- J - JONES, George P., prominent Attorncy-at-law. Florence, was born near Russellville this State, January 11, 1850. and is the son of the Hon. Henry C. Jones, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this volume, he was educated at Florence; read law under Chancellor Keyes, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. After spending a few months in the office of Josiah Patterson, he, in the latter part of 1872, embarked fully into the practice of the law and readily took high rank in the profession. He is now of the firm of Simpson «x Jones. Though devoted to his profession, Mr. Jones gives much attention to other matters. He is President of the Board of Directors of the Normal College at Florence : identified with some of the leading industries of the place, and is regarded as a wide-awake, public-spirited, present-day North Alabamian. Northern Alabama Historical & Biographical by T.A. DeLand and A. Davis Smith 1888 Birmingham AL JONES, Henry Cox - resides in this county, but is a native of Franklin, where he was born Jan, 23, 1821. He was graduated at Lagrange College while Bishop Paine was president of the faculty, and read law under Hon. Daniel Coleman of Limestone. At the session of the general assembly in 1841, he was elected to tho office of judge of tho county court of Franklin without his solicitation. In 1843 ho resigned the office, and was elected the same year to represent the county in the legislature. Re-elected in 1844, he remained in retirement till 1853, when ho was elected to tho State senate. Ho came to reside in this county in 1856, and has since practiced law at Florence. He represented the county in the constitutional convention of 1861, and refused to vote for or sign the ordinance of secession. The same year he was elected to the provisional congress of the Confederacy, and was an earnest advocate of the Southern cause. He has not since taken official part in public affairs. Judge Jones is stoutly built, and has an impressive appearance. As a speaker he is fluent and effective, and vehement in utterance. He stands well as a, lawyer and advocate, and is a gentleman of manly character and ardent public spirit. He married a sister of Hon. Wade Keyes Alabama - Her Resources and History by Willis Brewer 1872 JONES, Thomas Eli - business man and legislator, was born October 18, 1846 at Center Star, Lauderdale County; son of Charles Brickie and Sarah (Joiner) Jones, the former a native of Wake County. N. C, who remorod early to Lauderdale County, where he lived the rest of his life, and was a Justice of the peace and constable for twenty yearn; grandson of Jeaae and Margaret (Johnston) Jones, the former a native of North Carolina, who moved to Alabama In 1828. and of Ell and Mary (Welch) Joiner, residents of Lauderdale County. He was educated la the public schools of his native county; spent eight years In the blacksmith department of the Florence wagon factory; was notary public. 1885-1887; and tax collector of Lauderdale, 1904-1913. He represented Lauderdale County in the legislature of 1915. He is a Democrat; a Baptist; and an Odd Fellow. Married - September 7, 1878 at Center Star, to Olive Frances, daughter of Alfred Green and Lydla Kennedy (Hamill) Hill, of that place; granddaughter of Jamea and Catherine (Stutts) Hill, the former of North Carolina, later of Lauderdale County, and of Hugh and Elisabeth (Kennedy) Hamill, the former was a Methodist minister, a native of Ireland, who came with bis parents to America in Infancy. Children: 1. Lydla Vernon; 2. William Franklin m. Kimball Woodworth New Decatur; 3. John Thomas; 4. Charles Alfred; 5. Percy Lee; 6. Lucian, residence: Florence. History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen JONES, William Franklin - teacher was born January 9, 1881 at Centre Star, Lauderddale County; son of Thomaa Ell and Olive Frances (Hill) Jones the former a native of Atlas, Lauderdale County, who lived at Atlas, Centre Star, and at Florence, was a blacksmith for many rears, and served as tax collector of Lauderdale County; grandson of Thomas B. Jones, who moved from Wake County, N. C to Atlas; and of Alfred Hill, who moved from Moore County. N. C to Atlas. He attended the rural school at Centre Star until he was thirteen years old, then moved to Florence and entered the city schools. He was graduated from the State normal college in 1903; attended Summer school of South 1905; the University of Virginia. 1904-1907; and the University of Chicago during the summer of 1901. He taught Latin and mathematics in the high school of Gadsden. 1904-l906; was principal of that high school, 1907-190$; and became superintendent of the city schools of New Decatur in 1999. He la a Democrat, a Baptist and a Knight of Pylblas. Married; June 30 1910 at New Decature, to Kimball, daughter ot Benjamin Morgan and Mary (Jones) Bloodworth. who lived at Dadeville. Residence: New Decatur. History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen