WILLIAM L. JONES

WILLIAM L. JONES is an old and highly respected citizen of Coryell county, in whose
honor Jonesboro is named, was born in the state of Mississippi, in Claiborne
county, in 1827, the oldest of a family of thirteen children. His parents, Milton
H. and Kisiah (Culbertson) Jones, were natives of Tennessee; they removed to
Mississippi at an early day, and were married in Claiborne county: later they
removed to Yalobusha county, where they resided a few years, and in 1839 they
came to Texas and located in Shelby county; here Mr. Jones engaged in farming.
He was a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a very earnest
and enthusiastic worker in cause of his Master; he died January 22, 1875, in Hood
county, Texas; his wife died February 10, 1847. William L. Jones received his education
in the pioneer schools of the Lone Star State. After the death of his mother, in 1847,
he volunteered in the Mexican war, and served with General Scott; he led a
most exemplary life while on the campaign, never indulging in the habits which
the life of exposure encourages; he participated in many skirmishes, but was in no
battles. Upon his return from the war he engaged in farming, and the following
autumn he entered school and attended one term. He then went to Corsicana,
Texas, in 1850, and with his brother-in-law, C. B. Lindsey, embarked in mercantile
pursuits; he followed this business until 1852, when he went back to Rusk county,
and was employed as clerk for Mr. John Abney for a year; he was at Mt. Enterprise
the next year, clerking for C. Vincent, and then removed to Bosque county, where
he again conducted a store in partnership with J. A. Goodlet. At the beginning
of the Civil war he secured a permit and operated a mill until the close of the
conflict. In 1866 he purchased a tract of land, 320 acres, on the line of Coryell
and Hamilton counties, and set up a saw and grist mill; this small industry soon
became the center of a settlement, and goods shipped to the point were marked for
Jonesboro, so that by common consent the town was christened in honor of
the founder. In 1872 Mr. Jones brought his family here, and in the same year
he established a general mercantile trade, which he carried on successfully until
1833, when he closed out the business. The land which he bought is the present
site of Jonesboro, and most of it has been sold in town lots; he has been one
of the prime factors in developing the resources of the surrounding country, and
has aided very materially in the growth of the place. Every laudable enterprise has
found in him a liberal and enthusiastic supporter, and his country has found in him
a loyal and patriotic citizen. His dealings in the commercial world have been
characterized by the most upright and careful methods, and the successes he
has made have been fully merited. Mr. Jones has been twice married: in Bosque
county, February 4, 1858, he was united to Miss Mary C. Loyd, a native of
Hempstead county, Arkansas; she died April 25, 1864, leaving two children:
Fountain E., who is now engaged in the drug trade in Arizona, and Allie K., wife
of Thomas J. Atkinson, a citizen of Hamilton county; the second union was to
Miss Susan R. Thomas, a native of Alabama; three children have been born to
this marriage: Mary C. Hall, William L., and Wiley P., who died May 26, l879;
Alfred M., a son of the first marriage died May 29, 1864. The family are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; Mr. Jones is superintendent of the
Sabbath-school, and takes a deep interest in all the efforts toward the elevation
of humanity. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having joined more than thirty
years ago. He is active in the temperance cause, and since early manhood has
had the courage of his convictions upon this subject. He is a man of so many
excellent traits that he numbers his friends to the full number of his acquaintances,
and is well worthy of the admiration he arouses.

JONESBORO.

"In the year 1866," says a recent letter from William L. Jones, who has been a
Texan for fifty-three years, "David Jones and I erected a steam saw and grist mill
on the Coryell and Hamilton county line, at which time there were very few persons
living in the valley of the Leon nearer than Gatesville, and none where the town
of Jonesboro now stands." Homeseekers, whom the war had ruined or left
penniless, began to come in, and sought employment about the mill. These
were: David Jones, P.P. Jones, James Pennington, Simmons & Green, blacksmiths,
Daniel and Tom McCarty, Dr. J. R. Smallie, W. A. Chancey, Daniel Murray, J. L.
McElroy, Charles Pate, T. J. Neil, J. F. Stickney and John Nall. Mr. Nall opened
a store at once, but it soon passed into other hands; Joseph Key had it awhile;
then J. F. Stickney; then Mr. McElroy, and finally, in 1872, W. L. Jones and M. J.
Strickland. It was about 1869 that those interested in a church and school, and the
society of Masons, struck upon a plan of building a two-story frame building, the
lower part of which should be used for school and church purposes, and the upper
part for the secret order. This was done, and in June, 1873, the Masonic lodge
was chartered. The place had no name, except Jones' Mill, and the first post
office bore that name, with Charles Pate as Postmaster. The real name of the
place was given to it by some wholesale dealer's packer, for this packer had
addressed the first box of goods ever received there, as "Jonesboro, Tex." This
suited the people, and soon the post office was changed to that name. The town
suffered some from the Indians in 1869 and 1871, as it was on the border. It has
grown slowly but surely, and now has four general merchandise stores, two drug
stores, one implement, and one furniture and hardware store, a boot and shoe
shop, two blacksmith shops, two grist mills and gins. It has two churches, and a
stone building 34x60 feet, the lower story of which is used for school purposes
and the upper for Masonic ends. The Knights of Honor also have a lodge. The
population of 1890, the first census that quoted the town separately, showed
207 people. Mr. Jones, however, estimates it now as having a population of
about 650." As an illustration of the other larger places, it may be mentioned
that The Grove, which began in 1869, has two general stores, two wagon shops
and a mill and gin. It is the seat, however, of four churches and a Masonic lodge,
and a school for a large settlement. This is given to illustrate the character of
the other towns not quoted in the census. The present growth will, however,
make a far different record for the next census. Submitted Nov 12 2000
by: Frances Patterson (sandycrk@ctesc.net), GGgranddaughter of William
L. Jones. His siblings were Candace Benton Jones, Sarah Jones, Samuel
Jones, John Wesley Jones, Matilda Jones, Milton Henry Jones Jr., Martha
Elizabeth Jones, Benjamin Franklin Jones, Wiley Jones, Francis Wilson
Jones, Wiley Palmer Jones, and John Culbertson Jones.
From "A Memorial and Biographical History of McClennan, Falls, Bell and
Coryell Counties Texas", published by the Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1893,
p. 471-472, p. 320-321:

copyrighted by Frances Patterson and Bobbie Ross Nov.2000