Bios: Jones Family, Lincoln Parish, LA Submitted by: Calvin B. Jones, 180 Bay Drive, Farmerville, LA 71241 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Taken from an unpublished manuscript, "Memories & Memoirs in the Life of Arthur Osban Jones", written and prepared by Calvin B. Jones & Bridget Jones Richardson for family members. PROLOGUE [Arthur O. Jones] Born on January 26th, 1897 and died at approximately 6 p.m. on November 6th 1986. On November 4th (Election Day) 1986 he dressed - drove his car to Simsboro, voted, went to the bank and did some shopping. On the day of his death his activities were normal. Arose at approximately 7:30 a.m., picked at his breakfast which normally bothered his stomach, helped clean the house, make the bed then settle down to his morning television of Donahue and the game shows. Then it was the news, lunch and to bed for his mid-day nap. Arising about 3 p.m. he dressed and went to the pecan trees near the chicken houses to pick up pecans. He picked up several buckets of pecans and returned to the house about 5 p.m. where he, Mom and Vera, who had dropped by for a visit, sat and talked and I'm told he was jovial and joking, cracking and eating pecans with his natural teeth (even though he was only two months short of ninety years old). After Vera left Mom went to the kitchen to fix supper and Dad lay on the bed, which was his normal routine. Mom heard a noise and went to check and found him on the floor motionless between the bed and chest of drawers where the telephone was located. We will never know if he just got dizzy and fell (which was common for the last few years) or if he had felt something coming on and was trying to get to the telephone. Mom being deaf and unable to hear on the telephone (she would sometimes dial George's [her son] number and just start repeating messages not knowing whether it had answered or not) she got a wet cloth and bathed his face even though she stated she knew he was dead. She turned on all the lights in the house to attract attention and for some reason locked all the doors. Some time later Bridget noticed all the lights on and decided something was wrong. She and Jack went to investigate and finding all the doors locked had to force entry. They found Dad on the floor and Mom just sitting there looking over him. Family members and the coroner were called. I was working in Shreveport and had just retired for the evening at the motel. I arrived about 11 p.m. and made arrangements for the funeral home to pick his body up. George and I made the arrangements the next day and a viewing was held at the Kilpatrick's Funeral Home on Friday evening. The funeral was held at the Simsboro Baptist Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8th, 1986 with burial in the Walnut Creek Cemetery. The Reverend Barr, pastor of the Simsboro Baptist Church officiated and the eulogy was as complimentary as any I've ever heard. Dad was a very interesting man, went to school only to the 8th grade but was self educated and was an expert on the Bible, geography and history. Everyone who knew him has heard his dissertations on these subjects for hours. For this reason I'm sure that his offspring will in future years begin to make inquiries about his life. Due to the fact that information is lost as generations pass on, this booklet is being put together to preserve as much information about him and his family as possible. Bridget had these thoughts a couple years before he died and had held a couple of interviews with him to gather as much information as she could about his earlier life. This is included in the next section. As you read this booklet, if you have any information not included or feel that any information is not completely accurate from your view, then I challenge you to prepare a section with your view or recollection and it can be added as another section to this booklet at any time. Calvin B. Jones November 1989 SECTION ONE: JONES HERITAGE provided by Bridget Gail Jones Richardson Several years before Dad died Bridget became interested in recording the JONES heritage and she began to talk to Dad about it, took notes and etc. At this point in his life it had become more difficult for him to concentrate and she probably was unable to gather as much information as she had hoped or would have gotten several years earlier. She was motivated by the many stories she had heard him tell years earlier. I only thank God she started when she did and was able to get this information. These next pages are direct quotes from Dad as recorded by Bridget. February 14, 1985 This information obtained from Arthur Osban Jones born January 26, 1897, Garrs [sic] Mill Community, Winn Parish, Louisiana. CIVIL WAR ERA Josiah Jones from Lauderdale County, Mississippi, approximately where Meridian Mississippi is located today. The home was located at the junction of highway 80, geographically referred to as the road to Georgia and the road to Memphis and Mobile. Josiah Jones