By: Sara Mathis

MARRY HARRIS JONES

Marry was born on August 1, 1837 in Cork Ireland.She later claimed her date of birth was May 1, 1830

FAST FACTS

Marry Harris Jones was born to Richard and Marry Jones. At this time it was common to see British soldiers marching on the streets of Ireland. Mary's grandfather was hung by the British soldiers for being a freedom fighter. Many sources said her father was also a freedom fighter.

BRITISH SOLDIERS

AFTER MARY’S FATHER WAS HANGED, SHE WAS

FORCED TO FLEE IRELAND, HER HOME

TOWN WITH HER FAMILY. AFTER MOVING,

MARRY HAD TO START A COMPLETELY NEW LIFE.

Marry moved to Michigan and taught as a teacher for roughly eight months. And then worked as a dress maker. After Michigan, Marry moved to Memphis Tennessee in 1860 to start teaching again.

Memphis Tennessee is where marry met and married George E Jones in 1860. Mary traveled along side with George in his union organizing which was working as a iron molder.

Marry and George Later on bore four children in quick succession but tragedy struck first in 1867 when Mary’s husband and four children in a yellow fever epidemic, each died within a week of each other.

YELLOW FEVER

Marry stayed in Memphis to nurse other victims of the yellow fever until the epidemic died off. She soon moved back to Chicago working as a dress maker again. But soon tragedy struck again in 1871, she lost everything she owned in a house fire. Marry kept pushing forward.

In 1890 joined the coal miners fight, becoming an organizer for a newly formed united mine workers of America. Marry involved herself with wives and children of miners to dramatized to situations .

After years of working with coal miners fight, Marry moved and lived in silver spring with a retires miner and his wife, Walter and Lillie May Burgess.

Seven months after the birthday party of “Mother” Marry Jones died in her home on, November 30,1930 at the age of 93.

A statue of Marry stands 22 feet high and is built out of 80 tons of pink Minnesota granite. For years October,12 was the miners day of celebration in her honor with a big gathering. In Mountain Olive and visit the monument of Marry Harris Jones.