My Genealogy Hound

W. T. Jones, a prominent agriculturist of the Seventh District, was born February 24, 1843, in Smith County, the sixth of eight children born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Malone) Jones. The father was of English-German descent, born in North Carolina in 1813, and came to Smith County about 1820. He served as magistrate of his district for fourteen years; he was an efficient officer and highly respected. His death occurred about 1881. The mother was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Our subject received a liberal education in the academy at Alexandria. He assisted his father on the farm until his seventeenth year. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company F, of the Twenty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. He took active part in all engagements into which his regiment was drawn, and of which he was sergeant. He was captured at the battle of Missionary Ridge, and retained as prisoner at Rock Island sixteen months, regaining his liberty but a short while before the close of the war. November 1, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine E. Patterson, who was born December 1, 1845. To this union nine children have been born: J. Sidney, Edgar D., Frederick W., Willard S., Shela Wilson, Kate and Ula; Ada and Ora, deceased. After the war Mr. Jones began life a poor man. He rented and farmed. In 1868 he bought seventy-six acres near Alexandria. After buying and selling several times, he finally purchased the place upon which he now lives. It consists of about 210 acres of valuable and productive soil, situated on Hickman Creek, about six miles north of Alexandria. Mr. Jones is an industrious, energetic, honest man, respected by all. He is a life-long Democrat; cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are active and exemplary members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.