Jesse G. Jones	Jesse Jones Family   Alabama,Texas, Washington State	Susan and Jesse Jones Jr. photo probably by Jesse about 1866

Children of Susan Varnell
Jesse Brashear Jones	b. 27 Aug 1866 Bonham, Fannin Co., TX	d. 24 Jul 1943 Knox City, Texas	m. Lillian Katherine Pollard 27 Jan1889 TX (b 21 Sep 1871 Sedalia, MO) 2m. Marion Augusta Lucas Bonnell 27 Dec 1911
William Richard Jones	b. 6 Jan1869 TX	d. 1 Mar 1952 Knox City, Texas	1m. Ida Pratt 17 Aug 1890 TX 2m. Minnie White
Ida Oppie Jones	b. 5 Apr 1871 Miller Grove, Hopkins Co., TX	d. 12 Feb. 1949	1m.Thomas Marshall, Montague, TX 2m. Dutton
Olive Eugenia Jones	b. 3 Mar 1875 Millers Grove, TX	d.	m. J. T. Pollard 1890 Montague, TX

No known children of Permelia Varnell
Although Permelia didn't have any children of her own she raised her sister's children into caring adults.

Henry, Turney                  34  m   w              farmer                $500    $7600     Alabama
Jane M.,  Turney              38  f    w            housewife                                          Tennessee
Renet E. W. Turney         14  f    w                                                                        Alabama
Mary T. A. Turney           12  f    w                                                                        Alabama
Peter J. Turney                 10  m   w                                                                        Alabama
(?Wallrom) E. P. Turney    8 f                                                                               Alabama
Julia E. M. Turney              4 f                                                                               Alabama
Jesse Jones                        19 m                 (?Ambnotypet )                                Alabama
(we can't figure out what Jesse's career is here  Am??otyp?t,   It may be a "hypnotist".  The family that he is staying with seems to have a number of slaves)

A late photo of Jesse Jones in Confederate uniform.
             photo probably by Jesse, collection of Sue Keller

1862 February.- As a young man he enlisted in the Confederate Army in 7th Ala. Cavalry. He was19 years of age when taken as a prisoner of the war on16th of February of 1862. This was the date when Fort Donaldson in western Tennessee was surrendered to the Union army commanded personally by General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant insisted on "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted." This battle and the "unconditional surrender" statement made Ulysses S. Grant a national hero. [World book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc. Chicago.1987]
Jesse was one of about 13,000 troops stationed here. Although taken prison for period Jesse some how escaped through deep snow and cold rather than being sent to the Chicago prisoner of war camps. According to the pension records he re-enlisted in 28th Miss. Cavalry in Malone's Regiment. He was also wounded in the battle at Murfreesborro in the left elbow.[Pension records, 1930]

The US War Department stated that he enlisted as a private in Company G, 28 miss. Cavalry, of the Confederate States Army on the 14th of February, 1864 in Fannin, Mississippi for a three year period. Company muster rolls list him for March and April of 1865. His name appears on a roll of Prisoners of War, surrendered May 4, 1865, and paroled at Gainesville, Alabama, May 12, 1865. [pension application , 1930] Jesse was proud to have been a veteran of the Civil War and having fought for the South. During the war he carried the mail primarily as a cover for his spying activities for the Confederate Army. He was captured and escaped several times. He was wounded at Murfesboro but was not discharged till the 15th of May 1865 at Donville Ala. His story is best told in his own words.

The Affidavit of Witness from Richard F. Varnell, Permelia Varnell Jones brother, stated, "I was raised in same community with Jesse Jones, husband of applicant, Mrs. Permelia Jones. I was about fifteen years of age at the time of his enlistment. I remember distinctly whe he left home for Fort Donaldson and also remember of return home after the fall of Ft. Donaldson and his re-enlistment into Wheeler's Brigade. I also remember of his being at home on a furlough with a wounded arm. I can't say that I knew personally of the army service of Jesse Jones, but know that he visited home in the unniform(sic) and accoutrements of a confederate Soldier. " signed Richard F. Varnelll, 8 August, 1930. [pension application, 1930]

