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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joseph H. Jones, farmer, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in the city of Nashville, on February 27, 1836, and is a son of Uriah Jones, a native Virginian, who was born in 1808, and died in Desha County, Ark., in 1873, whither he had come in 1841, his first location, however, being in Arkansas County, where he became a wealthy farmer. His wife, formerly Miss Sarah Henderson, was born, reared and married in Tennessee, the latter event being in 1832 or 1833. She died about 1842, having borne a family of five children—two sons and three daughters— Joseph H. Jones being the only one of the family now living. John died in Arkansas in 1842, Amanda, died in 1878; Elizabeth, died in 1879, and Addie, died in 1873. Joseph H. Jones has resided in Arkansas since he was six years of age, but his early advantages were limited, owing to the newness of the country at that time. When eighteen years of age he began farming for himself in Desha County, and this occupation has since received his attention, he being now the owner of 160 acres of good land near the Arkansas River, of which eighty acres are under cultivation, devoted to cotton and corn. He was married in Maury County, Tenn., October 8, 1869, to Miss Maggie Brown, a Tennessean, and a daughter of Ira Brown, and by her has had a family of seven children—three sons and four daughters— Irene, Sallie, Gordon, Luther, Maggie, Grover Cleveland and Ella, dead. In May, 1861, Mr. Jones joined Company D, Capt. McGregor’s First Arkansas Regiment, and was in the battles of Manassas, Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga and all the battles from Dalton to Atlanta. He surrendered at Jonesboro, N. C., and was paroled. He was in the Army of the Tennessee with Gens. J. E. Johnston and Braxton Bragg, and during his service was several times wounded, once in the right hand at the battle of Atlanta, losing his third finger. After the war was over he returned to Arkansas, and, as above stated, has devoted his time and attention to the peaceful pursuit of farming, giving some attention also to the raising of cattle. He is a man of quiet habits, but of an honest and generous disposition, and is highly esteemed by his many acquaintances and friends. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and take an active part in church work. Mr. Jones is a Democrat, has held the office of justice of the peace of Red Fork Township for three years, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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