LEONARD ELLIS JONES

with section on son John Thomas Jones

Leonard, born June 15, 1834 in Leasburg, Franklin County, NC, was the son of Edmund J. Jones [1782-1856] and Mildred Murphy Jones [1785-after 1856]. The family of ten migrated to Greene County, Alabama from Franklin County, North Carolina after 1834.

Edmund’s will written March 1855 and executed in March 1856 in Greene County lists his son Leonard as Semuel. I have seen Leonard’s name spelled: Semuel, Lemuell, Leonard, and Lenard. Leonard has descendants named Semuel, and ONE named "Len", which leads me to believe all "L" variations of his name are nicknames.

We call him Leonard, brother of our 3G grandfather Alfred E. Jones. And, we believe his birth was in North Carolina since censuses his mother participated in indicate that all children were born in NC. Most censuses show Leonard as being born in NC, however, some censuses and his military documents show Alabama.

Leonard's siblings (all born in Leasburg, Franklin Co., NC) were:

Harriet born about 1819, married Frances Marion Childers

William E. born January 10, 1820 married Elvira W. Hicks died 1871 buried Ebenezer in Clinton

John A. born about 1822 married 1847 Martha Mitchell (was single and childless by 1860 census)

Rebecca (Peggy) born about 1824 married Unknown Hitt

Elizabeth born about 1826 married James N. Murphy

Alfred Edward born Nov. 9, 1827 married first Mrs. Harriet Baines Strickland

Ellen born about 1830 married Albert Lewis

Leonard was the baby, born June 15, 1834

Leonard’s birth and death

Leonard was NOT listed as a minor on his father’s will executed March 1856, making his birth year 1834.

Age 13, on the 1850 census completed January 1851, making his birth year 1837.

Censuses: 1860 age 22, 1870 age 32, and 1880 age 42, making his birth year 1837, or 1838.

April 30, 1862 Military record states he is age 24, making his birth year 1837.

1900 census age 61 specifically states born JUNE 1839

1910 census age 74 birth year 1835 or 1836

Tombstone: born June 15, 1834, died September 5, 1917

NOTE: I have documented several stones with incorrect dates including Leonard’s son John Thomas Jones, buried at Pleasant Hill, with a birth year off by TEN years.

Death Certificate: Lenard E. Jones, died 05 Sep 1917 in Pickens Volume: 45 Roll: 1 Page #: 536 Cause of death was face cancer, copy of death certificate on hand.

Military

Leonard was a private in the Confederate States of America [CSA], Company C, 43rd ALA Infantry Regiment. He enlisted at Mobile, Alabama April 8, 1861 as a volunteer and continued service as a private until discharged at Lee's surrender. Leonard was wounded in the right hand and leg at Drury’s Bluff, near Petersburg, Virginia and filed for a military pension August 17th 1883, based on wounds (right hand and leg) at Drewry's Bluff, May 16, 1864.

He enlisted May 1863 in Co. G, 30th Alabama Infantry Regiment, and was discharged April 9, 1865; Pension file number 17542.

There are some discrepancies within the military records. His deposition for pension April 8, 1885 states that he was born in Alabama, currently living in Clinton, Alabama, is age 24, married and farming. Alfred E. Jones, Leonard’s brother, witnessed the pension deposition, as did W. T. Stamps. Most censuses show Leonard born in North Carolina. One military document shows “L. J. Jones” rather than L. E. Jones however, within the text the document uses Leonard E. Jones / Lenard Ellis Jones.

Recorded in Leonard's military record:

Absent sick: Huntsville, Tenn. Aug. 15, 1862, Chickamanga, Sept. 20, 1863

Present: Knoxville, during the siege, Nov. 19, 1863; Beans Station, Dec. 14, 1863; Halfway House, March 10, 1864; Gooches Farm, May 12, 1864

Severely wounded: Drewery's Bluff, May 16, 1864

Absent Furlough: Petersburg, June 17-18, 1864

Absent on Detail: Petersburg during the seige

[Copies of military records on hand.]

Leonard’s four marriages:

1. Mary E. Baines, Greene County April 5, 1856 (Copy of marriage certificate on hand); Death/burial information unknown All five of Leonard’s children were with Mary E. Baines, his first wife.

Mary Baines was born about 1831 and died before October 1890. Mary’s siblings were Frances born about 1828, Harriet born about 1833 and Caroline born October 1834. Neither Frances nor Caroline ever married. Sisters, Mary and Harriet married brothers Leonard Ellis and Alfred E. Jones. Her mother, Elizabeth Baines was born 1804 NC. Redmond B. Baines was most likely her father. Elizabeth’s has a grandson named George Redmond Jones. Mary may have had more siblings who left home before the 1850 census. (See separate Elizabeth Baines article for more Baines information.)

We have not found the burial location of Mary E. Baines Jones, Elizabeth Baines her mother, Redmond Baines her probable father, nor ANY of her sisters: Harriet Baines Strickland Jones, Frances Baines, Caroline Baines.