fathered seven sons, each fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, three sons survived. One of the dead sons was Dewitt Jones born in Meridian, Mississippi. Dewitt Jones died of smallpox in a prisoner of war camp in Illinois. Dewitt Jones was stationed in Kentucky possibly guarding the area where the Cumberland River and the Tennessee River run within miles of each other. This is known as the Narrows. Benjamin Franklin Jones (Dewitt's son and Arthur O's Dad) stated that following the Civil War an acquaintance of Dewitt's from Georgia who was also a Confederate soldier prisoner of war in the Illinois camp made the trip to Meridian, Mississippi to inform the Jones family of Dewitt Jones' death in the P.O.W. camp. This Georgia man stayed one month or so with the Jones family. A Negro slave shoemaker made him a pair of boots and the Jones women wove cloth, and made clothing while the Georgia man recuperated. During the war Josiah Jones built a stowage shelter for his pigs, grain, and food supplies in the back forest bottom to prevent the armies from confiscating his food supply. Also during the war a high ranking officer in the Union Army (possibly a General) stopped by the Jones home and asked "Old Man how many sons do you have in the Confederacy?" Josiah responded with "seven and I wish to God I had seven thousand, we would beat you people." Josiah Jones died in 1865, and A.O. Jones speculates he was in his eighties. RESETTLING IN LOUISIANA During the war three of the brothers were stationed in the Baton Rouge area around Port Allen, guarding the Mississippi River front, possibly to prevent war boats from going up the river. These Jones men were impressed with the beauty and fertility of South Louisiana. Following the war (1867 ?) these men decided to sell the land in Meridian, Mississippi and moved the family to the Baton Rouge area which included St. Helena and Washington Parishes. Josiah's wife (A.O. Jones' great grandmother) and Dewitt's widow and her ten (10) children were in this group of Joneses. Benjamin Franklin Jones was one of the ten children. B.F. Jones stated they traveled by flatboat to the Baton Rouge area. Flatboats were powered by oars, poles, sails, and the current of the river. The family brought with them two wagons and four ponies. Benjamin Franklin Jones was born September 9, 1856 in Meridian, Mississippi (A.O. Jones' father) and was eleven years old at the time of the move. Not too many years passed before B.F.'s mother along with all of the childlren, except Bud (B.F.'s older brother) died due to Malaria and unknown illnesses. Benjamin Franklin Jones then went to live with his grandmother (Josiah's wife). Following a serious illness which affected B.F. and his grandmother, B.F. had to go into town for food and supplies. Without a wagon, he went to the Baptist preacher and asked for the use of his wagon. The preacher said "no" if he let one person use the wagon he would have to let all use it. Arthur Osban speculates this may have led to his father's dislike for the Baptist faith. Benjamin Franklin was given a ride by a local sawmill merchant who not only provided his wagon but a man to help him and thought nothing of this act of kindness. When the uncles heard of the food in the Grandmother's home they came to visit (the visits usually lasted several days). Benjamin Franklin Jones was angered by this because of the lack of assistance during the illnesses and he asked the uncles to leave. After the grandmother's death the estate consisted of eight to ten horses which B.F. had attended to and they were left to the uncles. They would not agree to give their nephew even one horse which was the only means of transportation in those days. 1875 --- Benjamin Frank Jones was 19 years old. At this time B.F. left the Baton Rouge area angered by the uncles refusal to help, therefore he moved to Harrisonburg in Catahoula Parish. Here he worked as a farm hand for the Blackmans, prominent family who owned the greatest percentage of the land, the gin, the general store, and the private school. Benjamin Franklin referred to Mrs. Blackman as Aunt Martha, a righteous, boisterous, loud speaking southern woman. B.F. was given the keys to the smokehouse and the crib. He was paid ten dollars per month plus room and board. Duties included gathering the eggs, cutting firewood, tending the horses and chauffeuring the family to church. On one occasion after church Mrs. Blackman asked "Bennie are you a Christian?" B.F. answered with "yes". "What Faith?" B.F. answered "Methodist." "Oh No, if I had known I would never have trusted you with the smokehouse keys." The keys were returned to Mrs. Blackman who then had to resume the responsibility of carrying in goods from the smokehouse. Mr. Blackman laughed because here his wife trusted this Methodist youth with the precious keys for two years without incident, upon learning that B.F. was Methodist, the keys were taken away, and in the eyes of Mrs. Blackman B.F.'s character was reduced. