Civil War
John Jones
THIS PAGE & MY ENTIRE FAMILY HISTORY DOMAIN IS PROTECTED BY AWARD WINNING "SITELOCK SECURE".
I PAY A MONTHLY FEE FOR THIS PROTECTION vs A SSL CERTIFICATE.
MiscNotes
Rutherford
PIONEER SETTLERS OF
SEBASTIAN COUNTY, ARKANSAS
John Jones was born 27 Feb 1813 in Greene County, Tennessee, the son of Samuel &
Phoebe (Howard) Jones. John's father & grandparents, William & Lydia Jones left
Pennsylvania during the early 1780's and settled in Greene County. John married Narcissa
Rutherford on 18 Aug 1835 in Greene County. Narcissa, born 26 Feb 1817 was the
daughter of Benjamin & Jane (Marshall) Rutherford who were neighbors of the Jones
family.
According to a family tradition of some distant cousins, John, Narcissa & their infant children, George, Phebe
& Eliza, traveled by keelboat down the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. This was in
1843 & from there they possibly went overland across southern Missouri into Crawford
County, Arkansas. John Jones purchased some land and built a log house in what later
became a part of eastern Sebastian County. This land was located in Section 25 of
Township 6 North/Range 30 West, just a short distance west of Auburn & about 2 miles
south of Bloomer. When Sebastian County was formed from Crawford County in 1851,
John Jones was one of the County Commissioners from Big Creek Township.
The following is an excerpt of a letter from the late Horace Bryan to Don
McKinney dated Jan 1, 1981: "- - - - - - I have been interested and writing about the
history and old families of this area for over 50 years. This has continued down through
the years and in more recent times I became deeply involved in the history and genealogy
of about a score of the old families who were neighbors to the Jones'.
- - - - - -So, there the Jones' were, right in the middle, and I have long wondered where
they fit in. I have always been fascinated with the big old Jones place down on the old
Potato Hill Road, east of Cornish store, toward Auburn. - - - - - - Another thing which
increased my interest in the Jones family was the fact that one of the first County
Commissioners of Sebastian County in 1851 was JOHN JONES from big Creek township.
This area was then in Big Creek TWP. Ol' John Jones must have been quite a man
because he was long remembered. People said that they did not know what they would
have done during the Civil War and the bushwack war if it had not been for the help of
John Jones."
The following are excerpts from "Round These Hills", a column written by Horace
Bryan in "The Citizen" newspaper published in Sebastian County.
Issue dated 24 June 1982: "John Jones was Big Creek Township representative on the
first Sebastian County Commission Court. This court held its first meeting in 1851 at
Col. Eaton Tatum's place, Jenny Lind. It designated that the County Seat should be the
geographic center of the county. But one of John Jones' most remarkable feats was
carrying the U.S. Mail between Fort Smith and Memphis when this was a little explored
wilderness. There was over a dozen rivers and a score of sizeable streams to cross."
Issue dated 2 Sep 1982: Those who follow this column regularly will recall that I
devoted much time to "chasing" the Jones and the Rutherfords. Once they were ghost-like
families to me but no more. - - - -North of Mint Shockley was the former abode of James
H. Cartright & William Clinton Jones, son of the first and greatest, John Jones."
When the Civil War began, the John Jones & Rutherford families became strong
supporters of the Union cause. They believed in the preservation of the Union as did many
of their neighbors, including son-in-law Rev. Martin Alonzo East (who married daughter
Eliza), & Enoch Marion Jones. Enoch was a close friend and neighbor but was not related to
John Jones or Rev. East. However, Enoch's son William, many years later, married John
& Narcissa's granddaughter, Annie Phoebe East, the daughter of Rev. East. The
following was taken from the Oath of Allegiance taken by John Jones to support the
Union:
"April 10th,1864 - Name: JOHN JONES//Residence: Sebastian Co Ark///Description: Age
51 years///Height 5 ft 10///Eyes Grey/Hair Grey///Complexion Fair///Peculiarities: Stout"
(well built)
Excerpts of the letter below sent to Don McKinney from the late Horace Bryan,
former county historian of Sebastian County, Ark will provide an insight into the turmoil
in Sebastian County caused by the bloody bushwhacking which occured during the Civil
War era. These activities severely impacted the Jones and other Union families as well as
Confederate families. This was truly a war of brother against brother & neighbor against
neighbor.
