Jones Family Page
The oldest Jones ancestor I am absolutely sure of is Augustus ("Gus") Jones, the father of Lilburn ("Lil") Jones. "Lil" was the father of Nancy Jane Jones, and Nancy Jane Jones was the mother of my husband. Nancy told us that her dad's parents (her grandparents) were Gus Jones and Mimi Hill. She didn't know anything about relatives any further back past them.
Having found census records for Lilburn Jones with parents Augustus and Jemima Jones and children matching those known to Nancy Jones Goins as her uncles (Hootie, John, James, Porter and Willie), next a marriage record for "Augustin" Jones and "Jermima" Hill in Scott County, Virginia, was found giving the parents of "Augustin" as Alfred Jones and Elizabeth (no maiden name given), it is almost certain that the Alfred and Elizabeth Jones listed in the 1850 Scott County, Virginia, census are the parents of our Gus Jones. However, there is a lot of confusion about this couple on the Ancestry site, and I am not satisfied that this information is accurate enough to include them here in great detail.
1. Alfred Jones, perhaps born about 1790 in North Carolina, married Elizabeth (maiden name unclear, possibly Hamblen), with children in 1850 census given as William, Nancy, Margaret, and Augustus.
2. Augustus "Gus" Jones was born about 1839 in Orange County, North Carolina. His parents were Alfred Jones and Elizabeth (unknown maiden name). See below for 1850 census information which may well be the correct family.
In the 1860 census for Scott County, Virginia in the Estilville Post Office district, Augustus Jones, age 24, is found living in the Neil household, presumably doing farm labor. Again, this is believed to be our Augustus Jones.
On 21 January 1861, in Scott County, Virginia, Augustus "Gus" Jones married Jemima "Mimi" Hill (born February 1846 in Scott County, Virginia, daughter of Edward D Hill and Jemima Pendleton - see the Hill family page for further information on the Hill family.). Their marriage information was found at www.FamilySearch.org ("Virginia Marriages - 1785-1940"), giving his name as "Augustin" Jones, his birth date as 1839, his birth place as Orange, NC and his age as 22. His father is listed as Alfred Jones and his mother as Elizabeth. The bride's name is given as "Jermima Hill", birth date 1845, birth place Scott, Va, age 16, with the date of the wedding given as 21 Jan 1861 and the place of wedding Scott, Virginia.
On 1 July 1861, six months after his marriage and two and a half months after the Civil War began, Gus joined the Confederate Army as a Private in Company A, 48th Virginia Infantry. The 48th Virginia Infantry saw action in many of the most well-known battles of the War including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and many, many others, though I do not know how many Gus (in Company A) participated in.
On 31 October 1864, after three years of service, Gus was mustered out of the Confederate Army, and the War ended the following year.
Children born to Gus and Mimi Jones:
1) Lilburn "Lil" (1865-1931) - our ancestor - see next section.
2) Huston "Hootie" (1867-1875) - died at age 8.
3) John (1869-1933), married Mollie Frances Norfleet (1876-1962) with children Lula B, Leatha, Thomas W, Liza E, Willie L, Mary L, Frank J, Boyd D, and Bessie A.
4) James H (born 1873 - last found in the 1900 Pulaski County, Kentucky census living in his brother John's household along with their mother).
5) Porter (born 1876 - may have been found in 1905 Kansas state census as "Port Jones" living in Wichita; his year and place of birth make this a possibility).
6) William "Willie" (born 1880 - last found in 1900 census living in his brother John's household in Pulaski County, Kentucky, along with their mother).
By 1870, the family had moved to Lee County, Virginia where Gus (listed as "Augusta"), wife Jemima, 6-year-old Lilburn, 3-year-old Huston, and 6-month-old John were living in Rocky Station, Jonesville Post Office district.
The 1880 census shows that the family had moved on to Kentucky with Augustus, "Gemima", "Limborn", John, James, Porter and William Jones listed as living in Mill Springs, Wayne County, Kentucky.
