Calista Robinson Jones

Calista Robinson Jones (1839-1913) was an American relief leader who served as the nineteenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps (WRC) (1901-02). She is also remembered for her patriotism. When the Civil War broke out, Jones was teaching in Chicago. She, with two other teachers, sewed a flag which they raised over their school, and so far as was known in its day, it was the first flag to be raised over a schoolhouse in Chicago, and perhaps in the state of Illinois.

Early life and education Calista Robinson was born March 22, 1839, in Chelsea, Vermont, and during the greater part of her life, was a resident of that State, much of that time in Bradford, Vermont.

Her parents were Cornelius and Mary A. (Pike) Robinson. Her maternal grandmother, Sophia Lyman, wife of James Pike, was a daughter of Richard Lyman, of Lebanon, Connecticut, who marched with others from Connecticut "for the relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm, April 1775," and in April 1777, enlisted for three years under Captain Benjamin Throop, having the rank of Sergeant in the 1st Connecticut Regiment, under Colonel Jedediah Huntington. Solomon Robinson, great-grandfather of Cornelius Robinson, was in the Battle of Bennington. At the convention held in Cleveland, Ohio, in September 1901, five months after becoming widowed, Jones was elected National President, receiving a unanimous vote. She was the first member from Vermont to be elected to the high office.

To Jones was primarily due the founding and establishment of the Bradford Public Library. She was one of the Trustees and chair of its Book Committee. Its beginning was in 1874, when Jones and Mrs. Albert Bailey went about from house to house, and procured subscriptions of each from sixty-three women to a fund for the purchase of books for a library. In addition to the annual subscriptions, money was obtained by entertainments and lectures conducted by the association. The books were kept at the house of Mrs. Jones, who acted as librarian three years. The building was dedicated in 1895. She was a member of the George Washington Memorial Association, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, having been a member of the first Chapter in Vermont.

Personal life Calista's husband, Charles Jones, was engaged for many years in the insurance business in Bradford, in partnership with Colonel John C. Stearns. The firm became one of the best known in that section of Vermont. Mr. Jones held various positions of trust in Bradford, serving as president of the Village Corporation, Water Commissioner, School Trustee, and director and treasurer of the Bradford Electric Lighting Company. He died in April 1901.