History of the Sign

About the message:

Over 2,000 years ago, God the Son came into the world as a human.  He lived a sinless life and  offered Himself as payment for the sins of the world.  Jesus Christ died on the cross, and then arose from that death to lead us to an eternal existence with Him, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  One merely needs to believe this truth and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior to have that salvation.

Christ died for you.   Christ Died For Me!!

About the originator of the "CHRIST DIED FOR ME" sign, Jack Siegfried:

Jack was born John Wesley Siegfried. He was born on June 24th, 1881 in Leadville, Colorado.

His family moved to Mulvane, Kansas in 1883.

He had three sisters and one brother.

Came to Jetmore around 1912.

He helped build the county high school in the winter of 1912-1913.

While building the school, Jack enlisted fellow crew members to begin the "Christ Died For Me" sign.

He was the head carpenter and foreman on construction of the Methodist Church...1917-1918.

He died April 19th, 1952

He is the only Siegfried listed at Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.



Timeline:

• 1881- John Wesley Sigfried - born in Leadville, CO either June 12 (Ancestry.com) or June 24 (Jetmore Republican obituary - May 1, 1952) Parents: James and Rose
• 1883 - Siegfried family moved to Mulvane, KS
• 1885 - Sister Florence May born September 12
• 1888 - Sister Pearl Lenore born June 8
• 1888 - Zelma (future wife of Jack ??) born February 12
• 1892 - Brother Charles Wesley born.
• 1912 - Jack moved to Jetmore and worked on new high school construction.
• 1912/13 - Jack started sign south of Jetmore.  Accomplished, “CHRIST DIED FO.”  (Original intent was to read, "CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY")
• 1914 - Mrs. Rumford’s Sunday school class and others completed sign to read, “CHRIST DIED FOR ME.”
• 1914 - December 11 edition of The Hutchinson News  and the December 18 edition of The Advocate (Lakin, KS) reported sign has been in place for 20 years.??
• 1917-18 - J. W. Siegfried was head carpenter and foreman on building of new Methodist church.
• 1922 - February 19, Mrs. Zelma Siegfried listed as “head of family” on membership roll for Methodist Episcopal Church, Jetmore.  Also listed are two children (Jack’s stepchildren?) Keath Ann Shaw and Dudley Wayne Shaw.
• 1928 - February 24, Jack’s father, James, passes. (Mulvane, KS) Ancestry.com
• 1931 - Mrs. J. W. Siegfried is winner of a stove in a contest sponsored by Lindas Hardware store.  April 17 issue of Jetmore Republican.
• 1933 - February 18, the women of the Royal Neighbor Camp and others move the sign due to the highway being rerouted.
• 1936 - September 16, Zelma Siegfried marries Hubert Holbrook.  Per Hodgeman County Court records (Name is spelled “Seigfreid”).
• 1945 - Jack’s mother, Rose, passes. (Kansas City, MO)  Ancestry.com 
• 1949 - Jack’s brother, Frank, passes. (Derby, KS)  ??  Ancestry.com
• 1952 - April 19, Jack Siegfried passes. Only Siegfried in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.  Headstone reads, "John W. Siegfried".  Obituary in May 1 issue, Jetmore Republican. 
• 1954 - December 20, Hubert Holbrook passes.  Interred Benton City, Missouri
• 1957 - Photo of Mrs. Zelma Siegfried, May 23 issue of Jetmore Republican. ??
• 1969 - September, Jack’s brother, Charles, passes.  Ancestry.com
• 1972 -  May 6, Zelma B. Holbrook passes.  Interred Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore. 
• 1977 - December 29, Jack’s sister, Pearl, passes. (California)  Ancestry.com
• 1980 - March 17, Dudley W. Shaw (Zelma’s son?) passes.  Interred Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore
• 1982 - Alvin Allen wrote the poem "The Hillside Motto" for Jetmore's centennial celebration.  (see poem below)
• 1990 - Hutchinson News, Aug. 21, 1990, reports that Kenneth Timken, originator of Bazine's "CHRIST PILOT ME" sign, was inspired by Jetmore's "CHRIST DIED FOR ME" sign. (Thank you Mary Ravenstein)
• 1995 - Brian Ney weeded and painted the sign for his Eagle Scout project.  July 27 issue of Jetmore Republican.
• 1998 - Stones moved to the west...again to accommodate highway rerouting.
• 2007 - Keitha A. Shaw (Zelma’s daughter?) passes.  Interred Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.
• 2016 - The sign is accented with bricks from Main St. (crushed and transported by Hard Rock Sand & Gravel - Dodge City). Spreading the brick-gravel was done by a 'bucket brigade' organized by Friends and Mentors Engage.
• 2019 - May 25...First "Love The Sign" meeting!
• 2019 - October 6...The wooden cross above the "Christ Died For Me" sign is fitted with solar powered lighting.  Thank you to Darrell Abbott and the Paz family.
• 2019 - October 9...Jetmore Republican reports $3,500 (from Marion Ochs memorial) check presented by Karen Ochs to Hodgeman Community Foundation earmarked for "Christ Died For Me" sign maintainance.  

From The Jetmore Republican - Wednesday, October 19, 2016, Issue 43 Volume 139

1982

THE HILLSIDE MOTTO

Alvin Allen

On Jacobs Hill just south of Jetmore Town

     Are words in stone to cheer the sinner’s mood,

They sing in silence as they steadily look down

     That Jesus died to save us on the Rood.

We rush along involved in daily toil

     But sometimes pause, look up, and plainly see

The Motto that transcends our cares with soil

     In the phrase so simply said: “Christ died for me.”

In the winter after the great Titanic sank

     Jack Siegfried and his crew who built the High

Are claimed to have rested Sundays as they drank

     Yet kept their eyes where the hilltop meets the sky.

They carried stones and placed them on the spot

     To voice the theme that so compelled them then;

They prayed that others, like themselves, not be forgot,

     Since they believed “Christ died for...ungodly men.”

Foul weather came before the Motto’s end

     And the crew was thwarted in the work begun,

But others felt called to finish and amend

     And the words “Christ died for me” were set and done.

A church-school class responded to the call

     And gave the pattern for the years to come;

4-H’ers, Scouts, and dames helped overhaul

     With repairs and paint when the Motto needed some.

Not even a modern highway cutting through,

     Not a power line strung before the Motto’s face,

Not wind, sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail dust or dew,

     Not grass and weeds grown tall about the place,

Not horses and cattle stumbling through the stones

     Could keep good folks for long from the chance to see

The returned Motto with it’s silent tones

     Forever singing that “Christ died for me.”

For sixty-seven years the stones have sung

     The words and helped the faith of you and me.

They’ve given hope when Easter bells have rung

     Of the Risen Christ and Death’s Great Victory.

So now before the stones we humbly pray

     That we may ever clearly hear and see

The Motto formed on Death’s Triumphant Day

     When Christ was crucified on Calvary!