1870 - US Census, Black Jack Grove Post Office, Precinct no.4,  Hopkins Co., TX Roll: 1592  Page: 151

house 158
Jones, Jesse		28	m	w	Artist	100	Alabama
       Susan		28	f	w	Keeping house	Tennessee
       Jesse             4      m       w
       William		 1	m	w			Texas

 house 157
Cain, Dempsey		56	m	w	farmer	200	Tennessee
      Mary		36	f	w	keeping house	Arkansas
      Humpton		19	m	w	farmer		Arkansas
      Georgia		16	m	w			Arkansas
      Alabama		11	f	w			Arkansas
      Tennessee		14	f	w			Arkansas
      William		7	m	w			Texas
      Mary		4	f	w			Texas
      Martha		1	f	w			Texas

1871 - Jesse Jones lived in Miller Grove, Hopkins County, Texas. Ida Oppie Jones is born here this year. Here he made his living as a photographer and journalist. As a photographer he claimed to have taken photographs of most of the people in Hopkins County "since I came to this Contry, ten years ago, many of my kind patrons have died, leaving with their frinds Pictures which they prize as precious jewels. He wrote the following poem on an advertisement given out locally.

Do Not Procrastinate!
Think not these pictures, by the sunlight made,
Shade though they be, will like a shadow fade,
No, when the loved one's form in earth shall lie,
And death has closed forever the beaming eye,
Their lifelike portraits, mocking at decay,
Will still be fresh and vivid as to day.

He wrote many regular articles on his war escapades in the local newspaper. These have been collected and put into the historical section of the University of Texas archives. They have been transcibed by Marlene Grubb with printed typos and listed here with an index of their contents.

Jesse G. Jones "Reminiscences of the Civil War"

1876 - Miller Grove, Hopkins Co., Texas - Susan Varnell Jones dies. She was quite a beautiful woman and had at least four children. She unfortunately dies in the birth of her last child. Her sister, Permelia Varnell, perhaps comes in to take care of the infant. He marries Permelia but she never had any children of her own but raised her sisters children to adulthood.

1880- US Census, Hopkins Co, TX p.227B

1900- US Census, Montague Co., Texas.  Roll: 1660  Page: 246

1910, August 10 - Jesse Jones sends out the minutes of the Annual Reunion fo the Sam Lanham Camp. The note is handwritten on letter head stationary. The U. C. V. probably stands for the United Confederate Veterans

Adjt. Jesse G. Jones
Sam Lanham Camp
no. 1677 U. C. V.
Sam Lanham Camp

U. C. V. No 1677

Knox City, Texas

Annual Reunion


3rd day of August 1910

The only business before the Camp being the Election of Camp Officers for another year Comrade G. E. Chilcoat officiating commander took Chair Comrade J. F. Cummings the Adjt place in harmony and regular order the old officers, being B. T. Lanier Commander Jesse G. Jones Adjt and J. F. Cummins Chaplin were reElected for the ensuing year

Jesse G. Jones Adjt.

1930, Aug 11 - Permelia Jones applies for a Pension for Confederate Soldiers. Several documents give credibility to Jesse's claims as a Confederate Soldier. Through this we also confirm that Permelia had a brother of Richard F. Varnell along with her death date. [pension application, 1930]

A note attached to this application states -"My memory is the the 26th Mississippi Regiment was captured at the fall of Ft. Donaldson, but my husband made his escape from the Fort before the Regiment was sent away to a Northern prison, returned home and re-enlisted in a campany made up by Capt. John Luster, I think going into Malone's regiment, Wheeler's Brigade. he served much of his time as a scout."

source:

Application for Mortuary Warrant, Knox Co., Texas. Jan 17, 1936
Confederate Civil War pension records of Permelia Jones, 11 Aug 1930
Hipple, Mrs Maxine, records of , Austin, TX , now deceased
Wade, Nova, records of , 401 Rusk Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, email - Davon104@aol.com
The Southwestern Journal of Knox City, Knoxville Co., TX , Newspaper articles
US census records of Hopkins and Knox Co., TX

Cheryl's Family Index | Regional History index | email to Cheryl Grubb

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web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 3/25/16