Capt. Co. E 3 MO Brig. - CSA
from: MEMORIAL & BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF MCLENNAN, FALLS, BELL, & CORYELL COUNTIES, TEXAS published 1893
A farmer of Webb League, McLennan County, was b. in Surry Co., N.C. the eldest son of 10 children of James & Ailee Bills Jones, natives of NC. The father was a Baptist minister by profession, but devoted most of his time to agricultural pursuits. In 1838 he moved with his family to Missouri, settling in Dallas county, where he remained until his death, in 1874, at the age of 78 years. The mother of our subject was a native of NC, and died at the old homestead in MO in 1863.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, and early in life displayed unusual business ability, and was intrusted with important duties and trasactions at an early age. After his marriage Mr. Jones was engaaged in farming until 1861, when he organized a company for the late war, and was elected it captain. In 1862 he was regularly discharged from the service, on account of impaired health. In 1866 he came to TX, settling near the place he now occupies, where he remained 3 years, and then bought the home place. He now owns 300 acres of highly improved land, all under fence, and subdivided into fields and pastures of suitable size. He has a large and convienient house, good barns, and large cisterns for water, and convenient tenant houses. Mr. Jones has witnessed great changes and improvements since his settlement in TX, many of the old settlers have vanished.
Mr. Jones served one term as postmaster in MO, was elected Captain of the militia, & was also elected to the Legislature of MO 5 terms, and served one term in the Texas Legislature.
He has a beautiful gold-mounted cane that was presented to him by the St. Louis delegation in 1853, for his firm and gallant stand against the bill declaring all the city offices of St. Louis vacant.
He was married 15 Feb. 1838 to Miss Sarah J. Moore, a daughter of Johnathan and Sarah Moore, natives of NC. The parents moved to TN in an early day, where the father died, at the age of 82 years, and the mother afterward moved to MO, where she died near Springfield, at the advanced age of 96 years.
Mr. & Mrs. Jones have had 10 children, viz.: Leeclerk M. b. 21 Dec. 1838, d. 21 Aug. 1854; Mary J. b. 19 Oct. 1840, was the wife of Edward Johnson, & d. 1884; Ira B. b 18 Jun. 1833 d. 21 Jun. 1873; James M. b. 15 Jun. 1849 d. 22 Oct. 1884; Sarah P. b. 21 Aug. 1846 is the wife of Henry Johnson; John L. b. 13 Jan. 1859 was m. to a widow Campbell.
Mrs. Jones d. after attaining he 60th year, 29 Oct. 1882, and in her death our subject sustained an irreparable loss.