Dr. John Joseph Jones, a notable physician of Faulkner County, Arkansas, was born on August 10, 1824, in Hickman County, Tennessee. His parents were Allen and Elizabeth (Hicks) Jones. Dr. Jones began studying medicine at seventeen and started practicing in Alabama in 1848. He moved to Arkansas in 1851, where he established the first drug store and a sawmill in Springfield. He married Marietta Gratehouse in 1856, with whom he had eight children. After her death, he married Anna Watson in 1870, and they had three children. Dr. Jones served as a Confederate surgeon and was a state legislator from 1854 to 1856. He settled in Conway in 1876, actively engaging in public affairs and medicine.
Dr. John Joseph Jones is a prominent practitioner near Conway, Faulkner County, and was born in Hickman County, Tenn., on August 10, 1824. His parents were Allen and Elizabeth (Hicks) Jones, the former a native of North Carolina (born in 1799) and his wife of Georgia. Allen Jones’ father removed to Tennessee in 1809, his family accompanying him, and, settling on a farm ten miles below Columbia, by their energy and pluck, succeeded in converting a wilderness into a valuable farm, his wagon being the first to make a track where Columbia now stands. In the War of 1812, his oldest son, an uncle of our subject, entered the army and was in the Battle of New Orleans. Three of John’s uncles took an active part in that famous battle. Joseph Jones was one of five children. His family consists of fourteen children: Abner, Clarissa, Allen, George, Hannah, Pollie, Nancy, Jeemes, Stephen, John J., Joel, William, Syrena, and Joey. Elizabeth Hicks was one of ten children, a daughter of Berry Hicks, who was a Revolutionary soldier with Gen. Greene. Of the Hicks family, there were the following: Joshua, John, Temple, Elijah, Thomas, Berry, Gilbert, Pollie, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Sarah. Allen Jones and Elizabeth Hicks were married in 1822. To this union were born ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch, John Joseph, was the eldest: following him came Martin J., Parmelia C., George W., James R., Thomas, Joicy, Harriett, and Vandever.
The early life of John Joseph was spent in Tennessee, where he commenced to fit himself for his professional career as early as seventeen years of age. He began the regular study of medicine in 1845 and was ready to practice three years later, near Courtland, Ala., where he remained until April 15, 1851, then removing to Arkansas. Practicing at Cadron Cave, he also put in the first stock of drugs at Springfield, and the first saw-mill (except one) in the county, sawing the lumber and erecting the first drug store in the town (in the year 1853). On November 15, 1857, he moved to Springfield, that place being the county seat. He bought some land and entered more until he became the possessor of forty acres of valuable land. In the year 1876, he removed with his family to Conway, where he has lived ever since, with the exception of three and a half years spent traveling through Texas, visiting San Antonio, Pearsall, and stopping in Gallenas for seven months, practicing medicine. Once more starting on his travels, and seeing many places of interest, he set sail for Arkansas on May 7, 1887.
Mr. Jones was married on April 28, 1856, to Miss Marietta Gratehouse. Eight children came to gladden their home, only three living to reach maturity: Hybernia, Elizabeth Eudora, Martha, Mary Magdaline, Marietta, Joseph Arthur, Laura, and Margaret Tennessee. Joseph is living in Center Ridge, Conway County, and Martha is the wife of Edward Vann, living at Plummerville. Laura is the wife of William Gardner, and lives at Plummerville. Mrs. Marietta Jones died on June 3, 1870, and on December 20, 1870, Mr. Jones married Miss Anna Watson, who was born and reared until nine years old in County Carlow, Ireland. Her father, Thomas Watson, came to Little Rock in 1849 and bought a farm seven miles north of Little Rock, from which place he returned, two years later, to the city, where the balance of his life was spent, his death occurring in 1856. For some time he was employed in the recorder’s office. His wife departed this life in October 1860. Mrs. Jones received a liberal education, and it was such as to fit her to teach private families in Arkansas. She has traveled a great deal during life, visiting many places of interest, frequently going to Dublin. Chief Justice Blackburn was her mother’s uncle. In December 1863, she visited Matamoras, going thence to Yucatan with Dr. Gilkey and family, where she remained two years, afterward passing six months at Havana, Cuba, thence to Butler, Penn., and finally returning to Lewisburg, Ark.
Dr. Jones and his wife are the parents of three children: Robert Sterling (born April 11, 1873, died July 20, 1874), Zula (born February 5, 1875), and John Cliborne (born July 4, 1877). Dr. Jones takes a very active part in public affairs and was representative from Conway County to the legislature from 1854 to 1856. He can trace his ancestry in a direct line to the Jones family of Wales, who, for more than 500 years, were kings. Mrs. Jones is also a descendant of an old and prominent family, the Carrolls, one of whom was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her father was a member of Parliament before coming to this country. Dr. Jones is an active Farmer’s Alliance man. He served as a surgeon in the Confederate army for several months but was compelled to leave the service on account of ill health.