William Foote JONES William Foote JONES Alexander JONES William Henry JONES James K JONES Mattie Helen JONES Wince JONES Mary Frances CRISWELL Charles David JONES Elmer Foote JONES Marie Louise JONES Thomas Earl JONES Levi Everett JONES Cornie M COCHRAN Nixie JONES Clara Leona JONES Herman JONES Sevella K JONES Ida Myrtle CRISWELL Robert Foote JONES Mary Emily LEVERETT Mini tree diagram
William Thomas JONES

William Thomas JONES1,1,2,3,4,5,6,1,7,8,5,10

30th Jan 18751,1,2,3,4,5,6,1,7,8,9,5,10 - 22nd Jan 19485,10

Life History

between 1875 and 1930

Resident in Prairie Township, Arkansas, Arkansas.2,6,3,7,9

30th Jan 1875

Born in Prairie Township, Arkansas, Arkansas.1,1,2,3,4,5,6,1,7,8,9,5,10

12th Dec 1894

Married Mary Frances CRISWELL in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,12

15th Jul 1897

Birth of son William Henry JONES in Arkansas.3,30

29th Sep 1899

Birth of son James K JONES in Arkansas.12,31,3,32,33,1,25,10

about 1902

Birth of daughter Mattie Helen JONES in Arkansas.34,3

4th Sep 1903

Birth of son Wince JONES in Arkansas.3,5,10

25th Oct 1904

Death of Mary Frances CRISWELL in Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,10

21st Jan 1906

Married Cornie M COCHRAN in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,12

20th Dec 1906

Birth of son Charles David JONES in Arkansas.3,5,22,10

27th Mar 1908

Birth of son Elmer Foote JONES in Arkansas.23,17,24,3,1,25,10

19th Mar 1910

Birth of daughter Marie Louise JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.23,14

24th Oct 1913

Death of son Charles David JONES in Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,21,22,10

23rd Jul 1914

Birth of son Thomas Earl JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.23,1,27,6,21,5

9th Mar 1918

Death of son Wince JONES in Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,10

12th Mar 1919

Birth of son Levi Everett JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.25,6,27,17,23,28,1,29

8th Oct 1919

Death of Cornie M COCHRAN in Arkansas County, Arkansas.23,5

26th Aug 1920

Married Ida Myrtle CRISWELL in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,12,10

about 1921

Birth of daughter Nixie JONES in Arkansas County, Arkansas.12

12th Jun 1922

Birth of daughter Clara Leona JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.1,13,6,14,15

29th Apr 1925

Birth of son Herman JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.16,17,1,6,18,19

before 1930

Death of daughter Nixie JONES in Arkansas County, Arkansas.11

21st Oct 1934

Birth of daughter Sevella K JONES in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.16,20

22nd Jan 1938

Death of son Thomas Earl JONES in Arkansas County, Arkansas.26,11,5

22nd Jan 1948

Died in Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,10

after 22nd Jan 1948

Buried in Rowland-Jones Family Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas.5,5,10

Notes

  • 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 11 June, (Location & District Unstated), p 17, #115, Fam #118
    William F Jones W M 71    Farmer VA VA VA (b abt 1809)
    Mary E Jones W F 38 Wife Keeping House b AR Mass KY (b abt 1822)
    Thomas Jones 5 W M Son On Farm AR VA AR (b abt 1875)

    In 1900 William Thomas is enumerated as Thomas.  His widowed mother Mary is living in his household.

    1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 July, Prairie Township, District 7, page 15B, Hse #256, Fam #263
    Jones, Thomas Head  W M Jan 1875 25 married 5 years  AR VA AR Farmer Owns
    Jones, Mary  Wife W F Apr 1877 23 married 5 yrs 2 children/2 living MS MS MS
    Jones, William H Son  W M July 1896 3  Single AR AR MS
    Jones, James  Son  W M Sept 1899 8mos  Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Mary Mother W F Apr 1843  57 Widow 5 children/3 living AR Mass KY can read can write

    Living next door in house 255 is Thomas' younger brother Robert F Jones.

