Biography of John Jones, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company John Jones, a well-known resident of the county, was born on the farm where he now resides, October 27, 1835, and is a son of John and Mary (Black) Jones, the former being one of the very first settlers of Randolph County, Ark., and was the first man to locate on Jones' Creek, which took its name from him. Here his death occurred in 1842, when about sixty years of age. His wife also died here in 1838, about the age of her husband. He was a professed Christian, and had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. They were well-to-do citizens, and were the owners of a number of slaves besides other property, also a large amount of real estate; at the time of his location here the nearest postoffice was sixty miles away. Six sons and two daughters blessed their union, of which children three are now living: John, Andrew and Sarah, the latter being the wife of William Sloan. John Jones attended the early schools of Randolph County, and after his parents' death, which occurred when he was a small boy, he made his home with an elder brother, James, until twenty years of age. Although he started in life for himself with no means, he has done well, and is now the owner of a finely improved and well located farm on Jones Creek. When the war cloud, which had so long hovered over our land, burst, Mr. Jones showed his willingness to aid the Southern cause, and in 1861 enlisted in Company A, Col. Trumbull's regiment of infantry, and was in many battles, among which were Corinth, Richmond, Ky., and a number of skirmishes. He afterward joined Capt. Mitchell's company, Col. Reeves' regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, and was at Independence and Fayetteville, seeing, during his term of enlistment, some very hard service, but was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. Mary Wells, a daughter of Hutchinson Wells, became his wife February 23, 1859. She was born on the 14th of January, 1843, and by Mr. Jones became the mother of five children: William Irvin; Armitta, wife of Charles Tisdell, a farmer of the county; Rufus, Elizabeth, and another. After the death of his first wife Mr. Jones, in 1884, wedded Mrs. Mary (Galbraith) Wayland, who was born in Anderson County, Tenn., November 5, 1841, and by her has one daughter, Ola Ann. When small, Mrs. Jones came to Lawrence County, Ark., with her parents, and was married there to Jonathan Wayland, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Democrat.