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S FIRST MARRIAGE Benjamin Franklin Jones' first wife was a Jones woman (unrelated) from LaSalle Parish. Of this marriage five children were born. Rosalee, Willie, a child who died young, Chloe and Viola. At the time of the young child's death a letter was received from family members living in a distant community. These family members were contaminated with a disease, probably smallpox or chicken pox. The family speculated the child may have contracted the disease from handling the letter. Today we know this is highly impossible. The mother died in 1892 after childbirth. Viola, the baby, was raised by the Masters family from the Olla community who were childless and wanted the baby. This was not a rare occurrence during the late 1800's. All contact with Viola was lost and she was not seen or heard from until she came for a visit with Arthur O. on July 3, 1936. She died on December 2, 1936. SECOND MARRIAGE Benjamin Franklin was a widower for four years. In 1896, forty year old Benjamin Franklin lived in the Garrs [Gaars Mill] community. March 22, 1896 he married his second wife, Ugenia Samantha Alberta Colvin, who was 24 years old. Of this marriage five children were born so B.F. fathered a total of ten children. Arthur Osban Jones, January 26, 1897 - Garrs Mill Community, Winn Parish, Louisiana Malcolm Jason Jones, March 9, 1898 - Garrs Mill Community, Winn Parish, Louisiana Gertrude (known as Trudy) Jones, July 29, 1900 - Melrose, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Mattie Eva Jones, August 1, 1902 - Melrose, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Johnnie Jones, born July 28, 1909 and died spring of 1910. Colvin Jones 1913 - Unionville, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana 1897 --- B.F. tells the following story of the day Arthur Osban was born: They lived in a mill house deep in the woods and the houses in those days in that area had no glass windows. The windows were of wood like half doors and for ventilation you left the window open giving exposure to the outside. B.F. awoke during the night and realized that there was a panther in the room sniffing the newborn baby. Knowing the panther would attack if he tried to just shoo him away, B.F. just quietly rolled off the bed hitting the floor with a thud, slapping the floor with both hands at the [same time. The panther leaped onto] the kitchen table and out the window taking the table cloth with him. If it had not bee for his calmness and fast thinking A.O.'s days could have ended on his first. 1898 --- Benjamin Franklin's brother, Bud Jones and his three children, Veston (12 years old), Rufus and Eva came to live with Benjamin Franklin Jones at Garrs Mill community, Winn Parish, Louisiana. Arthur O. states they almost ate them out of house and home. The extra load was hard on Bertha. 1899 --- Due to debts Benjamin Franklin Jones sold 160 acres to W.M.D. Gaar (who owned practically everything in the community) and moved to the J.T. Henry Plantation on the Cain [sic] River in Melrose, Natchitoches Parish, in the early fall. Here they picked cotton to make a living. From the spring of 1900 until the fall of 1903 the Jones family tenant farmed. (I do not know the year but while living on the Cain River Dad tells that Uncle Willie caught a catfish and when he brought it home he had a pole through his mouth and over his shoulder and the fish's tail was touching the ground.) Evidently Uncle Bud (B.F.'s older brother) had been ill for some time. A doctor had told him not to eat any fresh pork or it would kill him. While living with B.F. and family they would not allow him to eat pork, but after Bud and family moved to their own house they assisted someone in butchering hogs and was given some fresh pork. He consumed an unknown quantity and soon became ill. He was sent to the Charity Hospital in Shreveport, La. Where he died and was buried in the pauper's cemetery. B.F. was notified of his death and burial by letter. The Shreveport Charity Hospital was then located on the land now occupied by the city court, Texas Avenue, downtown Shreveport. The Bud Jones children, Veston, Rufus and Eva then lived with B.F. and family until the boys were old enough to go to work. 1904 --- Arthur Osban was in the first grade, seven years old. The family moved from the J.T. Henry plantation to the A.P. Cockfield plantation on the Red River at Bulha's Landing in Natchitoches Parish. 1904 --- A.P. Cockfield plantation, still born baby born. 1905 --- Rosalee (child from B.F.'s first marriage) married Barney Wright. 1906 --- B.F. Jones and family moved to Druitt farm. Chloe (child from first marriage) married Jimmy Hallmark. 1907 --- The dreaded bollweevil destroyed the cotton crop. To pay debts the family sold two mules, a wagon and Bertha's prized geese. 1907 --- B.F. and Willie did public work cutting logs until they got sick with La Gripp (flu). 