2. Mrs. Margaret C. Hudgins, Pickens Co., Oct. 27, 1890, Minister, Surety/Perf A. J. Coleman, OSPage 268 (Ancestry.com) Former wife of Frank F. Hudgins, Carrollton, Pickens Co., AL. Father of Margaret’s children. Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery:

Gone Home Margaret C. wife of L. E. Jones BORN Oct. 8, 1835 died April 20, 1896 "Asleep in Jesus Time nor space disbars his precious hiding face."

3. Mary E. Jordan Pickens Co., Sep. 01, 1897, Minister, Surety/Perf M. C. Hollingsworth, OSPage 161 (Ancestry.com) Salem Cemetery Gordo, Pickens Co.

L. E. Jones Born: 06-15-1834 died 09-05-1917 (CSA)

Mary E. Jones born 03-13-1846 died 07-31-1902 (former Mary E. Jordan)

Mary was born in Mississippi as were both of her parents. She was the mother of three children, none were Leonard’s.

4. Julia Freeman (last name obtained from post by Kim Neese on Genforum) Pickens Co., about 1903 per 1910 census: married 7 years. Death/burial information unknown

Grandparents

There is speculation Leonard’s grandmother is Martha Jones buried at Ebenezer Cemetery next to William E. Jones, Leonard’s brother. This Martha was born 1767 and died 1867 – stone shows “aged 100 years”. This Martha was on the census with Henry G. Jones 1850 in Mississippi, Kemper County. Mary Ellen Poynor James, a descendant of Henry G. Jones, believes that this Martha is Henry G. Jone’s MOTHER. She also states that Henry G. (her ancestor) had a brother named William and his father was named Edmund. Because of proximity, census entries, etc., we would LIKE to connect Henry G. Jones (mother Martha, father Edmund) to Leonard's father Edmund J. Jones.

Children of Leonard and Mary Baines Jones

1. Joseph W.

2. John Thomas (Shepard)

3. M. F. (Fannie)

4. E. E. (Lizzie)

5. Samuel

CENSUS ENTRIES:

1850 Census JAN. 04, 1851, Greene Couintypg 353A & 353B

38 Edmund Jones age 67 farmer $320 NC can read and write

39 Mildred Jones age 65 NC cannot read or write

40 Ellen age 20 NC cannot read or write

41 Alfred age 21 NC cannot read or write

42 Rebecca age 16 born NC can read and write

01 Lenard age 13 born NC can read and write

1850 Greene Co. AL census Mary Baines with Mother Elizabeth Baines

Elizabeth age 46 NC

Frances age 22 (never married – debility) AL

Mary age 19 AL (married Leonard Ellis Jones)

Harriet age 17 AL (married 2nd Alfred E. Jones, married 1st Samson Strickland)

Caroline age 15 AL (never married – debility)

Sept. 14, 1860 Arkansas, Rock Springs Post Office, Jefferson County, town of Barraque, (pg. 31)

John A. Jones age 38 born NC

Alfred E. Jones age 33 born NC

BROTHERS – next to each other and next to a school

1860 Jefferson Co. Ark BARRAQUE census Sept 14, 1860

line 1 206/206 Leonard age 22 NC 150/150 [makes birth year be 1837-1838]

line 2 Mary age 28 [makes birth year be [1831-1832]

line 3 Joseph age 3

line 4 Thomas age 1 (John Thomas)

1870 Greene Co. AL

line 24 6/6 Jones, L. E. age 32 farm 1000/500 NC [makes birth year be 1837-1838]

line 25 Mary age 40 at home AL [makes birth year be 1829-1830]

line 26 Joseph age 12 farm labor AL

line 27 Thomas age 11 AL

line 28 M. F. age 8 FEMALE AL

line 29 E. E. age 5 FEMALE AL

line 30 Samuel age 1 AL

June 16, 1880 Greene Co. AL Pleasant Ridge dist. 86 img. 23, page 227

line 13 243/243 Jones, Leinord age 42 married farmer can't read/write AL NC NC

line 14 Mary wife age 46 married at home AL NC NC [makes birth year be 1833-1834]

line 15 Joseph W. age 23 single son farmer AL NC AL

line 16 Thomas age 21 single son farmer AL NC AL

line 17 Fannie age 17 single dau at home AL NC AL

line 18 Lizzie age 14 single dau at home AL NC AL

line 19 Samuel age 11 single son at school AL NC AL

June 8, 1900 Raleigh, Pickens

Lemuell Jones white male June 1839 age 61 Mar: 46 years NC NC NC no read/write rents farm

Mary Jones white female Feb 1845 age 56 Mar: 46 years 3 children born and 3 children living

April 16, 1910 Gordo, Pickens T624_30_3 page 92B

Leonard E. Jones NC NC NC age 74 M4-7 labor-odd jobs (4th marriage, 7 years)

Julia age 59 M1-7 AL SC AL mother of ZERO CHILDREN (1st marriage, 7 years)

1920 Gordo, Pickens

Julia A Jones age 69 WIDOW AL SC AL

Listed as a separate family, living in the Arthur L. and Mary A. Hicks household

Daughter Lizzie (Elizabeth E.) married Kelly H. Carpenter. Both are buried at Pleasant Hill Cumberland Cemetery

JOHN THOMAS JONES, son of Leonard and Mary

Born 08-25-1859 died 03-27-1924

Tombstone shows J T born 08-25-1869 died 1924; birth year on tombstone is off BY TEN YEARS.