16 Jun 1981: "- - - - - -The facts are these. This country would have been almost
completely depopulated following the Civil War. Houses almost ceased to exist. There
was no farming and cattle, hogs and horses disappeared. People lived in lean to brush
arbors and would have starved to death if had not been for the fact that there was plenty
fish in the streams and all kinds of wild game, along with wild herbs, berries nuts, grapes
and fruits.- - - - -local die-hard Confederates made a big mistake in the late stages of the
Civil War. This country was divided - half Union-half Confederate. The families of the
Union men were badly abused during the years when the Confederate Army controlled the
area. After the battles of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, et el, the Union Army took over. The
Union men then settled some scores because of what had happened to their families.But
this was mainly a personal matter & not an organized, determined campaign.The Union
men knew they were winning and generally their greatest desire was to get it over with so
they could settle down and live normal lives again. The following excerpts of a letter from John & Narcissa Jones' granddaughter Lona
B. Thornton in 1980 provides more perspective into the hardships endured by the family
during the Civil War. Cousin Bob Jones, mentioned above, found this letter in an old file while researching Narcissa's Civil War deposiion papers at the archives in Little Rock. Who the letter was addressed to or where the original is located is unknown: Narcissa's grandmother Ruth (Hayes) Rutherford had already settled in Washington
County, Arkansas in 1830, after the grandfather Elliott Rutherford died. She had gone
there with several of her sons, Narcissa's Uncles, including Robert Rutherford, mentioned
above. So, a family connection was already established in this area of northwest Arkansas.
In 1851, a couple of years after Narcissa's father Benjamin died, her mother Jane also left
Tennessee and made the trip to Arkansas accompanied by Narcissa's younger siblings
Calvin, John, Matilda & Polly as well as first cousin Elliott Harrington Rutherford, the son
of Benjamin's brother Elliott Rutherford, Jr.
During the Civil War, times were rough, for both Union & Confederate citizens of
northwest Arkansas. Sebastian County was divided between sympathies and the
Jones/Rutherford families strongly believed in the preservation of the Union. Narcissa's
brother Clinton Rutherford, however, in this war of "brother against brother" had joined th
Confederate Army. He had moved from Sebastian County, Arkansas to the San Antonio
area of Texas in 1851, which was a hotbed of the Confederacy.
The following is from the "Genealogical History of the Rutherford Family", Vol 1,
1988, pg 265, by Kenneth & Anna Rutherford: Narcissus's brother John, a Union soldier, was killed during the Battle of Walker's
Station in Missouri and another brother Augustus "Gus", a Union sympathizer, was
hanged on his own farm by southern sympathizers during the bushwhack war in Sebastian
County. Narcissa's oldest son George W. Jones, also a Union soldier, was shot on his farm
while home on leave by these bushwhackers. Both Gus & his nephew George Jones are
buried in the old Jones/Hinton cemetery near the original John Jones homestead.
********************************************************************
Aug 1859 - Sebastian Co AR (Land Records)
Sebastian County, AR (JOHN JONES//Federal Land Purchases) Narcissa continued to reside in the Auburn/Center Valley area of Sebastian County
after the war and died 13 February 1894, about 13 days shy of her 77th birthday. She was
buried in Pinnell Cemetery with other relatives. This cemetery was later relocated to
Center Valley Cemetry south of Bloomer after the U.S. Government took over the
ownership of this land during the establishment of Camp Chaffee.
********************************************************************* Children of John & Narcissus (Rutherford) Jones
Child 1: GEORGE W. JONES
Child 2: PHEBE JANE JONES
Child 4: WILLIAM CLINTON JONES
Child 5: MARY ELIZABETH JONES
Child 6: MARTHA MATILDA JONES
Child 7: ROBERT MARION JONES
Child 8: JOHN JONES, JR
Child 9: NANCY ELLEN JONES
Child 10: SARAH EMILA JONES
(This copy was sent to me by Paul Hisaw of Tulsa OK about 20 years
ago)
These notes were compiled from material gathered since 1980 by personal research &
correspondence. Other than my grandmother, aunts & other individuals mentioned in the
narrative, I am especially grateful to the following "cousins" whose records, photographs,
stories & oral traditions, along with my own, helped us all gain a better understanding of
our Jones family heritage.
