My Genealogy Hound

Retherford Lewis Jones, a prominent planter and stock raiser of Breckinridge Township, was born in Carroll County, Tenn., in 1825, and was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Richard and Polly (Martin) Jones, of Tennessee, where the father was an extensive planter in Wilson County. The elder Jones moved from Wilson County to Carroll County, and a few years later went to Wayne County, Mo., where he became engaged in farming until his death, in 1844. While in Carroll County he took an active part in politics, and was one of the prominent figures in the history of that county, and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity for a number of years, and deputy sheriff. He had one brother, who fought in the Creek and Seminole Wars, and his father was an old Revolutionary soldier, who was born in North Carolina, and in 1839 died in Davidson County, Tenn., at the age of eighty-four years. R. L. Jones was reared in Carroll County, Tenn., and instructed in the duties of farm life. In 1843 he moved with his parents to Wayne County, Mo., and continued farming in that State until 1847, when he went to Jackson County, Ark., settling in Breckinridge Township, where he took up a pre-emption claim, and later entered the same. The land consisted of sixty acres of virgin soil, and he at once commenced improving it and erected a log cabin. In 1850 he was married to Miss Emaline Brazeale, a daughter of Archibald and Dorcas Brazeale, of Tennessee, and resided with his bride on the first farm until 1859, when he sold it and bought a claim of 160 acres, of which twenty-five were under fence. He has added to this and improved the land since he first occupied it, until now he owns a fine farm of 520 acres, and has 225 under cultivation. He raises principally corn and cotton, and other portions of the land make excellent grazing for cattle, in which he also deals quite largely. In 1871 Mr. Jones lost his wife after a happy married life of twenty-one years. Eight children were born to this marriage, of whom four are yet living: Mary Dorcas, now Mrs. Martin; Sarah, now Mrs. Jagers, who resides on her father’s farm; Edgar, and Nancy Alice, now Mrs. Harris. Mr. Jones was again married, in 1872, his second wife being Miss Barbara C. Outlaw, of Tennessee, who died leaving two children, Joseph E. and Jeanette, both of whom reside at home. In 1886 Mr. Jones married his third wife, who was Miss Fanny B. Hall, of Alabama, by whom he has one child, Nora. He does not take an active part in politics, but his sympathies ever since the war have been with the Democratic party. In educational matters he is greatly interested, and his efforts toward promoting the schools in Jackson County have been praiseworthy. He is a member of Augusta Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., while in the religions faith he attends the Missionary Baptist Church, of which his wife is also a member, and Mr. Jones has held a membership in that church for forty-three years. During the war he accompanied Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, and also took part in the battles of Pilot Knob, Jefferson City, Blue Gap, Kansas City, Newtonia and Fayetteville, Ark., from which place he returned home after an honorable service. Mr. Jones is a very attentive man to the welfare of his children, and is providing them with the best education to be obtained. He is a very close observer, and, from an educational and religious standpoint, notes that there is a decided change for the better constantly going on.