Biography of William Jones, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 22 Jan 2009
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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William Abrason Jones was a member of the House, 27th General Assembly, 1847-49;
representing Fayette, Hardeman, and Shelby counties in Tennessee. Party
affiliation not known. He was a farmer and merchant in the 10th Civil District
of Fayette County. William was born in Surry Co., NC but moved with his family
to Danville, VA early in his life. He went to Tennessee in his youth, clerked
for a few years, and then bought an interest in the same store. He continued at
this business until perhaps thirty-six years of age, when he moved to a farm
near Memphis, and tilled the soil for a few years, then, with the proceeds of
the sale of this farm, he bought the old William Strong Place in Witsburg, AR.
The farm consisted of 1200 acres. At the time of William's purchase, Mr. Strong
had about completed a large house, which William immediately proceeded to
finish. It stood as one of the best houses in the county. William purchased this
place in1848. At the time of his death, he was the owner of about 400 acres
under cultivation, over 300 of which he cleared himself. He was a member of the
legislature from St. Francis County, and a member of the State Senate from this
district. He was a self made man, and although his educational advantages were
limited, he carved his way to social and political eminence, and left a name and
memory that was revered by all. Born 1809 Virginia, died December, 1860, in
Cross County, Arkansas, and buried on the Jones Family Farm near Wittsburg. His
first wife bore him three children: Lewis F. Jones b. 1837; William T. Jones b.
1841-d. before April 26, 1875 at Wittsburg, Ark. ; and Sarah F. Jones b. 1839
Brownsville, Tenn. d. 1861 Laurenceburg, Tenn. Second wife whom he married March
2, 1848 at Somerville, Fayette Co., Tenn., was Mary Jane Granberry b. abt 1826
N. Carolina d. 1887 Wittsburg, Ark., buried Jones Family Farm, Wittsburg, Cross
Co., Ark. They had three children: Lucy J. Jones b. 1849 Tenn. ; Mary C.
(Mollie) Jones b. 1853 Wittsburg, Ark. d. 1883 Wynne, Arkansas; third unknown.
Mary C. Jones married Judge Leonidas N. Rhodes, Feb. 10, 1876, and they had one
child: Mary Lee Rhodes b. 1879 d. Dec. 15, 1953 Forrest City, Arkansas, who
married Unk Mann, who had preceded her in death. 

Goodspeed Memoirs and Biograhies-1890