My Genealogy Hound

John Jones, postmaster, White Hall, Ark. Mr. Jones was born in Abbeville District, S. C., and is the son of Robert and Mary (Conn) Jones, natives of South Carolina, and of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were among the first settlers of South Carolina, and there the mother died when her son John was but an infant. He was taken and reared by his grandfather, John Conn, and his father went to Alabama, where he was married the second time. After the death of his grandparents our subject was taken to Alabama by his father, and received his education in the common schools of that State. His father was a miller, and was very successful in this occupation. He was a member of the Christian Church, and his death occurred in Alabama in 1862. John Jones was reared to farm labor, and began his own career at the age of fifteen years. When eighteen years of age he left Alabama for West Tennessee and worked for money to enable him to attend school. This was in 1837, and he returned to Alabama, where he went to school for about two years, after which he was elected to the office of constable, although he continued to farm until 1842. He took for his life companion Miss Martha Thurman, a native of Alabama, and after marriage began farming on rented land, where he remained for fourteen years. In 1856 he moved to Poinsett County, Ark., and purchased the farm on which he now resides. At first he purchased 160 acres of wild land, and began to improve it, living in a tent until he could erect a cabin. He cleared about eight acres the first year, and since then has continued to clear and other wise improve his farm, until now he has 200 acres of land, with 120 acres cleared. About 1869 he erected a gin and grist-mill, and has since conducted that business in connection with tilling the soil. In 1887 that mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in 1888. The year 1887 was an unfortunate one for Mr. Jones, as he had his residence and all the contents destroyed by fire in that year. To his marriage were born these children: J. P., a farmer, living in Scott Township, and is magistrate for his township; Isaac L., now twenty-one years of age, lives with his father; William C., born in 1844 and died in 1863, and Josephine E., born in 1846. Mr. Jones had two sons in the Confederate army; one, William C, sickened and died in Columbus, Miss., his father being present and attending to his wants until his death; the other son, J. P., came out without injury. Mr. Jones votes with the Republican party, and takes an active interest in politics. He held the office of justice of the peace before the war, and has filled many local positions of trust and responsibility, such as coroner and school trustee, and has been postmaster for the last twelve years. During the year 1851 Mr. Jones held the office of tax-collector in Limestone County, Ala., under a bond of $75,000. He is a member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.