My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS SPICER JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, post-office Avilla, is a native of Tennessee, born Sept. 7, 1827. When yet a child his parents moved to Kentucky, and located in Hickman county, where he grew to manhood. His youth was spent in assisting in the farm duties. Schools in those days were not plenty in the Kentucky backwoods, consequently his education was limited. He was married Nov. 12, 1846, to Miss Nancy Autry, a native of Tennessee. In 1858 he came overland to southwest Missouri, and located where he now lives. He started in with a hearty good will improving his claim, and at the breaking out of the civil war had nearly eighty acres in cultivation. At first in the struggle Mr. Jones undertook to remain neutral, but finding that impracticable he joined Captain Fisher’s Company of the Seventy-sixth Regiment E. M. M., and many were the dangers he underwent in these trying times. He was one of the squad of twenty attacked by bushwhackers near Carthage in July 1864, but he fortunately was some distance from the rest of them, lying in the grass when the enemy rode up, passing within fifteen yards of him, killing seven men. He escaped by crawling through the grass to some bushes where he remained until they left. During all these trials his wife and family were at home exposed to all the dangers and privations incident to war times in countries where hostile parties meet. His family consists of six children living: William Henry, born Feb. 2, 1849; James F., born Oct. 6, 1852; Amanda J., born Aug. 10, 1855, wife of Wm. L. Gulick; Jarvis A., born Dec. 31, 1857; John R., born March 19, 1861; Francis M., born March 23, 1865, and Sarah E., born Oct. 18, 1869, also four deceased. Since the return of peace Mr. Jones has been quite prosperous. His farm consists of 280 acres of well improved land, also 66 acres of timber. He is a bluff, hearty, well preserved gentleman. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church.