    "William Thomas Jones was married 3 times. ... 2. (Connie) Cornie M. Cochran......Elmer, Levi, Marie, Thomas, Wince, Charlie."
    --  Jimmy Jones, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 2 January 2009

    Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
    W T Jones, Gender Male
    Age 31, Birth Year abt 1875
    Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Corney Cochran Female
    Age 30, Residence Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Marriage 21 Jan 1906 Arkansas County
    Marriage License Date 19 Jan 1906

    1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 18 April, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Hse/Fam #17
    Jones, Thomas Head  M W 35 2nd marriage Married 4 years AR VA AR Farmer, Owns Farm
    Jones, Cornnie  Wife F W 34 1st Marriage Married 4 years 3 children/3 living MS MS MS (abt 1876)
    Jones, Willie Son M W 12 Single AR AR MS
    James Son M W 10 Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Mattie  Dau  F W 8 Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Wince Son M W 6 Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Charley Son M W 3 Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Elma Son M W 2 Single AR AR MS
    Jones, Mary Mother F W  67 Widow AR Mass KY (abt 1843)

    Willie here matches the child we previously knew as William H, which seems to stand for Henry.  James is his brother, both children of (William) Thomas' first wife Mary Frances Criswell.  Elma, of course, represents the child Elmer.  A Helen Jones, reported by Jimmy Jones as a daughter of Mary Frances, does not appear here.

    However, we see Mattie, who in the 1920 census is referred to as Mattie H.  After a full analysis (see my discussion below on date and age conflicts), it appears that this Mattie H matches Helen, for whom Jimmy provided no age, and who otherwise does not show up.

    Thus I think I have sufficient grounds here to consider that Mattie, reported by Jerry Griffitt as a child of Cornie, is the child of Mary Frances, matching the Helen in Jimmy's list.  Since Mattie is a nickname for Martha, her full name, thus, is probably Martha Helen.

    There are still conflicts with the next two children, Wince and Charley, both reported by Jimmy as children of Cornie.  They were both born more than four years before this census, which reports that Thomas has been married to Cornie only 4 years.  The birth states of the mother is not helpful in this case, since both Mary Frances Criswell and Cornie M Cochran were born in Mississippi.

    Since they have been married 4 years by this time, we can estimate that William Thomas Jones and Cornie Cochran married about 1905.  This conflicts, however, with information about the children from family sources.

    Jimmy Jones reported in email to me that the children born to Cornie Cochran Jones were Elmer, Levi, Marie, Thomas, Wince, Charlie.  He provided no birth dates.  Jerry Griffitt lists these children and includes birth dates based apparently on the 1910 census.  The 1910 census reports an additional child not reported by Jimmy Jones, Mattie Jones, age 8 in 1910.

    This would mean that by 1910, Cornie would have been married to W T about 9 years, not 4.  Jerry's date of 1902 matches this census age of 8 years for Mattie.  In the 1920 census, when she is married to Cyrus McSwain, Mattie H is aged 18.

    Assuming that the report of 4-year marriage for W T and Cornie in 1910 is correct, then Mattie would be the daughter of Mary Frances Criswell Jones.  But Jimmy Jones reports no child by that name, and I have found a match for the other names he provided.  But this name would not match the middle initial H.

    This question is further complicated by the report Jimmy Jones gives for these children, when combined with the birth dates available.  Jimmy reports Wince Jones as the child of Cornie, but the census of 1910 says Wince was 6, and thus born about 1904, 2 years before Thomas married Cornie, according to this report.  In addition the third child, Charley, was 3 years old, and thus born in about 1906 or 1907, again before the census says Cornie married Thomas in 1906.

    Finally, it seems plausible to consider this census report erroneous.  It does seem strange that Thomas and Cornie would have forgot how many years they had been married, and that the enumerator and even Thomas and Cornie would not have noticed the discrepancy of ages and length of marriage.  But strange things appear in census records.  We can imagine the task of the harried enumerator, taking all these names and details under dictation.  It is best to consider this an enumerator error.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 7 February, South Prairie Township, District 16, page 8B, Hse #103, Fam #161
    Jones, William T  Head Owns M W 45 Widowed AR VA US Farmer [b abt 1875]
    West, Elma F Son M W 11 AR AR MS [abt 1909]
    West, Luzia(?) M  F W 9 AR AR MS [b abt Jan 1911]
    West, Thomas E Son M W 5 AR AR MS [b abt 1905]
    West, Levi E Son M W 10mos AR AR MS [b abt Feb 1919]

    In 1918, William Thomas registered for the WWI draft.  This confirms his birth date, but this form does not report birth place, like some of the other WWI cards.  On this registration, his wife's name is written Cornia.