1907 --- Druitt farm, here the Joneses planted truck crops consisting of seven acres of Irish potatoes. This crop rotted at the Verda railroad station. Due to floods the trains were unable to travel. A.O. attended school. 1908 --- Family left the Druitt place and moved to Atlanta, Louisiana, about twelve miles southeast of Winnfield, Winn Parish. They worked at Germain and Boyd Lumber Co. until the spring of 1911. 1909 --- Atlanta, La. - A.O. Jones was a third grader who treasured his pencil, a precious item for a child of that time. The town's blacksmith had two sons, considered "bullies" of the town. One of the bullies took A.O.'s pencil and told the teacher he was the rightful owner. The teacher believed him and this made A.O. so angry that he walker over too the bully, took the pencil, broke it in two then threw it in his face. If A.O. couldn't have his pencil, no one would. A.O. was whipped by this teacher. 1910 --- B.F. rented a house at the edge of the woods in Atlanta. Here the family had a cowpen and the chickens roosted in the trees. Their neighbors would open their windows and would tie dough on a piece of string with a fish hook, throw it to the chickens and pull them in the windows. Soon all of the Jones' chickens were gone. 1910 --- While in Atlanta, A.O. (13 years old) met a very pretty girl named Virginia Sutton. These two played house, Dr., and used dolls as their children. A.O. was broken hearted and cried when he left Atlanta in 1911 and moved to Whitfield, La. 1910 --- The young men had to be twenty-one years old to work at the sawmill in Atlanta. Many young men (16 and 17 years old) with nothing else to do would chase A.O. and Malcolm when they went to town. This soon became a problem as the boys would catch them and hold them down just to hear them holler. One day just before Milton Sutton (Virginia's brother) caught A.O. he passed a barrel stave on the ground, quickly grabbed it, turned and hit Milton over the head with it and knocked him out. This gained them the respect of the older boys and they did not bother them any more. 1910 --- Rosalee (child from B.F.'s first marriage) and Barney Wright lived two houses down from B.F. and family. Rosalee was expecting a second baby and was ill. B.F. sent for his first wife's sister, (Rosalee's aunt) a widow with one child, to help tend to Rosalee and family. A scandal developed when Barney Wright and this widow woman began an affair and B.F. became angry with his son-in-law. Rosalee died soon following childbirth and the baby also died and they are buried in an Atlanta cemetery. Barney married the widow woman and she soon died and left Jullian (Rosalee and Barney's first child) and the widow woman's child from her previous marriage. A.O. does not know what became of these children. Barney moved to Shreveport and became a fisherman after his second wife's death. Heard he became an alcoholic, fell from a boat and drowned in Red River. 1911 --- The family moved to Whitford, Louisiana, a sawmill town. A.O. tells the following story while living in Whitford. He, Malcolm and Gertrude walked to school and carried a common lunch bucket consisting of biscuits and side bacon left over from breakfast, and baked sweet potatoes left over from supper the night before. At lunch break they would go outside and find a fallen log or just sit on the ground to eat. The wild hogs were so thick and hungry it was difficult to eat without being attacked by them. One evening A.O. found a piece of silver pipe about 6" long, open at one end and closed at the other. He drilled a small hole at the closed end - tied the pipe on a wooden handle making it look like a pistol - packed the pipe with black powder, chewed up paper and a piece of lead. He put this in his lunch bucket the next day and when they went out to eat here came the hogs - he pointed the pistol at a hog, struck a match over the small hole and BANG. One of the hogs ran away squealing. The teacher took the pistol and never gave it back. LINCOLN PARISH, NORTHEAST LA 1912 --- Willie helped move the family to the railroad station in Winnfield by wagon (approximately 12 miles from Atlanta). They then moved to Dubach, Louisiana by train. This was a total distance of about 50 miles and was the home of Bertha Colvin's parents. 1912 --- Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Osban and Malcolm worked at the sawmill (T.L. James) in Dubach. The wages: B.F., $1.35 per day; A.O., 75 cents per day; and Malcolm, 50 cents per day. The color of the houses indicated your position, "Blue Row" foreman, "White Row" laborers, and the third row as the Italian row. 1912 --- In September, Bertha's father (William Jason Colvin) died of pneumonia. 1913 --- B.F. Jones was in bad health and the family moved to Unionville and produced a cotton crop of 4 bales. 1913 --- Colvin Jones was born in Unionville, died in 1916 of a childhood disease. Within one week 4 or 5 children died in the community. A.O. stated that little Colvin remarked that he wished he had a coffin like one that had been built for a child who had died from this epidemic, ironically within one week a coffin was also made for Colvin. 