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Descendants of Martin William " Gobbler " Jones




Generation No. 1


1. MARTIN WILLIAM " GOBBLER "2 JONES (MR.1) was born 04 Aug 1784 in Surry Co., North Carolina, and died 08 Aug 1879 in Polk Co., Texas. He married RHODA HODGES 12 Jul 1804 in Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tennessee, daughter of POSSIBLY EDMOND HODGES. She was born 20 Jan 1791 in North Carolina / Tennessee, and died 11 Apr 1861 in Texas.

Notes for MARTIN WILLIAM " GOBBLER " JONES:
Our Apjones' Ancestors may have come to America from Wales, sometime in the 1700's. After coming to America, they changed their surname by dropping the "Ap". The now Jones', possibly landed in Virginia and headed to North Carolina. We know, but needs further research that Rhoda (who we believe that her mother was a descendant of Edward Riggs), Edward Riggs who had a son Clisby Riggs that ran a still in Jefferson Co., Tennessee who sold his liquor to Davy Crocketts father. Edward had a brother named Timothy Riggs and one named Samuel Riggs. Edward had a son named Samuel who was the father of Dr. Clisby D. Riggs of Jefferson Co., Tennessee. Our family believes there is a definite connection to this line. This is my opinion at this time, but it could be that Gobbler's mother was a Riggs. We first find our ancestor Martin William Jones Sr. in Tennessee. This is where he married our Rhoda Hodges on 12 of July 1804, Lic. # 543, in Dandridge, Jefferson Co., TN. To this union were born nine sons and three daughters, all living to maturity. At this time, very little is known of Rhoda or her family. We do know where she was buried but her grave is now lost in the Jonesville Cemetery. In 1804 Martin and Rhoda were living in Jefferson Co., TN. in the location that they were married. In 1806, while still in Jefferson, Martin had purchased either land or something at the sell from the Widow Sarah Witt Estate (Jefferson Co., Tn. marriages- Witt, Elijah Spouse: Bottom, Sarah Marriage Date: 26 Dec 1797).
Between 1812 and 1813, they were in Lincoln Co., TN. when Martin volunteered for service in the War of 1812 on 24th of Sept. 1813. He served with the Regiment of Calvary and mounted Gunmen, TN. Volunteers, under Col. John Coffee and Capt. William Locke. After serving his enlistment he was honorably discharged at Fayetteville, TN. As the War continued, he volunteered a second time and served under Maj. William Russell, Capt. James Wyatt, and Col. James Allwine. He was honorably discharged again, this time at Ditto's Landing and had to travel 200 miles to Murfreesboro, TN. and home. By 1820, they had moved to Jackson Co., TN. and while living there, they had six of their sons and two or three of their daughters. Between 1823 and 1826 they had moved to Paint Rock, on the Paint Rock River in Jackson Co., Alabama which is a little east of Huntsville, Alabama. (Martin resided on the land that was the Pre-emption Act of 1830 which you were required to work and improve the land so that he could purchase the land for $1.25 acre. He had purchased 80.02 acres in the w 1/2 of nw 1/4 of section 2 on 29 Sept 1830, certificate # 3260). They probably travelled along the " Old Beau Trace ". A blazed trail from Eastern TN. to Chickasaw Bluff ( now Memphis) where they crossed the Mississippi River on a log raft in Arkansas Territory, and up the White River to Bull Creek, a rich and fertile valley. Veering a little to the left somewhat towards Little Rock from the Old Beau Trace, which went as far as Batesville, Arkansas. They founded the town of Royal Colony on the headwaters of Bull Creek which is about where El Paso, Arkansas is. They were accompanied by eight other families. One of which was James Walker and his family. Martin and James founded the town. Martin and at least eight of his children were landowners in White and Pulaski Counties, Arkansas. When Arkansas became a state in 1835, and White Co. was organized, Martin William Jones became it's first Representative to Little Rock, White Co., Arkansas. Serving between 1835-1836 and 1837-1838. Also found on the 1840 White Co., Arkansas Census was a Barnabas Jones and a Stephen Jones. I don't know the kinship at this time.
"Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas
WHITE COUNTY-LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION-BOUNDARY LINES-TOPOGRAPHY AND GROLOGY-WATER SUPPLY-DRAINAGE-STREAMS-TIMBER-SOIL-RESOURCES-LUMBER. INTERESTS-CENSUS ENUMERATION-TAXABLE PROPERTY-LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY-REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY-RAILROAD FACILITIES-POPULATION-ERA OF SETTLEMENT-COUNTY ORGANIZATION-SEAT of JUSTICE AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COUNTY OFFICERS-POLITICS-COURT AFFAIRS-ROLL OF ATTORNEYS-CIVIL WAR HISTORY-TOWNS and VILLAGES-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-BIOGRAPHICAL
The Royal Colony, consisting of several families from Tennessee, was founded by James Walker and Martin Jones at the head of Bull Creek, in the northwest part of what is now White County. Lower down on Bull Creek were the settlements of Fielding and Frederick Price. Lewis Vongrolman founded a German settlement on Big Creek and Little Red River with John Magness, Philip Hilger, James King, the Wishes, Yinglings and others. Philip Hilger established and kept the “Hilger's Ferry” across Little Red River, on the old military road leading from Cape Girardeau to Little Rock. Farther north, near the Independence County line, was the Pate Settlement, founded by Lovic Pate. Alfred Arnold, John Akin and John Wright founded the settlement on Little Red River below where West Point is situated. Near the present town of Judsonia was a settlement founded by William Cook and Henry R. Vanmeter. Reuben Stephens settled in the Pate Settlement on the creek that now bears his name. Samuel Guthrie and John Dunaway also settled in that neighborhood."
"The list just given includes the names of some of the most prominent pioneer settlers, all of whom according to the best information now obtainable, located in their respective places during the decade of the 20's. Others soon followed, and by the date of the organization of the county, 1836, all parts of the territory composing it were more or less sparsely settled. By reference to the population previously stated it will be seen that the settlement, until since the close of the Civil War, continued slow and gradual. Since 1880 there has been a large influx from the northern and eastern States. Most of the early settlers came from Tennessee and other southern States. The early county officers and all mentioned elsewhere in connection with the organization of the county were, of course, pioneer settlers."
"White County was organized in accordance with the provisions of an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, approved October 23, 1835. The first sessions of court were held at the house of David Crise, on the place now known as the McCreary farm, three and a half miles east of Searcy. The organization of the county was completed early in 1830."
"The first State senator for White County was R. C. Byrd, and the first representative in the house was Martin Jones. "



Name: MARTIN SR. * JONES
State: AR
County: White County
Township: No Township Listed
Year: 1837
Record Type: Tax list
Page: 004
Database: AR 1830-1839 Tax Lists Index
Name: MARTIN JONES
State: AR
County: White County
Township: No Township Listed
Year: 1838
Record Type: Tax list
Page: 012
Database: AR 1830-1839 Tax Lists Index
Name: MARTIN JONES
State: AR
County: White County
Township: No Township Listed
Year: 1839
Record Type: Tax list
Page: 007
Database: AR 1830-1839 Tax Lists Index

Name: Jones, Martin, Sr.
Home in 1840: Union, White, AR
County: White
State: Arkansas
Year: 1840
Roll: M704_20
Page: 246
Image: 212
Name: Jones, Martin, Sr.
Home in 1840: Union, White, AR
County: White
State: Arkansas
Year: 1841
Page: 0

Around 1845-46 restlessness overtook this family again, so they headed for the New Republic of Texas. After weeks of traveling, they finally reached Polk Co. in East Texas. About a mi. east of present town Leggett, they founded Jones Prairie. Enoch Calvin Jones, John Hodges Jones, Clisby Riggs " Tibb 1" Jones, Jesse Riggs Jones, Jasper Hamilton Jones, and Martin William Jones Jr. and maybe others, settled for awhile. Not too far from here, there resides a Samuel Bethel Jones who lived with his family.
Martin and Rhoda Jones and the other sons and daughters and their families moved on to the Shawnee Prairie area which is now Angelina Co., Texas and where the family founded Jonesville, Texas which became the second Co. seat in Angelina Co. At that time, the area was part of Nacogdoches Co., so the Jones' arrived in East Texas and settled in the Jonesville area before it was designated the County of Angelina. Jonesville was located in the big curve in Hwy. 69, about a mile southeast of the present city of Huntington, Texas. where the old Browns' Ferry ( also known as Jasper Rd.) crosses the highway. The old road continues on behind the Jonesville Cemetery. to the old Iron Bridge crossing on the Angelina River. The main part of the town was located between the present homes of the Jim Clegg family and the Jeff and Dot Youngblood family. Of course the town was named for its founder Martin William Jones and his family, for he owned the land where the town was founded. It was a part of his survey. Later, William sold part of the land to his son Enoch " E.C." Jones and others.
A few years after Martin founded Jonesville, Enoch Jones, John Hodges "Jack" Jones, Clisby Riggs " Tibb 1" Jones, Martin William Jones Jr., Jasper Hamilton " Hamp " Jones, James " Jim " Brashears, and others moved to the Jonesville area too. But for some reason or another, Tibb 1 and Hamp decided to move back to Arkansas. They stopped for a while in Bossier Parish, LA. This time they settled in Lafayette Co. which is near Magnolia, Ark. A part of which later became Columbia Co. About 1857 they moved back to Texas and Clisby Tibb1 settled in Angelina Co., Texas near Jonesville. and Jasper " Hamp" went on to Old Knoxville area of Cherokee County.
Martin and most of his sons and son-in-laws, had original surveys of land in Angelina Co. around Jonesville, granted to them as third class citizens of Texas ( here before Feb. 19, 1846), when Texas became a state. Martins' survey of 360 acres included part of the city of Jonesville, the Jonesville Cemetery, and north past the present site of the T.&N.O. Railroad, and east for about a mile. At one time, Martin owned over 600 acres in the area. His home was about half a block north of the Cemetery on the same side of the road. Martin was a Farmer and a Stockman. He ran a tannery near the Sixth st. crossing on the railroad. Some of the old bricks from the old vats are still there today. Martins' brand was a O (zero) and his mark was a swallow fork in the left ear and a split in the right. He registered this on 3 Nov. 1852 in Angelina Co., Texas.
Enoch Calvin Jones' survey was somewhat in Jonesville and south of Martins' survey. Martin Jr.s' survey was just south of Jonesville toward what is now called Salem Community. Lloyd Forrest who is one of Martins many g.g.grandsons, owns part of this survey today! Martin Jr. also had another survey of 160 acres southwest of Jonesville, near the old Porter place. William Marion " Bill " Jones had 298.7 acre survey just north of and adjoining the Martin Jones survey, which is towards the present day Huntington Cemetery area. Clisby " Tibb 1 " and John C. Jones ( John C. being a grandson of Martins ), had surveys about a mi. northwest of Jonesville. Cicero B. Burns ( Clisbys' son-in-law ), had a survey northwest of them and is now known as the Old Burns Place. Calaway Franklin " Frank " Jones had a survey northeast of Jonesville near the present day Standley Creek Development. Simpson D. Burks ( another son-in-law of Martins ), had a survey just off the present day Hwy. 69 and Farm 1818 area. James " Jim " Brashears ( another of Martins son-in-laws ), had a survey just south of Jonesville, and Calloway Taylor " Cal " Jones also owned land in the area.
