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 Mother Jones Monument (Jones) - Mount Olive, IL Posted by:  YoSam.
N 39° 04.844 W 089° 43.994
16S E 263575 N 4329292
"Chicago, November 19, 1923. A Special Request to the Miners of Mt. Olive, Illinois: When the last call comes for me to take my final rest, will the Miners see that I get a resting in the same clay that shelters the miners...." Mother Jones
Waymark Code: WM156YC
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 10/28/2021
Views: 4
County of Monument: Macoupin County
Sculptor: Carl C. Graf
Architect: Al H. Gerhardt
Contractor: Ed H. Becker
Location of Monument: Union Miners Cemetery, Mt. Olive
There are several plaques on this monument, three large and five small.
Proper Description: "Bas-relief oval portrait of Mother Jones on an obelisk, flanked on each side by a life-size statue of a miner dressed in their working gear. Memorial rests on base with three steps or tiers. On the front of the bottom step are five memorial plaques, one inscribed for Mary "Mother" Jones, the other four for individuals who died in the Virden Massacre, October 12, 1898 -- Joseph Gitterle, E. Kaemmerer, E. W. Smith, and General Alexander Bradley. There are also two larger plaques on each side of the monument, bearing the names of twenty-one miners and the dates they were killed." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
The text of these plaques:
Upper Center: WE COUNT IT DEATH TO FALTER, NOT TO DIE
Erected and dedicated October 12, 1936. In honor and to the everlasting memory of Mary "Mother" Jones, "General" Alexander Bradley and the Martyrs of the Virden Riot of 1898, by members of The Progressive Miners of America and The Women's Auxiliary of the Progressive Miners of America, assisted by many loyal and devout friends, sympathizers, and labor and fraternal organizations.
MARY "MOTHER" JONES
When the Sun, in all his state, Sleep the sleep of noble blest,
Illumed the Eastern sky, For in life you sacrificed and gave,
She passed through Glory's Morning Gate, We pledge to fill your last request,
And walked in paradise. "Let no traitor breathe o'er my grave".
Plaque on the proper left of Monument:
MARTYRS
of the
PROGRESSIVE MINERS OF AMERICA
The following have given their lives
To the cause of clean Unionism in America
WILLIAM CHANEY, Killed at Christopher, Illinois, August 25, 1933
MELVIN STAPLES, Killed at Springfield, Illinois, October 19, 1933
CLYDE WILLIAMS, Killed at Galatia, Illinois December 9, 1933
SAMUEL RONCHETTI, Killed at Kincaid, Illinois, April 21, 1934
HARRY JONES, Killed at Bulpitt, Illinois, September 10, 1934
JOE SIGLER, Killed at Bulpitt, Ill., Shot Sept.10, Died Sept.14, 1934
HARRY NEWKIRK, Killed at Harrisburg, Ill. Shot Sept.29, Died Sept.30, 1934
JOHN SEARS, Killed at Harriburg, Illinois, December 8, 1934
EDRIS MABIE, Killed at Springfield, Illinois, April 21, 1935
FRED D.GRAMLICH,SR., Killed at Springfield, Illinois, Map 27, 1936
Plaque Upper base proper right: MARTYRS
of the
PROGRESSIVE MINERS OF AMERICA
The following have given their lives
To the cause of clean Unionism in America
JOE COLBERT, Killed at Orient, Illinois, August 17, 1932
DOMINIC LAURENTI, Killed at Zeigler, Illinois, August 21, 1932
ANDREW GYENES, Killed at Tovey, Illinois, October 13, 1932
EMMA CUMERLATO, Killed at Kincaid, Illinois, January 3, 1933
JOHN WARD, Killed at West Frankfort, Illinois, March 27, 1933
HENRY ARNOLD, Killed at Du Quoin, Illinois, April 7, 1933
JAMES ATTES, Killed at Du Quoin, Illinois, April 7, 1933
TOM URBAN, Killed Springfield, Illinois, June 7, 1933
GUS CALLAS, Killed at West Frankfort, Illinois, August 6, 1933
JOHN HILTROP, JR., Killed at London Mills, Ill., August 11, 1933There are 5 plaques on the lower base, almost in contact with the ground. They run across the front of the monument, and from proper right (your left facing the monument) these are the words.
1st plaque proper right: JOSEPH GITTERLE
Died in the Virden Massacre, October 12, 1898
"Life to him was sweet, and fair as the autumn sky,
But duty called, and, bravely, he answered: "AYE."
2nd from proper right: E. KAEMMERER
Died in the Virden Massacre, October 12, 1898
"He thought it better to be dead: to die for liberty and
His friends, than to live in bondage or just for bread."
In the center, just above her grave marker: MARY "MOTHER" JONES
Born May 1, 1830
Died November 30, 1930
"She gave her life to the world of labor. Her blessed soul
To heaven. God's finger touched her - and now she sleeps."
2nd in from proper left: E. W. SMITH
Died in the Virden Massacre, October 12, 1898
"Twas not because he loved life less, but because he loved
His friends and freedom more, that he gave his all."
1st from proper left: "GENERAL" ALEXANDER BRADLEY
Born November 29, 1866
Died April 1, 1918
"The fittest way for man to die is to give his life for man,
For to live in the hearts we leave behind ~ is not to die."
And one final plaque. Small on the rear lower base:
MOTHER JONES MONUMENT COMMITTEE
Joe Ozanic, Chairman
Ben Kuinz, Vice Chairman
Fred W. Leonhardt, Secretary
Kurt Kaufman, Treasurer
WM. J. Walker, JR.
Barney Flaherty
John Mc Cann
Mike Campion
Chas. Bushmiller
Chas. Franz
Robert C. Schmidt
Lester Dewall
Emil Zenner
Al. H. Gerhardt, Architect
Ed. H. Becker, Gen'l. Contractor
Carl C. Graf, Sculptor
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