Death Certificate Name: Tom Jones, Death Date: Mar 1924, Death County: Greene, Volume: 11, Roll: 2, Page #: 5470

Brother Samuel was born 1869 and John Thomas was born 1859.

1860 census age 1

1870 census age 11

1920 census age 60

John Thomas Jones married Nannie B. Blanton born 12-07-1857 and died 12-23-1901.

BOTH are buried Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery, west of Eutaw, AL.

John and Nannie are buried close to John and Ellen Jones, son of Alfred E. Jones (first cousins).

Also close to Margaret C. Jones, his step-mother, 10-08-1835 to 04-20-1896; and his twin granddaughters Fannie Lou and Nannie Sue born/died May 21, 1927 daughters of his son Samuel R. and wife Cecil Jones.

Children of John Thomas and Nannie Blanton Jones

Lynn Jones (male) born 08-24-1889 (logger/farmer) died July 1961

Lynn married June 26, 1922 in Pickens Co., AL to Neeley Arizona Pate.

Arizona Pate was born in Pickens Co., AL on 04-11-1903 died Jan. 1974. She was the daughter of John A. Pate and Mary Ella Welch.

Both are buried at FRANCONIA (Oak Grove Cemetery, Aliceville, AL.

Lynn and Arizona were living in Speeds Mill area, and their children attended Gordo Schools, Pickens county.

children of Lynn & Arizona

Iberia born 04-24-1923 married Paul David

Mary Louise born 04-24 1923 married E. Troy Butler

J. T. born 08-26-1926 married Betty Brooks

ALSO BURIED AT FRANCONIA (Oak Grove)

Isabella A. Jones 5-5-1845 to 4-5-1926

Joe J. Jones 09-12-1836 to 04-26-1914

Mattie Ann Jones 01-20-1895 to 07-19-1962

Needham Bryant Jones 03-25-1888 to 10-26-1967

Robert Edward Jones “BOB” 11-30-1908 to 04-18-1957

Ruby married Vester Poole; Ruby Jones and William Vester Poole are buried in Liberty Church Cemetery, Gordo AL

Fannie Mae married Battle Clayton; Fannie Mae and husband are in Mitchell Cemetery (page 33)

Lucy married Ken Montgomery

Blanton married Valerie Curry; Blanton is buried at FRANCONIA (Oak Grove Cemetery)

Samuel R. born Jan. 14, 1895 twin of Sally, m: Cecil Adams

Infants at Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery near John and Ellen Jones:

Fannie Lou and Nannie Sue born/died May 21, 1927 TWIN daughters of Sam R. and Cecil Jones

Sally (TWIN of Samuel) married Percy Eatman, both are buried at Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery

Row Ten: DBL EATMAN: Percy C. April 2, 1872 Dec. 20, 1925 / Sallie J. Jan. 14, 1895 Nov. 29, 1982

Anguelo married Lee Hollingsworth buried at Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery

NOTE: Source for Lynn & Arizona Jones information: Pg. 221 Heritage of Pickens Co., AL article "Lynn and Arizona Pate Jones"

NOTE: See Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery Online

CENSUS ENTRIES

1860, 1870 and 1880 are above under LEONARD, 1890 census burned

1900 June 7, Greene Co., MANTUA dist. 38, page 5B T623_17

Shepard Jones May 1859 age 40 married 14 years AL AL AL

Nannie B Jones wife Dec. 1857 age 42 married 14 years TN TN TN 8 kids 8 living

Ruby M dau. Nov. 1886 age 13 AL AL TN (Ruby Maudine Nov. 12, 1886)

Blanton son June 1888 age 11 AL AL TN (June 28, 1888)

Len son Aug. 1889 age 10 AL AL TN (August 24, 1889)

Lucy dau. June 1891 age 8 AL AL TN

Frances M dau. Apr. 1893 age 7 AL AL TN (Frances Mae)

Samuel son Jan. 1895 age 5 AL AL TN (Jan. 14, 1895 TWIN)

Sallie dau. Jan. 1895 age 5 AL AL TN (Jan. 14, 1895 TWIN)

Angela L dau. Mar. 1897 age 3 AL AL TN

1910 April 28, Pickens, Speeds Mill, District 15, T624, Roll 30, part 3, page 114B

John T head age 50 widow born AL farming

Fannie M. daughter age 17

Sally daughter age 15

Sammy son age 15

Angelo daughter age 13

1908 Inheritance from his grandmother Elizabeth Baines states John Thomas Jones "an unmarried man."

1920 Jan. 19 Greene Co. Pleasant Ridge house/fam 69/69, T625_18, Ed. 30, image 283

John T age 60

Nannie age 61 THIS IS A NEW NANNIE!

Len age 30

Fannie M age 26 MARRIED

Sam age 25

Sallie age 25

Angie L age 23

Updated on June 13, 2005 - CLS