Edith May Jones was born on October 24, 1891 in Woodbine, Jo Daviess, Illinois to William F. Jones and Catherine Jane (Thomas) Jones. She spent her early years there, eventually moving to Houghton, South Dakota with her parents. Here, she attended Shelby Public School in Shelby Township, Brown County.
Charles and Edith Daly
She was married to Charles “Charlie” Carl Daly on September 22, 1910 in Aberdeen, Brown, South Dakota. She and Charles had five children: Kathleen (b. July 8, 1911), John C. (b. ci. 1914), Earl F. (b. ci. 1915), Arthur J “Artie” (b. ci. 1916), and Donald A. (b. ci. 1918). The family’s home was located at Daly Corner, on Charles’s father’s farm in Columbia, South Dakota. Edith’s life was cut tragically short by a vicious bout of influenza in 1919, leaving her five young children motherless.
Kathleen and Edith
Edith’s obituary in the Aberdeen American News from March 10, 1919 details the heartbreaking event:
“Houghton, March 7 – Once more the Angel of Death has visited our community, removing from our midst a young, beautiful and well loved member. Edith May Jones Daly was born at Woodbine, Ill. on October 24, 1891, where she spent her early childhood, moving with her parents to their new home in Houghton, S.D., in 1902. In September, 1910, she was united in marriage to Charles Daly, and they made their home on Mr. Daly’s father’s farm in Columbia township, where they continued to reside until her death.
Her last illness was of short duration. She was attacked by the dread disease influenza on Wednesday morning, February 19, a few hours later pneumonia developed, though everything was done to save her life that could possibly be accomplished by doctors, nurse, relatives and friends, she passed away Monday forenoon, February 24. 1919.
Among the relatives to mourn her loss are her husband, five children, Kathleen, John, Earle, Arthur and Donald; her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Jones of Houghton, who were at her bedside during her last hours on earth; four sisters, Mrs. R. E. Morrisse of Stockton, Ill., Mrs. J. M. Harbaugh of Linwood, Kans., Mrs. Clem Dickinson of Rocky Point, Wyo., and Vivian Jones and five brothers, William Jones of Columbia, Robert, Henry, Amwell and Hugh Jones all of Houghton.
Besides these, a host of relatives, neighbors and friends grieve for the departed and sympathize with the bereaved family. Owing to the serious illness of the husband and children, the funeral was private at the home, followed by a brief service at the Columbia cemetery, where the interment took place. The family wishes to extend their sincere and heartfelt thanks to the kind neighbors and friends who assisted them during the illness and death of the beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister.”