1914 - 1916 --- B.F. worked and planned to purchase mules from Stone Colvin. When the time came to deliver the mules, Stone Colvin would not sell the original mules the two had agreed upon. This angered B.F. and at this time he moved to the Antioch community (1916) where they stayed until 1919. 1919 --- B.F. asked Ben Cargal [sic] (Bertha's first cousin) for a loan of $300.00, Bertha needed surgery, possibly a hysterectomy. Shumpert Sanitarium in Shreveport, La. was the hospital. Ben Cargil [sic] agreed he would loan him the $300.00 if B.F. and his family would share crop his place the following year to pay it back. B.F. declined and with the help of Frank and Rob Trussel (co-signed) he borrowed $300.00 from the Ruston State Bank. 1919 --- Gertrude (Trudy) and Will Choate were married. They had four daughters (Beatie, Ruby Dean, Geraldine and Aline) two sons (Quinton and Obee). Both Trudy and Will are buried in Antioch Cemetery. 1919 - 1920 --- During the winter B.F. moved two miles east of Simsboro to the old Milam house on Dr. Thomas' place, on the old Grambling road, across the road from the chicken hatchery and near the present Ruston State School. This house was considered a nice home, stack chimney with two fireplaces, three bedrooms and a dining room. 1920 --- First crop year. After the crop was gathered A.O. and Malcom worked on the Illinois Central Railroad. (V.S. & P.) 1921 --- Eva married William Fogle, a carpenter by trade and was originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was killed in 1934 while working on the U.S. Post Office in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was of the Seven Day Adventist Religion. (They do not believe in eating pork and I can remember Aunt Eva slipping around eating bacon when they visited us.) Four sons (Arthur, William, Charles, & John) and two daughters (Louise and Jean) were born to this couple. Aunt Eva died August 11, 1989 in a nursing home in Little Rock where she had been for many years. 1922 - 1923 --- A.O. went to Shreveport, La. and worked as a carpenter. The house he talked about was located at 2314 Highland Ave. and was Dr. Colvin's home. He lived in a boarding house with room and meals for $1.00 per day. Have heard him tell stories of happenings at the boarding house but just can't remember them. Said he came home about once a month and transportation was by train. 1923 --- July - Highway 80 was being built and A.O. worked on the forms for culverts and bridges between Simsboro and Ruston. PURCHASE OF THE CURRENT JONES HOME 1923 --- Fall - B.F. Jones having rented land and share cropped most of his life had a real desire to own his own place. Mr. G.W. Dye offered to sell him 80 acres with an old house on it on credit. At the time he was 67 years old and decided he was too old to go into debt - so he talked his two single sons, A.O. Jones (26) and Malcolm (25), into purchasing the land and provide a place for all to farm. A.O. and Malcolm then purchased the G.W. Dye 80 acres for $1600.00 at 8% interest. A down payment of $300.00 borrowed from the Simsboro Bank was applied to the land, with a note for the rest. Shortly thereafter Malcolm, not interested in farming, went to work in the oil fields as the area around Eldorado, Arkansas became a boom oil town. A.O. stayed and farmed and paid the notes so Malcolm just signed his part over to A.O. 1923 --- B.F. Jones, and his wife Bertha, A.O. Jones, and Malcolm (temporarily) moved into the existing house, which was 80-90 years old at the time. Square nails were used in its construction. G.W. Alexander (Claudie's father) had lived here at one time several years earlier. The house had a front porch all the way across the front with entry into a large room approximately 20 X 20 which was the master bedroom and living area. From this room and the front porch was an entry into a side room approximately 10 x 20 which served as the second bedroom. Behind these rooms was a room approximately 10 x 30 with two partitions splitting this into a kitchen, dining room, and storage room, so the total size of the house was 30 x 30 with a front porch. The construction was 1x12 heart pine boards on the wall and ceiling inside with shiplap on the outside. The roof was homemade split white oak shingles. At one time the house had a fireplace and stairs from the front porch into a room in the attic. Both of these had been removed. The method of heating was a wood heater in the master bedroom and a wood cook stove in the kitchen. Kerosene lamps were used for lighting and the toilet was a one holer out back. This existed until the house was torn down in 1945 except the holer toilet was replaced with a two holer in the early 30's. 1924 --- A.O. Jones had driven Malcolm's one seater T-Model car to the Walnut Creek Baptist Church, Claudia Alexander and Lucille Davidson got into the car and A.O. first met Claudia Alexander (20 years old) when he went to inspect who had gotten into the car. A.O. described Claudia as a quiet, mild mannered 108 lb. young lady. At this time she did not seem to suffer any great hearing impairment. They often played cards (Rook) and Claudia was a confident player. They had milk shakes in Ruston, La. A.O. said Claudia did not talk as much as one of his previous acquaintances who talked continuously even through church services and had to be asked by A.O. to behave as one should in church. 