Biography of Benjamin F Jones, Mississippi Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: Sep 1998
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Bibliography: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas.
Chicago:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.

Benjamin F. Jones, one of the most influential men in Mississippi
County, and a man who, during his residence here has not only become
one of the largest and wealthiest landholders, but is also connected
with the well-known and prosperous mercantile firm of Ward & Jones, is
a native of Illinois. His parents, James and Elvira (Henderson) Jones,
were natives of Kentucky, and some time before the war the father,
with his family, consisting of his wife and small children, moved to
Illinois. There both parents died, the father in 1860 and the mother
in 1868. In 1866 Benjamin F. Jones came to Mississippi County, Ark.,
and at the age of seventeen years commenced working on a farm, where
he continued for several years. In 1869 he embarked in mercantile
pursuits in Osceola, which he continued for about seven years, when,
owing to financial difficulties, he sold out to his partner, the
latter agreeing to pay all indebtedness, which he did in full. After
this, for a number of years, he was engaged in planting cotton, at
which he was very successful. About 1885 he bought the interest of L.
Ward, of the firm of L. Ward & Son, located on Frenchman's Bayou, and
formed a partnership under the firm name of Ward & Jones. Since that
time the firm has been very prosperous, their annual sales running
from $40,000 to $50,000, and in connection they also carry on cotton
planting quite extensively, the firm being the owners of over 2,000
acres of the rich land about Frenchman's Bayou, which ranks among the
most fertile tracts on the continent. They have about 300 acres under
the plow, the remainder yet in timber, but each year they add greatly
to their cleared land. Mr. Jones is the owner of over 1,000 acres in
his own right, and stands among the foremost young business men in the
county. He is always ready with open hand to encourage any legitimate
enterprise, and is a benefit and an honor to any community in which
his lot is cast. He is a member of McGavock Lodge No. 2754, Knights of
Honor, located at Frenchman's Bayou. He wedded Miss Nannie Ashburn,
daughter of Jack Ashburn, one of the pioneers of the county, who came
with his father from Kentucky when a boy, or in the year 1829. He died
when his daughter Nannie was but a child. His wife was Mary Ball. Mr.
and Mrs. Jones' union was blessed by the birth of six children, all
living, and the eldest about fourteen years of age. They are named as
follows: Harry, Cora, Maud, Pearl, Annie, and Francis, an infant four
months old. In all his ideas and tendencies Mr. Jones is progressive
and enterprising, a useful member of society, personally and in
business circles.