The late Juanita Greenfield of Fort Smith, AR, Paul Hisaw of Tulsa OK
Doris Wilson of Wichita KS, Theral Jones of Greenwood, AR
Bob Jones of Raytown, MO, Becky Neighbors of Fort Smith, AR
Also, the late historian Horace Bryan of Greenwood AR contributed some very interesting
material on the Jones family.
- - - - - - - - - - -
If these notes, excerpts or photos are copied, shared with others, published or
displayed on the internet, it will be appreciated that proper genealogical etiquette be
observed, acknowledging this researcher's compiled narratives. Any "legitimate" additions or corrections, etc.will
also be greatly appreciated.
******************************************************************
But a remarkable thing happened. Confederate soldiers from these parts, most of them
serving over in the old South, deserted to the last man & came back home to defend their
families. They made the mistake of deciding to use Bushwacker tactics to kill off the
Union men and drive out their families. This resulted in the Feds really cracking down.
And the Confederate men wound up hiding out in the cave of the high hills. I am not
telling a partisan story because all of my people were Confederates. I am telling the story
as it came out of the mouth of the general commander of all things Confederate in
Sebastian County - James H. McConnell, 1842-1938 - "The Last Living Confederate
Veteran in Sebastian County."
(Don’s Note: The big old Jones place mentioned
above was owned by Robert M. Jones, the son of John & Narcissus)
"John Jones his wife Narcissus and 3 small children came to Ark in
the early 1830's (note: actually came 1843) and settled in a place called Auburn Sebastian
County where my Grandfather homesteaded over 300 acres of land where he built a log
cabin and 7 more children were born. There he farmed and cleared the land which he
cultivated to make a living for his large family. He left behind his parents, Samuel and
Pheba Jones in Greene County, Tennessee along with 5 brothers whom he never saw
again. Times were hard and the winters were very cold, the cabin had only 2 large rooms
with a fire place at each end where a huge fire was kept going to keep them warm and
where the meals were cooked and served from the iron kettles and bread baked in what we
now call iron skillet or dutch oven. My grandfather taught school in a one room log
school house where he had to ride several miles thru the bitter cold on horseback as they
only had school during the winter months. Times were so hard a lot of children could not
attend school because they had no shoes or warm clothing for the cold winter months.
My grandfather raised sheep for the wool which was spun into thread and cloth made from
it which my grandmother made into clothing for her family of 10 children. Everything was
hand made even the beds were nailed to the wall, benches to sit on made from split logs
and hewn down and smoothed to sit on. After the children began to grow up the Civil
War broke out and it wasn't long until grandfather and the two older boys (George) and
(Bill) who were both married by now had to go fight in the war and before the end two of
the girls husbands had to go so grandmother and her family were left to get by as best they
could. Uncle George got a chance to get back home to see his young wife he had left
behind to which a baby girl had been born and he was killed by some carpet baggers (note:
southern bushwackers) that were near by. His wife ran to him and he died in her arms. A
few days later those same carpet baggers came back and burned my grandmothers home
and left her homeless, penniless and only the clothes on their backs they had no choice but
to walk 30 miles and come here to the old Fort in Fort Smith for food and shelter.
Sometime after that my grandfather was severely wounded but couldn't get home for some
time. He died from his wounds after returning back to his family. Friends and family
rebuilt the log cabin which was still standing in 1941 when Fort Chaffee was built and the
government took over the property which had been in the family well over a hundred
years. My grandfather is buried here in the National Cemetery as an unknown soldier
and my Uncle George is buried in the Jones cemetery on the home place. An uncle (Gus
Rutherford) is also buried there who was hung by the carpet baggers. My dad Robert M.
was a small boy and a friend drove a wagon under the body of the uncle and sat my dad on
his shoulders so he could cut the rope to let him down."
(Don's Note: Actually, these men were killed by southern "bushwhackers" with
Confederate sympathies, not "carpetbaggers", who were the northern speculators who came into the
area after the war and took advantage of the downtrodden local people, confiscating their
land and property.)
****************************************************************
Narcissa (Rutherford) Jones was born 26 February 1817 in Greene County, Tennessee, the
daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Marshall) Rutherford who resided in the Bulls Gap area of
Greene County. A few years after Narcissa married John Jones they settled in Crawford
County, Arkansas, about 1843. Narcissa's younger brothers James, Joseph & Augustus
"Gus" Rutherford as well as sister Louisa also made this trip, probably all as a group.
