CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY:  TIGNAL W. JONES - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Peggy Brannon - peggybrannon@hotmail.com
17 November 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

TIGNAL W. JONES

Tignal W. Jones, of Tyler, was born near Lewisberg, Franklin County, North 
Carolina, Nov. 25,1820. Both his father's and mother's people were 
originally from Virginia. He was educated in Nashville University, Tenn. 
Along with U. S. Senator, Jno. T. Morgan, he studied law under the famous 
William P. Chilton, and in 1844 was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court 
of Alabama and practiced with the Hon. Franklin W. Bowden until the 
commencement of the Mexican War. He was commissioned in 1846 first 
lieutenant of Company "E" of the First Alabama regiment, participating in 
the siege of Vera Cruz and other engagements. In 1848 he formed a 
partnership with J. L. M.  Curry, (afterwards a famous Baptist minister and 
U. S. Ambassador to Spain) which lasted until 1856, when he removed to Texas 
locating in Tyler. In 1861 he was elected a member of the Texas Secession 
Convention and of the Constitutional Convention. He enlisted as a private in 
the Confederate Army and at its close had risen to be Colonel of a regiment 
of Texas Cavalry. Col. Jones was an able lawyer, forceful speaker and 
exemplary citizen. He enjoyed the confidence and respect of the people. He 
was married in Tyler, Dec. 18, 1856, to Mrs. Martha Bell, sister of Col. 
Bryan Marsh of Tyler. Her two sons by her first marriage, Bryan Bell and 
Frank Bell, are prominent business men. Col. and Mrs. Jones had one child, 
Mary H., who is the wife of Mr. S. H. Cox of Tyler. Col. and Mrs. Jones have 
been dead several years and are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.