The first school in the area was taught by J. M. Nash from Mississippi. Who would have taught Martins grandchildren.      
Martin Jones Sr. was a very colorful character. He wore his hair long and he looked quite scruffy with his old Coon Hat atop his head, to say the least of this adoring gentleman. Martin could imitate a turkey gobble so well, he could call them up close. Once while sitting around the Whittlers' bench in Jonesville, Martin boasted to all his friends that he was going to give a certain large OLD Gobbler one more chance, but if he didn't get the bird this time, he was just going to give up on getting him. That afternoon, he took his old gun and walked down into the woods of Joneville and hid behind a large clay root ( a rotted tree stump ), and he began to gobble and gobble. Finally, the big bird came strutting up close by! But by the time Martin rose to shoot, the gobbler took his leave! Now that made Martin mad, so mad that he took off his hat and beat it against that old stump! That old gobbler thought the rythmn was that of two other gobblers fighting, so he returned to investigate and Martin saved his reputation and bagged the bird! It has been said that that this is how our Martin earned his nickname " Gobbler " which stayed with him. It was said that after a fight that Gobbler usually won, He would get up on a stump or a log and start to Gobble! Or when a pretty girl would pass in his path he was prone to Gobble! During the town meetings, if he didn't like what was being said after he opened the meeting to the sound of his Gobble, he would then gobble and turn around and leave. He also ended these meetings with his now famous gobble!
Since Martin had been a member of the legislature in Arkansas, it was natural for him to continue in politics in Angelina Co. He became a commissioner, while the county seat was still a Marion ( Old Marion on Lake Sam Rayburn. With Commissioners Frank Hill and Hardy Parker in 1854, Martin voted to move the county seat of government from Marion to Jonesville where suitable quarters were available. At that time, the Post Office was named Angelina. There were several stores, saloons, and a Baptist Church in Jonesville. THE Sam Houston stood on the steps of the old Jones store and made a speech against secession. Angelina Co. must have taken his advice, for it was the only county in east Texas to vote against secession. But when Texas seceded, Angelina formed two companies early in the War and went off to War.     
In 1856 Homer called for an election to move the county seat from Jonesville to Homer. The first election failed and Jonesville remained county seat. They called for another election in 1858, and this time Homer won. So the county seat was moved to Homer, taking the name of the Post Office along with the courts to Homer. Later the name Homer was restored. This move of the county seat, ultimately caused the death of our Jonesville, which left it a ghost town on the prairie..
In 1936, during the Texas Centenial, a historical marker was erected on Hwy. 69 near the old Robb place, about a mile east of the site of Jonesville. Which reads:
                  SITE OF THE TOWN OF
                  JONESVILLE
            SECOND COUNTY SEAT OF
            ANGELINA COUNTY
            8-22-1854 TO 5-19-1858
            ERECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, 1936
Although it is not located in the correct place, it does mark the area where history was made. Many tourists pull over and read the inscription on the marker, relax, and reminisce of days gone by... The marker might have been placed in this location for a better view or for parking conveniences instead of the actual site in the curve of the Highway where the town of Jonesville was actually located..     
It is said that after the War, the family decided that there were just too many Jones' in the area. Clisby Tibb 1, Marion, Frank, and Martin Jr. must have decided to stay. Some went to Polk Co., some to Cherokee and Smith Co., and some to Kaufman, Ennis, Troup, and other places.     