Nearly all of the 1890 census records were destroyed by fire in 1921, but a "Special Schedule" from June 1890 apparently survived the fire. It is known as a "Veterans Schedule" and lists Jemima Jones as the Widow of Augustus Jones with information related to his military service. It gives Steubenville, Wayne County, Kentucky as the place of residence of Jemima Jones. Based on this document, we know that Gus Jones died prior to June 1890, but I have no further information as to when or where his death took place or where he is buried. Jemima lived at least until 1900 when she was found in the Pulaski County, Kentucky household of her son John and his family, along with her sons, Willie age 18 and James age 22. When or where she died or where she is buried are unknown by me.
The 1870 census for Rocky Station, Lee County, Virginia, lists Lilburn as a 6-year-old male living in the home of his parents "Augusta", Jemima along with brothers Huston and John.
It appears that sometime between 1873 and 1876, the family moved on to Wayne County, Kentucky since Lilburn's brother James H. Jones was said to be born in Virginia in 1873 and his brother Porter was born in 1876 in Wayne County, Kentucky.
In 1880, the Mill Springs, Wayne County, Kentucky census shows 14-year-old "Limborn" Jones living in the home of his parents Augustus and "Gemima" with brothers John, James, Porter and William.
1889 - February 20 was the wedding date of Lil Jones and Loretta Gaines as listed on www.Ancestry.com ("Kentucky Marriages 1851-1900") in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Children born to Lilburn and Loretta Jones:
1) David Columbus (1890-1959), married Margaret Pauline Pollard (1892-1947), with children Burnham O, Mildred, and J.B.
2) Montie Ethel (1892-1973), married Frank Pollard (1892-1982), with children Robert Denny, Virgil Hale, Howard B, Jesse E, Chester Bourne, Eugene, and Doris Ellen.
3) Gertrude ("Gertie") (1894-1963), married Lilburn Gooch Yeakey (1890-1961), with children Iona Estelle, Cecil Logan, Evelyn Bradley, Pearl Christine, Marjorie Pauline, and James Lewis.
4) Pearl (1897-1920), married Cleveland House (1886-1968), with child Cleveland II (1920-1920). My mother-in-law Nancy mourned the loss of her sister Pearl for the rest of her life. Pearl became ill with "influenza" while pregnant. She apparently gave birth to the baby on 14 February and he was either stillborn or died soon after birth. Pearl, age 22, lived five more days but developed pneumonia and died on 19 February 1920.
5) Charlie (1900-1964), married Nannie Mae Brummett (1907-1975), with children Gilbert Lee, Nellie Marie, Arvena, Katherine Jean, Dorothy Dean, twins Eulah and Beulah, Lois Ann, Paul Edward, and Charles Jr.
6) Nancy Jane (1902-1986), married James Goins (1901-1987), with children Raymond Lee, Agnes Loretta, Arvina, stillborn Baby Boy, James Jr, stillborn Baby Boy #2, Harry Edwin, Nancy Jane, John Edward, and William Kenneth.
7) Louella Jones (1906-1984), married Joseph Brummett (1886-1945) with son James K; next married Sam Owsley Burton with step-daughter Martha Lee.
8) Clarence Lester Jones (1907-1983), married Mary Elizabeth Keeton (1913-1990), with children Farris Lee, Julia May, Mary Alene, and Clyde.
9) Otha Lee Jones (1910-1988), married Nellie Mae Bourne (1912-2012), with children Mattie Lee, Howard D "Buck", Jack C "JC", Marlene, Evelyn J, Pauline, Wanda Sue, and Deann.
I have not yet been able to find Lilburn and Loretta Jones in the 1900 or 1910 census records, but in 1920 they were listed as living in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky, with their four youngest children, and in 1930 in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky, with their three youngest children.
On 2 May 1931, at the age of 66, Lilburn Jones died at Hubble, Lincoln County, Kentucky, of valvular heart disease, after having been treated by the attending physician from 6 February until his death. He was buried in Lancaster Cemetery in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky. His wife Loretta was buried alongside him after her death nearly 25 years later, on 14 February 1956.