones (1825–) arrived with her girls in Watford. She set up a music studio. Her three girls were Louisa M. (Lulu, 1844–), the artist and musician, Geraldine M. (Jedda or Jeddie, 1846–), the music teacher and Georgina M. (1850–). They all attended Hellmuth College on the Thames River. In their early years they would be seen beautifully attired at concerts where they played solo or duet.

In their early days of teaching, tuition fees were often paid in farm produce, fuel and other commodities. Teaching was a difficult profession.

After their mother passed away the sisters continued teaching, well into their senior years. The old unpainted frame house became run down. Miss Geraldine, known as Miss Getty, wore a red wig and occupied the west part of the house, while Miss Lulu wore a black wig and taught art in the east part of the house. None of them knew much about cooking or keeping house. The sisters kept it in a shocking state until Lulu married an old friend Ivor Gor O’More from Ireland, a widower. The townsfolk called him Jack Moore or Rory O’More. He improved the place by throwing out the cats and the pine cones, and putting screens on the windows to keep flies out.

Ivor O’More’s daughter occasionally came from New York and would take the sisters to vacation spots or the lake. The sisters adored Ivor’s daughter and were saddened when she was killed in a car accident. Miss Getty lived the longest and was in her nineties when she passed away around 1940.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Jones Family

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