Martin " Gobbler " past away we believe to be on the 8th of August 1879. Family tradition gathered from the late Annie Lee Nutt states that Martin died in Polk Co. and that his "wife" Rhoda, another woman, and a negro servant who rode on the casket to hold it in, brought his body back to Jonesville in a little surry, to his home, so he could be buried on his own land on a beautiful little round hill a short distance from the home. There is discrepency in this story, for Rhoda had passed on before Gobbler? Gobbler lived to be 95 years old. In fact, at age 95 he reckoned he should get some religion, they took Old Gobbler and Baptized him! Could Annie have been confused here on her Rhoda's as we know the given name was handed down and could have been a descendant of Martin? New information gathered in Oct 2000 is Martin did outlive Rhoda (his wife) and that Martin's home had burned down and he was residing with a black gentleman down the road from his home in the black mans dilapidated house. This black gentleman had been a previous slave of Martin's who had stayed on after the slaves were freed after the Civil War. Martin was the first of many to be buried in the Jonesville Cemetery of Angelina Co., Texas . Soon after his death, two of his great grandchildren, the Burks babies, were interred next to Gobbler. It is believed that the babies were brought from Shawnee Prairie or possibly Jonesville. In the plot where Martin lies, are five generations of Jones'. Some of the Jones' buried there are William Marion, Enoch T., William Bryant, Joe Bill, Allie Harvey, Clisby (Tibb 1), Calaway Taylor, Susan J. Baird, and many more. Rhoda Jones and Caroline McAnelly are buried there also, but their headstones are lost.
Information from the Handbook of Texas on Martin is the following, note Martins' deathdate and some other dates are not correct. The deathdate is actually his son William Marion Jones;
"JONESVILLE, TEXAS (Angelina County). Jonesville, the second of four county seats of Angelina County, was twelve miles southeast of Lufkin on what is now U.S. Highway 69. It succeeded Marion as county seat on August 22, 1854, and held the position until May 19, 1858, when Angelina (later called Homer) assumed the honor. Jonesville was named for Martin William (Gobbler) Jones, an early settler said to be known for his habit of imitating a turkey gobbler. Jones moved his family of twelve children from Alabama to Angelina County in the late 1830s and established them on a place three miles southeast of what is now Huntington. After Angelina County was founded, Jones became a member of the county commissioners' court that voted to make Jonesville the county seat. He also had a tannery near Jonesville, kept cattle, and farmed. The town remained small throughout its history. It had a few saloons, a post office, a few general merchandise houses, and no courthouse. It also had a very small sawmill. At Saturday horse races held in the town, Gobbler Jones would drink until he did his turkey imitation; at that time, said Judge W. J. Townsend, it was time to go home to avoid trouble. Martin Jones was nevertheless a leading citizen of the town and was in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He died in Jonesville on September 17, 1887, and his was the first burial at Jonesville Cemetery.
Jonesville was evidently never generally accepted as county seat; public buildings were not built, only rented. The sole step towards establishing the town as a permanent county site was the employment of William G. Lang to survey the town and lay out lots. After an election in which some ballots were apparently destroyed, Angelina was chosen county seat by a vote of 221 to 130. However, the men of Jonesville refused to let the county records out of their hands. A fight ensued during which forty to fifty people were said to have been indicted, though not all were convicted. A body of men from Angelina who were pledged to protect each other went to Jonesville and took the records. Jonesville declined after that event."
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Angelina County Historical Survey Committee, Land of the Little Angel: A History of Angelina County, Texas, ed. Bob Bowman (Lufkin, Texas: Lufkin Printing, 1976). Effie Mattox Boon, The History of Angelina County (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1937). Archie Birdsong Mathews, The Economic Development of Angelina County (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1952).

