Jones Funeral Homes - History

The Jones Funeral Homes in Dixon was founded in April 1897 when Royal and Celia Jones opened the business in a storefront in the Dixon business district. In December 1904 Mr. Jones died at the age of 34 and Celia the mother of 6 children and one of first licensed woman funeral directors in the State of Illinois carried on with the business. In 1927 her son J. Willard Jones joined her in the operation of the funeral home until he died as a result of an auto accident in November of 1947 at the age of 46.

His widow Elizabeth Hennessy Jones, the mother of 7 children herself, then entered the business with Celia and with the able assistance of Leo A. Miles continued to operate the firm. Celia Jones died in 1953 and in 1957 Elizabeth Jones brought her son Patrick R. Jones into the business. He has continued operating the funeral home as an owner and partner since that time. He was joined by his son Patrick R. Jones Jr. in 1986. Elizabeth H. Jones died in September of 1994.

The funeral home has been in 4 locations in Dixon prior to moving to its present location in the early l930’s, the McAlpine House a historic Dixon home.

In April of 1972 Patrick Jones Sr. purchased the Mihm Funeral Home in Amboy, IL from the Mihm Family and has operated it as the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home ever since. The Jones family had assisted Michael G. Mihm in his funeral home for many years prior to the purchase. Present day owners of Jones Funeral Homes Dixon and Mihm-Jones Funeral Homes Amboy, Patrick R. Jones Sr. and Patrick R. Jones Jr. are assisted by James J. Phelps who joined the firm in 1997. One hundred and eleven years and several thousand funerals later the Jones Family continues to serve our communities as it has since its beginning in 1897.

Mihm-Jones History

The Mihm-Jones Funeral Homes extends back over 70 years to its founder Michael G. Mihm who established the business in the 1930’s in a home on east Main St. near the Amboy City Park. In 1949 the business was moved to its present location at 303 E. Main. The founder it is rumored had attempted to enter business in competition against Frank Vaughan who was a very popular and successful funeral director in Amboy. Having failed to succeed in that endeavor Mr. Mihm then was employed by the Jones Funeral Homes in Dixon. Mr. Vaughan subsequently died and Mr. Mihm was debating whether or not he should again attempt to establish a funeral Home in Amboy. The debate was short lived as his employer and friend Willard Jones told him he was terminated at the end of that week forcing Mr. Mihm to again establish a funeral business in Amboy. The Mihm family and the Jones Family worked closely together for the next 35 or more years assisting each other until Mr. Mihm decided to retire and sold his business to Patrick R. Jones Sr. in 1972.

The Jones Family whose roots extended back into nearby May and Marion Townships has operated the business as Mihm-Jones Funeral Homes to the present day. Also the Joneses continue to operate the Jones Funeral Homes in Dixon, which was founded in 1897. Patrick R. Jones Sr. and Patrick R. Jones Jr., the present owners of the business, are the 3rd and 4th generations of the family involved in the funeral business. The Joneses were very ably assisted by Amboy native Wayne Hike, until his retirement in the early 1990’s.

Ambulance service, which the Funeral Home had operated for many years, was discontinued in the mid 1970’s It is said that the Fire Department came to Pat Jones Sr. and asked what he thought about them taking over ambulance service in the Amboy area. Pat asked for 30 seconds to think it over during which time he attempted to get out the ambulance cot and send it back with the fireman as an initial contribution toward their success. The fire department representatives thanked him for his generosity but recommended that he hang on to it for a while as it would be a few months until they could get into full action and they were sure the vehicle they ordered would come with a cot.

It has been a pleasure serving and being a part of the Amboy Community.

back to top