1925 --- A.O. sold timber in the spring collecting $300.00. 1925 --- May 30th, Benjamin Franklin Jones, 69 years old, died. B.F. Jones and A.O. Jones had worked in the fields all day. A.O. and Malcolm, (Malcolm had come home from Eldorado) went to the school closing (graduation) at Simsboro, La. and returned home about midnight. Around three a.m. B.F Jones woke up and asked Bertha how she felt (he often got up and got her water). Around 5 a.m. she woke up and shook him and he was cold. She called A.O. who found his father dead. Malcolm went and got the local Dr. Colvin from Simsboro. He estimated B.F. had died shortly after the three o'clock wakeup. B.F. was lying in a prone position, arms crossed over his chest, and legs crossed. He was buried on June 1st, 1925 in the Antioch Cemetery. 1925 --- A.O. Jones and his mother, Bertha lived in the Jones house. A.O. farmed and Malcolm worked in the oil fields. Bertha had encouraged A.O. to find a wife and on September 31, 1925, A.O. Jones went to Claudie Alexander's home meeting G.W. Alexander in route and asked permission to marry Claudie. He responded with "Whatever the Madam says". Therefore, A.O. Jones and Claudie Alexander were married that same afternoon by the Justice of the Peace in Ruston, Louisiana at the courthouse. Claudie borrowed the Sunday dress she wore to be married in. Malcolm married Audrey Choate and moved to El Dorado then returned to Simsboro and lived at the Choate place (1927-1928). Then he moved to the old Sims place, located above G.E. Jones' home. Bertha Colvin Jones was born in Dallas, Texas. Her father, William Jason Colvin, was born in 1848 in Vienna, La. Her mother (name unknown) was from the Choudrant area and [also] a brother, John Colvin, and a baby (name and sex unknown). Bertha's mother deserted her one day while he was plowing the field. William's mother raised Bertha. William Colvin remarried and she was killed six months later by a runaway horse and buggy. Third marriage was to ---- Ball who was from Vernon, La. This was her second marriage, the first was to (---- Roy). Luke and Jim were born to this marriage. She was known as Grandma Colvin. William Colvin and his third wife had 3 or 4 girls and one son who died in his early teens. Grandma Colvin is buried in Bienville Parish (Old Saline) and William Colvin is buried in Unionville, died October, 1912. William Jason, Colvin's father was David Colvin from North Carolina and died July 27, 1881. His wife, Jane Colvin, was born 1810, died January 4, 1889. A.O. JONES & CLAUDIE ALEXANDER Six children: 1. Calvin Benjamin Jones born March 23, 1926, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. 2. Henry Harrold Jones born March 24, 1927, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. Died February 19, 1928, buried at Walnut Creek Cemetery, Simsboro, La. 3. George Edwin Jones born May 28, 1928, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. 4. Robert Herman Jones born July 1, 1931, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. 5. Clara Belle Jones born July 28, 1933, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. 6. Eva Mae Jones born November 27, 1927, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, La. I am grateful that Granddaddy was patient and provided the dates, events, names, and his precious memories. I had hoped to record A.O.'s life up to the present time. Granddaddy provided me with the daily journal that he kept for years and said it is all there. This journal records daily activities, weather, purchases, and even a few sentences of "Pig Latin". The nurturing he gave to his children is evident when reviewing the items he purchased, frequently five cents was spent on candy. I attempted to record Granddaddy's statements as accurately as he stated them. He reviewed my material and yes we revised several sentences. Due to the time lapse, February, 1985, actual recording to February, 1987 when I transcribed my notes and Granddaddy's death on November 6, 1986, his final approval was impossible. For those of you who grew up hearing this information I hope you will recognize Granddaddy's words. I have regretted not having completed this prior to his death. It would have been much easier to walk up the hill and ask "Now which family started the Mayo and McDuffy feud?" Therefore I must rely on my own memory. I'm sure many of us failed to store the stories Granddaddy told. If we forgot, A.O. didn't mind telling us again. I will always be in awe