Louisa married Robert Carroll Thaxton in Crawford County in 1844. It appears that
brother Clinton had made the move prior to 1840. Brother James died in Newton
County, MO about 1850 after he had settled near some relatives in that area. Brother
Joseph went to California with a wagon train along the Oregon Trail with his Uncle
Robert Rutherford of Washington County, Arkansas.
"Clinton Rutherford served in the Mexican War, having enlisted in 1847. During his tour
of duty in the army he saw Texas for the first time. He was injured while in service by a
runaway mule team and never fully recovered from his injuries. He also served during the
Civil War, and like so many other families, he and his brother, Calvin, chose different
sides. Two brothers, John and Augustus, were killed during he war."
17 Jun 1856 - Sebastian Co AR (Land Records)
For Value received I, George Griffith, to whom the within warrant #13,155, was issued, do hereby sell and assigned unto JOHN JONES of Sebastian County and to his heirs and assigns forever the said warrant, and authorize him to locate the same and receive a patent therefore. Witness my hand and seal this sevententh day of June, A.D., 1856. George X Griffith (his mark)
(This was bounty land granted to George Griffith for services in the Arkansas Militia, during the Florida War of the 1830's with with the Seminoles. John Jones later applied for the patent. See below)
JOHN JONES of Sebastian County, State of Arkansas, hereby apply to locate and do locate the W 1/2 of the SE quarter of Section #33, Township 7N of Range #29W in the District of Lands subject to sale at the Land Office at Clarksville, Arkansas, containing 80 acres, August 1859. Witness: Francis McKeisman, J.P.
(This was land located southeast of Auburn near where John's daughter Eliza and husband Rev Martin A. East settled. Martin & Eliza inherited some land in this area from John's estate)
1 Sep 1856 - Section 25, 7N, 30W, 160 acres
1 Mar 1860 - Section 25, 7N, 30W, 80 acres//80 acres
(This is the land, located about 2 miles south of Bloomer, on which the family homesite was established)
1 Mar 1860 - Section 33, 7N, 29W, 40 acres//80 acres
1 Sep 1860 - Section 33, 7N, 29W, 40 acres
(Some of this land, located about 2 or 3 miles southeast of the homesite near the Franklin County line, was evidently later deeded over to daughter Eliza & husband Rev. Martin A. East)
Born: 28 Mar 1838 Greene Co TN//Died:27 Jun 1863 Sebastian Co AR (Killed by Bushwhackers)
Married: Jane
Born: 13 Apr 1840 Greene Co TN//Died: Unknown
Married: David Cardin
Born: 3 Feb 1842 Greene Co TN//Died: 1 Dec 1925 Arkoma(LeFlore) OK
Buried: Center Valley Cemetery, Sebastian Co AR
Married: Rev MARTIN ALONZO EAST 3 Feb
1862 Sebastian Co AR
Born: 31 Oct 1843 Sebastian Co AR//Died: ?? RoundRock(Williamson)TX
Married: Louisa Brown
Born: 6 Sep 1846 Sebastian Co AR//Died: 1924 Sebastian Co AR
Married: Daniel S. Alstatt 27 Dec 1864 Sebastian Co AR
Born: 31 Jan 1849 Sebastian Co AR//Died: 19 Mar 1863 Sebastian Co AR
Born: 25 May 1851 Sebastian Co AR//Died: 4 Jul 1930 Auburn(Sebastian) AR
Married: Nancy Hester Philen(1); Mary King(2)
Born: 24 Apr 1853 Sebastian Co AR//Died: 7 Feb 1943 Wowoka, OK
Married: Charlotta Louisa Crumley
Born: 24 Dec 1854 Sebastian Co AR//Died: 5 Feb 1929 OklahomaCity, OK
Married: Frances Warren Ownbey
Born: 18 Mar 1857 Sebastian Co AR//Died: Unknown
Married: Robert Thames
THIS PAGE & MY ENTIRE FAMILY HISTORY DOMAIN IS PROTECTED BY AWARD WINNING "SITELOCK SECURE".
I PAY A MONTHLY FEE FOR THIS PROTECTION vs A SSL CERTIFICATE.