|
 JOSEPH
was born March 7, 1863 at Valley Springs, Arkansas and he died February 1,
1955 at Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Kay county. He was married to Nancy Bellzona
Collins Jones. His father was William Stephens Jones, whose father was
William Beaver Jones, originally from Georgia, buried **at the Jones
Cemetery, Valley Springs, Arkansas. Joseph's mother was Mary Ann DeWitt.
He and Nancy Bell were married February 8, 1889 at Harrison, Arkansas,
Boone county while he was on a cattle drive with his father there.
His brothers and sisters
were: Hiliah Rebecca (Becky) William Stephens (Uncle Billy), Seborn (Seib)
Cicero, Ruth Ann, DeWitt, Dora (Doshia), Walsie.
One of Hiliah Rebecca's
descendants, Jerry Young did a meticulous search and recording of dates
and information on this gigantic family. His information is taken from old
wills, probates, dates of cemetery markers and family Bibles. He published
his limited edition book called, "Joneses, Pioneers of the
Prairie," in 1992. It is in the library at Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harrison,
Arkansas, and New York City.
This is an old picture
taken around 1883. It was not in very good condition but since it speaks
of Joe's appearance up until his death it was included. The picture set on
Bellzona's dressing table until she died. The only difference being the
soft cravat seen here. One of the elder relatives said "he probably
made that suit he has on, they teased him a lot about it too."
One of the word games my
grandfather and I played was, "Grandsir, are you up for the
day?" His answer, "Yes, my dear, if I don't fall down."
Probably, it was his
telling of stories to the children that brought about an interest in
family history. He told one that always fascinated me. It was about a
particular piece of cut glass bowl that had a silver hinged band on it
allowing it to be opened up. The beauty of the glass always appealed to a
child. He told me that his mother sat at the window watching for the union
soldiers and when she saw them coming down the road she gathered the
children together and ran with them to the root cellar. He said he stood
and looked through the cracks of the board door and watched them burn the
house. She had unconsciously stuck the bowl she used as a sewing bowl
under her arm and this was all that was left of their possessions.
In the book, "Children
of Pride," Letters of the Jones family in Georgia. There are a number
of Joseph Jones, and Joseph H. Jones. There are so many customs practiced
that are so like the family it is likely this is the family of William
Beaver Jones, grandfather of Joseph H. Jones. |
