Hugh Pryce Jones, First Deputy Coroner for Sutter County

January 06, 2019

Hugh Pryce Jones, First Deputy Coroner for Sutter County

On July 1, 1925, Jones was appointed as the first Deputy Coroner for Sutter County. In 1926, Jones opened the first funeral home in Sutter County. It wasn’t until 1933 that Jones opened Jones Funeral Home on Reeves at the address of 511 Reeves Ave.

I wasn't sure if there was a connection to the 535 address (we had only heard of 533 being the original address prior to the building being turned into a duplex). This was HUGE news in the Yuba City/ Sutter County area, and Jones' advertisement graced the front of every directory, while in business. In 1948 the Jones Funeral Home Advertisement that overtook every single cover of any directory I found, suddenly turned into Jarvis Funeral Home.

This is the same year that Jones and Ullrey funeral homes merged. H.P. Jones sold his business to Charles, Eugene, and Russell Jarvis. On July 7th, 1948, according to the Appeal-Democrat Russell Jarvis was appointed as the official undertaker for Sutter County. The address was then changed to 535 Reeves Ave. As you can see by the adverts, the phone number stayed the same, proving in fact, that it was essentially the same business. We originally thought that 535 was a newer address from a fairly recent remodel, but, in fact it's been this way since 1947. Also in 1954 was the last record I find of this being a mortuary.

In 1960 Louie Sammy resided at the Reeves location, as a regular address. The building was not originally built to be a funeral home/mortuary. In 1931, G.W. Johson resided here.

This is a biography I found on Pryce several years ago, and I cannot find a link to its origin. If you are the author, please let me know so I may credit -

"Hugh Pryce Jones, who is a leading funeral director of Sutter county, having at Yuba City one of the most modern mortuary establishments in the Sacramento Valley, was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, on the 4th of February, 1898, and is a son of Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Jones, who brought their family to California when their son Hugh was but a young child. The father was accidentally killed in Oakland about thirty years ago, and the mother now resides in San Francisco. Upon the death of her husband she was left with, six children and no means of support, but she courageously took up the burden and reared her children to respectable manhood and womanhood.

Hugh P. Jones was reared in Oakland where he attended the public schools. Confronted with the necessity of earning his living at an age when most boys are securing an education, he chose the undertaking business. At fourteen years of age he went to work for the Truman Undertaking Company and later entered the Worthman College of Embalming at Berkeley, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. He became associated with an undertaking firm at Piedmont, Alameda county, and also served for five years as a deputy coroner of that county.

Later he went to Sacramento, where he was employed at undertaking work, and in 1925 went to Marysville, where in partnership with Bert M. Ullery, he established the undertaking firm of Jones and Ullery. Two years ago Mr. Jones bought out his partner and, coming to Yuba City, established the Jones Funeral Home.

Marked success has attended his efforts here. He has enlarged his establishment and made valuable improvements, making it strictly first class in all of its appointments. He has a full motorized equipment of ambulances, hearses and service cars, employs a lady attendant, and his establishment includes not only a reception room, but also a neat and attractive chapel.

Mr. Jones has served very creditably as deputy coroner of Sutter County for several years and is still filling that position. He has made judicious investment in Sutter County, including besides his funeral home, other Yuba City property and the commodious residence which he built on the Colusa Highway, at the corner of Gray Street.

On May 14, 1927, in Sacramento, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Mrs. Inez Moore, and they have a daughter, June Irene. Mr. Jones is a Republican in his political views, though he aims to vote for the candidates whom he considers best qualified for the offices they seek, regardless of party lines.

He has been a member of the city council of Yuba City since 1928 and is chairman of the fire and sanitary committees. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Marysville, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Pythias Sisters and the Daughters of Rebekah at Yuba City. He organized the Kiwanis Club here and was its first president, and is an active member of the American Legion at Marysville. He assisted in organizing the Legion post at Oakland and served as it’s vice commander. He also belongs to the Sons of St. George, the Lake Merritt Club and the Lucerne Country Club of Lake county. He is affiliated with the Professional Embalmers of San Francisco and is regarded as an expert in that exacting line of work. Mrs. Jones is a past noble grand of the Daughters of Rebekah and is president of the Ladies of Woodcraft.

Mr. Jones is a veteran of the World War, having enlisted at Oakland in the automobile unit at the University of California. He was soon placed in command of the sanitary department was later commissioned a second lieutenant and eventually was transferred to Fort McDonald, where he had charge of all embalming. He continued to serve there until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco. He has shown a keen interest in everything relating to the welfare of his city and county and is regarded by his fellowmen as one of Yuba City’s substantial residents."

Cases of Hugh Pryce Jones

The First case that stood out to me for Hugh was the case of The Mad Killer. I wrote about this last year. This was a fascinating case that occurred on the river between Sacramento and Yuba City, in Sutter County.

Here are some newspaper clipping that also highlighted some of Hugh's other cases - There will be a few errors. Unaltered.

October 15, 1935
Woodland Daily Democrat from Woodland, California · Page 1

ATTEMPT TO SPEED MOVE FOR PEACE - (INS) While Sheepherder in Satter Basin Field Lightning Recorded its first fatality in this district in 30 years Monday when Pete Mulas, Sutter Basin sheepherder, was instantly killed when struck by a bolt while walking across a field. Mulas' body, with his dog dead beside him, was found late Monday afternoon by Jack Alves of Woodland, superintendent for Holmes and Hughes, for whom Mulas worked. According to Coroner Hugh Pryce Jones of Sutter county, who was called by Alves to take charge of the body, it is the first time in more than 30 years that lightning, has accounted for a death. Sheep Guide Searcher Alves discovered the body when he went to investigate the reason the sheep, for which Mulas was a herder, were milling about the fit - Id in an unusual manner. He found Mulas' body, - Jying face downward, his dog's body beside him. The lightning bolt, according to Coroner Jones, apparently killed the man and dog together. The coroner's investigation showed that the lightning struck Mulas on the shoulder, for there was a red "contact" mark. The entire upper portion of Mulas' body was as black as if it had been burned in a fire. Ripped Shirt The bolt went between Mulas' coat and shirt, leaving the coat intact but ripping the shirt to shreds. It is believed that the accident occurred about 11 a. ni. as Mulas and his dog were crossing the field to the camp for lunch, having left the sheep to graze in the field. Mulas, who was about. 55 years old, came to the Sutter Basin district from Stockton a short time ago and was hired by Alves as one of the Holmes and Hughes' herders in the Sutter Basin district. Coroner Jones Tuesday was endeavoring to get in touch with members of Mulas' family to make funeral arrangements.