of A.O.'s precise and accurate memory and I believe he possible has a photographic memory. This he demonstrated when in conversations with others. He derived much pleasure from studying the Word of the Lord, history and geography. He had a detail knowledge of total world history and geography from times before Christ to present. The minister (Rev. Marr) at his funeral stated that he was one of the greatest authorities on the Bible that he has ever known and that many ministers had come to him for interpretations of verses or passages of the Bible they did not understand. With his knowledge of geography he could paint a picture in your mind of the location, its relationship to other countries, cities, bodies of water, etc. along with the culture, groups in power and past history. It made writings easier to understand. In the late 1970's A.O.'s eyesight began to deteriate and he was distressed that he may be faced with total blindness. Thankfully this never occurred, but his sight was greatly reduced. In 1947 A.O. lost his left eye while repairing a barbed wire fence. The wire broke striking him in the eye, resulting in loss of the eye. He entertained us children by removing his glass eye. After convincing Granddaddy that he needed to let us see him clean his eye he would astonish us by going through the ritual of taking his eye out. I cannot recall at what age we discovered A.O. had a glass eye, yet I do not think there is one grandchild who has not stood in front of the mirror trying to remove their own eye. In later years of his life A.O. was emotional and on occasions he would cry when he reflected over his children. One story that brought tears to his eyes involved Uncle Calvin. Calvin was in the first grade at Simsboro and had to walk to and from school daily, which was about a 2.5 mile trip, one way. Calvin was on his way home from school on a rainey and freezing afternoon and was a little late so A.O. walker to meet him, when he met Calvin about half way home he was just about frozen with only his fingers poked into his pockets. He had to rub Calvin's hands together between his own to increase the circulation, then picked him up and carried him home in his arms. Granddaddy's eyes expressed more than these words ever could. A.O. appreciated the land and is responsible for the spring daffoldil bulbs planted along the fence row. In the early 80's he planted daffodil's in the front yard spelling out JONES. The following stories were told often by A.O. Jones. I failed to record them on paper before Granddaddy's death, therefore I hope they are accurate. A couple that I remember vividly are: THE MAYO - MCDUFFY FEUD This feud involved two families, the Mayos and McDuffy families from Simsboro. They lived in the general area between where the road turns to go to the Graham place and along side the Davidson place. Members of both families are buried in the Walnut Creek Cemetery. This feud began in the early 1900's (about 1917) over land discrepancies. One family would plant a crop which the other family would replow and plant claiming that the first family exceeded the land boundaries. The McDuffy men (18-20 years old) owned an automobile which the younger Mayo boy (12 years old) would sabotage by nailing nails into boards and placing the nail side up in the road bed, covering them with sand. Tires were expensive and this action ensured continued feuding. This continued until shooting started and the Mayo mother was killed and the father was crippled. A daughter who witnessed the shooting was found several days later hiding in a ravine. The younger Mayo boy retaliated by shooting Mr. McDuffy as he returned from Walnut Creek Church one Sunday. Mr. McDuffy and a young son were riding a mule. As he approached the top of the hill he dismounted and was leading the mule down hill while the boy rode. The Mayo boy was hiding behind a large stump, shot and fatally wounded Mr. McDuffy. The mule jolted and ran home with the boy. Some speculate that others may have been involved and the boy took the blame saying he killed my mother. The large hill northwest of A.O.'s house is called McDuffy hill as a result of this action. Lawyers were hired to defend both parties which resulted in the loss of land by both Mayo and McDuffy families. The McDuffy widow and her two sons moved to the Delhi area. THE GOLD In the mid 1800's a man by the name of Brown lived on the A.O. Jones property. A general store and stagecoach inn was located on the Old Wire Road a mile or so from the A.O. Jones property. A man from Alabama or Georgia was in route to Texas to purchase land. He became ill with malaria and Old Man Brown invited him home with him to recuperate. The traveler was never seen again. People speculate he either died or Brown killed him and buried the gold he must have had with him. A number of people have dug on A.O.'s property hoping to find the gold. Needless to say this does make planting trees more of an exciting adventure. THE END By Bridget