Moundsville Echo - January 7, 1933 VETERAN OF INDIAN WARS EXPIRES HERE ELGIN BERT JONES, Eye-witness To Custer Massacre, Dies Elgin Bert Jones, 79, eye witness to the scene of the massacre of General Custer and his small band of gallant U. S. soldiers on Little Big Horn river, in the Dakotas, died this mornin at the home of Mr.and Mrs. Jay B. Merritt on Elm avenue. A military funeral has been arranged, and the American Legion color guard and buglers will meet at the hall Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The body was removed to the Grisell funeral home, and the services will be held in the Grisell chapel Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Rev. W. C. Harold of the Baptist church will officiate. Interment will be in Greenlawn cemetery. Mr. Jones was born in the city of Oxford, Michigan, on September 3, 1853. He was 23 years old when he joined the U. S. Standing Army. He stayed at Fort Monroe, in Detroit, Michigan, only a few months when his company, Company E, 1st U. S. Infantry was ordered to the Dakotas. They went by steamer to Chicago then by the Union Pacific railroad to some point in Iowa. At the time of the Custer Massacre he was under the command of Major Reno, only three miles from the scene of battle. As soon as it was possible they arrived on the battle field, and buried their late comrades with fitting rites. After he was honorably discharged from the army he returned to Michigan where he was an employee of the Grand Trunk railroad at Pontiac, Mich., for 35 years. Upon retiring from active life he went to live with John A. Merritt in Royal Oak, Michigan. And he was a life-long friend of the Merritt family, when J. B. Merritt and family moved here he came with them. He has lived here for three years. Mr. Jones was a friend to all. He was especially liked by the children and younger set. Submitted by Joseph D. Parriott; typed by Linda Fluharty.