My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS R. JONES, Calloway County, Ky., was born in Paris, Tenn., November 19, 1835, the second child born to Thomas M. and Mary (Cluselle) Jones. The father was a Kentuckian by birth and figured prominently in the history of the State. He was a saddler by trade and came to Calloway County in 1836, and was the county judge of said county for sixteen years; he served two terms in the legislature, and died in 1877; he had been three times married, his second wife being Martha Brame of Christian County, Ky., and his third, Martha Simpson, of Calloway County, Ky. Our subject remained at home until his marriage, when he started out in the grocery business in Murray, and for many years afterward was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1879 he was employed as salesman in the establishment of Ellison, Head & Co., of Paris, Tenn. He afterward went to Paducah, and for over two years was employed by C. H. Reike & Sons, and J. R. Smith & Co., wholesale dry goods dealers and grocers respectively. After this he went to Mayfield, where he was one year in the dry goods business with J. D. A. Hale, when he came to Murray and opened a dry goods store under the firm name of Thomas R. Jones & Sons; six days later, the establishment burned, but stock of goods saved and was opened out in new quarters of the town. January 20, 1856, he married Celia Malone of Murray, by whom there were six children, five living: Emma J., widow of ex-Circuit Clerk James M. Hutchens; Lula D., now wife of Nathaniel Ryan, merchant of Murray; James P. and William O., both in partnership with their father, and Lera L. Mrs. Jones died July 27, 1873, and Mr. Jones was subsequently married to Miss Mattie Boggs, of Murray, July 20, 1875. Mr. Jones is a member of the Christian Church, and also of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to the rank of Royal Arch Mason. He was a charter member of the Murray Institute, and for many years a member of the board of trustees. William O. Jones was married to Miss Lee Nix of Marshall County, Ky., May 6, 1885. Miss Lera L. Jones was married to Hardy G. Keys, of Calloway County, Ky., December 25, 1884.