Dallas County AlArchives Photo person.....Alexander Williamson Jones 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 19, 2004, 11:24 pm

Source: Brant & Fuller (1893)
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  ALEXANDER WILLIAMSON JONES was born at Somerville, Fayette county, Tenn.,
November 3, 1840. His parents, Hon. Calvin and Mildred (Williamson) Jones, were
born and reared in North Carolina. His father was of English descent, while his
mother was of Scotch ancestry, her parents coming from Scotland to this country.
He was educated at the university of North Carolina, graduating with first
honors, and serving for one year immediately thereafter as professor in the
college. He prepared for the practice of law, and removed to Tennessee, where he
became distinguished both as a jurist and as an advocate. After serving eight
years as chancellor of the western district of Tennessee, he retired from the
bench and devoted himself exclusively and actively to the practice of the law,
until 1887, when his career was cut short by the hand of death. His son, A. W.
Jones, was educated at the west Tennessee college at Jackson. Upon leaving
college, he took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. A. J.
Peebles, of Somerville. In the spring of 1861, he graduated in medicine from the
university of Pennsylvania, and early in this year he enlisted in the Dixie
Rifles, Thirteenth Tennessee infantry, state troops. The regiment was sent to
Missouri, where Dr. Jones was transferred to the medical department. Still
later, the regiment was mustered into the Confederate service, and Dr. Jones,
passing a successful examination, was made an assistant surgeon in the
Confederate army. In 1863, he was commissioned first surgeon, and in November of
this year, at the request of Gen. Forrest, he was transferred to that general's
command. Dr. Jones bore his part in the great drama of the Civil war with
courage, fitness and faithfulness, serving on Gen. Forrest's staff after his
transfer, up to the time of his surrender at Gainesville, Ala., May 5, 1865. In
every battle fought by Gen. Forrest, Surgeon Jones took active part, bearing the
usual arms of a staff officer, and waiving the usual protection thrown around
the medical department. During one of his campaigns in Alabama, Surgeon Jones
formed the acquaintance of Miss Augusta Carlisle, daughter of the late E. K.
Carlisle, of Marion, Ala., and they were married at Marion, Ala., January 30,
1866. She has borne him eight children, four sons and four daughters. Until
1870, Dr. Jones resided in Tennessee. In that year he removed to Selma, Ala.,
which city has since been his home. Upon coming to Selma, he formed a
co-partnership with his father-in-law, under the name of Carlisle & Jones, in a
commission business, and a large and successful business was thus inaugurated.
In 1872, E. K. Carlisle, Jr., was admitted to partnership, and the name of the
firm was changed to Carlisle, Jones & Co. In January, 1873, E. K. Carlisle, Sr.,
died, but the business was continued under the same firm name by Dr. Jones and
the younger Carlisle, down to 1884. The commercial importance of this firm was
felt throughout the state, and its financial standing was second to none. On
August 12, 1878, Dr. Jones and others purchased, at public sale, the Selma,
Marion & Memphis railroad and its franchises. The road then extended from
Greensboro to Marion, was in bad condition, and was incomplete. A new
corporation was immediately formed, and Dr. Jones was elected president, and
through his successful management the road and its rolling stock were brought
into fine condition, and eight miles of new road built without one dollar being
called for from the stockholders. By the construction of these eight miles of
new road, a junction was formed with the New Orleans & Selma railroad. A
favorable lease was then secured, under which the Selma & Greensboro road was
permitted to run its cars into Selma, effecting a saving of $30,000 per year. By
this means the Selma & Greensboro railroad became at once self-sustaining, and
was placed upon a sound basis. In 1882, the road was sold, much to the interest
of the stockholders, who, by the sale, received considerable profits upon their
investment. This road is now known as the Cincinnati, Selma & Mobile railroad.
The New Orleans & Selma railroad, then incomplete, running out of Selma in a
direct line toward New Orleans, was sold in the fall of 1886, Dr. Jones and
others becoming the purchasers. A new corporation was at once formed under the
name of the Birmingham, Selma & New Orleans railroad company, and Dr. Jones was
elected president. This new company has improved and extended its road until now
it is well equipped and profitably managed. Dr. Jones has an enviable reputation
as a successful railroad man, and his duties as president of this road, as a
director in the City National bank, of Selma, and in other interests and
enterprises cause him to lead a very active life. Dr. Jones has always avoided
politics, but has contributed largely to the material advancement of his section
of the state. He is unassuming, unostentatious and courteous in bearing. His
sincerity and integrity, and his superior business qualifications, confer upon
him a dignity and importance in the social and commercial worlds that are alike
enviable and honorable.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 878, 879-881
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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