My Genealogy Hound

HON. THOMAS M. JONES, attorney at law, is a son of Wilson and Rebecca (McKissack) Jones, and of Welsh-Scotch descent. The father of Mr. Jones was a Virginian and immigrated to Giles County, Tenn., in 1817, and died here in 1818. His grandfather McKissick was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject was born in Person County, N. C., December 16, 1816, and was the youngest of five children. He grew up on the farm and received a common school education. In 1831 he entered the University of Alabama, where he remained until the fall of 1833, after which he entered the University of Virginia and there remained until 1835. In the latter school he began the study of law, and after returning to Pulaski he began reading law in the office of Col. John H. Rivers & W. C. Flournoy, and remained here until 1836, when he raised a company for the Seminole war; was mustered out January, 1837, and the same year was admitted to practice law. In 1844 he was county elector on the Democratic ticket, and in 1845 he was elected to represent Lincoln and Giles Counties in the Legislature, and in 1847 was elected State senator for Giles and Maury Counties. He was elected a member of the Confederate Congress in 1861. Nine years later he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of Tennessee. For nearly fifty years he has been engaged in the law practice, and is now the oldest practitioner in Giles County bar. He has held the office of judge a number of times by appointment. He is one of the successful lawyers of this part of Tennessee. December 25, 1838, he wedded Marietta Perkins, of Williamson County, Tenn., and to this union were born nine children: Calvin (deceased), Charles P., Thomas W., Hume T., Harriet, Edward S., Lulie A., Lee W. and Nicholas T. Mr. Jones is a Democrat, a Mason, a Knight Templar, Commandery No. 12. Mrs. Jones died in 1871, and in 1883 Mr. Jones married Mrs. Ann Wood, of West Tennessee. He and wife are members of the Episcopal Church.