    World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
    William Thomas Jones
    Residence Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas
    Birth 30 Jan 1875
    Occupation Farmer Self-Employed
    wife Cornia Jones
    Medium Height and Build, Blue Eyes, Lt Brown Hair
    Registration 12 July 1918 Stuttgart, Arkansas, Arkansas

    In 1920 William Thomas is a widower.  Cornie died 8 October 1919.  Her last child Levi Everett on 12 March 1919.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 10 February, Southern Prairie Township, District 16, page 8B, By Road off Ethel and Chute Rd, Hse #103, Fam #161
    Jones, William T Head  Owns Farm  M W 45 Widowed  AR VA US Farmer
    Jones, Elmer F  Son M W 11 AR AR MS
    Jones, Luzia (Luiza?) Dau F W 9 AR AR MS
    Jones, Thomas E  Son M W 5 AR AR MS
    Jones, Levi E  Son M W 10 months [born Mar 1919]  AR AR MS

    There is a family photo of William and children with his wife and mother.  Information on the photo posted on Ancestry.com indicates the date is around 1923.  However, one of the three women in the photo is identified as Cornie Cochran Jones, William's second wife.  But she died in 1919.  This photo needs to be compared with photos of William's third wife Ida Criswell.  Two other identifications appear to be wrong also.  One of the sons is identified as Charley, but Charley (Charles Foote Jones) died in 1913, according to several attestations.

    The youngest woman is also identified as William's sister Mattie Helen, but Mattie Helen was his and Cornie's daughter, who would be about 20 in 1923.  That matches her looks.

    Identification in Jones family photo:
    Standing l-r Tom (Wm Thomas 1875-1948)
    Willie (Wm Henry 1897-1991)
    Wince (1903-1918)
    James (James Kiner 1899-1986)
    [identified as Charley but he died in 1913, but must be]: Elmer (Elmer Foote 1908-1966)
    Seated l-r Cornelia [but she died in 1919]
    Mary Smith Jones, Mother of William Thomas &
    William's [identified as Wm's sister, but has to be:] daughter Martha "Mattie" Helen Jones (b abt 1903)
    (William married Cornelia (Cornie) Cochran in 1906)
    --  Photo reported to be taken about 1923, courtesy of Jerry Robnette, Ancestry, accessed 12 June 2017

    The report for this family in the 1930 census indicates that William Thomas married Ida Myrtle Criswell after February 1920, when he was reported as a widower in the 1920 census.  The 1930 census report shows that it was in 1920 when they married.  Myrtle is reported as age 35, and first married at age 25.

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 29 April, Prairie Township, District 25, page 9A, Ethel and Chute Rd, Hse #155 Fam #156
    Jones, W T  Head  Owns M W 55  First married at age 20 AR VA USA Farmer [b abt 1885]
    Jones, Myrtle Wife F W 35  First married at age 25 AR AR AR Farm Laborer [b abt 1905]
    Jones, Thomas E Son M W 15 AR AR AR [b abt 1915]
    Jones, Levi Son M W 11 AR AR AR [b abt 1919]
    Jones, Clara Dau F W 7 TX AR AR [b abt 1923]
    Jones, Herman Son M W 4yrs 0mos AR AR AR [b March 1926]

    1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 4 April, Ethel, District 1-26, page 6A, Oak Flat School and Church Rd, Hse #94, Owns $2000
    Jones, Tom Head M W 65 Grade 4 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Farmer
    Jones, Myrtle Wife F W 45 Grade 6 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Housekeeper
    - page 6B -
    West, Claria [Clara] Dau F W 17 Married Grade 8 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Housekeeper
    Jones, Herman M W 14 Single Grade 7 b Arkansas same house in 1935
    Jones, Sevella Dau F W 5 Single b Arkansas same house in 1935
    West, Willie Son-in-Law M W 26 Married Grade 7 b Arkansas same place in 1935

    Willie was buried with other family members on the private Jones Family Cemetry on the old Jones farm on Belleview Road in Ethel, Arknawsas.  We added an entry for this cemetery on Find a Grave and created a memorial for Willie there.

    ----------------
    William Thomas “Willie” Jones
    Birth 30 Jan 1875 Prairie Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas, USA
    Death 22 Jan 1948 (aged 72) Arkansas County, Arkansas, USA
    Burial Jones Family Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas County, Arkansas, USA

    William went by Willie. His parents were William Foote Jones and Mary Emily (Maiden name unknown) Smith. He lived his whole life in Prairie Township of Arkansas County, Arkansas, where his family farmed.

    He was married three times:
    Mary Francis Criswell, mar 12 Dec 1894 in Arkansas County; b 4 Apr 1877, d 25 Oct 1904
    Cornie M Cochran, mar 21 January 1906, b 6 Nov 1875, d 8 Oct 1919
    Ida Myrtle Criswell, mar 26 Aug 1920, b 14 Dec 1894, d 7 Mar 1984

    Spouses:
    Ida Myrtle Criswell Jones 1894-1984 (m. 1920)
    Cornelia M Cochran Jones 1875-1919
    Daughter Marie Louise Parsons 1910-1995

    Created by Orville Jenkins 2 Apr 2020
    --  Find a Grave Memorial 208643330, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208643330/william-thomas-jones
    ----------------

Sources

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