Jonesville, Site of the Town of
Marker Number: 7008
Index Entry: Jonesville, Site of the Town of
UTM Zone: 15
UTM Easting: 351034
UTM Northing: 3459061
Designations: na
Repairs Completed: Marker Title: Site of the Town of Jonesville
Address: Lufkin vicinity
County: Angelina
Subject Codes: GT
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: 12 mi. SE of Lufkin on US 69
Marker Size: 36' Centennial - Subject Marker (gray)
Marker Text: Site of the town of Jonesville, second county seat of Angelina County, August 22, 1854 - May 19, 1858.

Alot of my Jones Family information was passed on to me through my dear sweet Betty Lyle who lives in Healdton, Ok. I've also taken information from the records that Annie Lee Nutt had left as her legacy and was sent to me from Zorn Jones and Ina Cardwell. Wonderful family members I never knew existed until I wanted to continue my trace for my Ancestors. Thank you so much for the information. My hopes are that by placing the information on the internet, that others can find an Ancestor through this information, and I hope I have placed my Ancestors in their rightful place. I'd be very surprised if I havn't made my share of mistakes, but I have recorded this information to the best of my abilities at this time. I should also include that Martin's headstone states that he had died in 1860. The headstone is not correct, our relative had discovered after the headstone was placed that it was a mistake.Jones, Mary Joe b-Sept. 16, 1925 d-_____ (4-56-8)

CHANCERY COURT- WHITE CO., ARKANSAS;
1845 - 1856
"Martin Jones, Union Township, stray steer taken up. Appraised by Clark Burks, James (X) Breshears, Mar. 25, 1843. Lewis Kirkpatrick, J. P."

More About MARTIN WILLIAM " GOBBLER " JONES:
Baptism: Abt. 1874, Martin decided that at age 90, he should get some religion, so they lowered him into the River!
Burial: Unknown, Jonesville Cemetery, Angelina Co., Texas
Military service: 1812, War of 1812

Notes for RHODA HODGES:
I have also seen information stating that Rhoda's husband may have possibly been born in Hamblin, Tn. Rhoda and Martin's marriage license is no. 543 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Note; 1860 Angelina Co., Census states that Rhoda was born in Tn.
Here are the Hodge's as head of households in Surry Co., N.C. in 1790;
Hodge Ambrose 1 0 3 0 0
Hodge Bartholomew 1 1 4 0 0
Hodge William 1 1 2 0 0
Hodges Edmund 3 3 2 0 0
Here are the Jones' on the same Census;
Jones Isaac 1 0 0 0 0
Jones James 3 1 3 0 0
Jones James Senr 1 0 1 0 1
Jones John 1 3 4 0 0
Jones Levi 1 5 5 0 0
Jones Samuel 1 0 1 0 0
Here are the Riggs' on the same Census;
Riggs David 2 5 6 0 0
Riggs Hiram 1 3 3 0 0
Riggs Samuel 3 0 1 0 0
Riggs Zadock 1 4 3 0 0
NOTE; Gideon Morris was the bondsman that signed Martin and Rhoda's Marriage Certificate. Also Morristown, Jefferson/ Hamblen Co., Tennessee was named after Gideon Morris. Gideon died in the 1840's. Gideon Morris, Isaac Barton and the Samuel Riggs were all possibly related or close friends. Gideon resided near Clisby Riggs when Clisby ran the still.

More About RHODA HODGES:
Burial: Unknown, Jonesville Cemetery, Angelina Co., Texas

More About MARTIN JONES and RHODA HODGES:
Marriage: 12 Jul 1804, Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tennessee
     
Children of MARTIN JONES and RHODA HODGES are:
2. i.   JOHN HODGES3 JONES, b. 30 Nov 1805, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 09 May 1864, Polk Co., Texas.
3. ii.   CLISBY RIGGS JONES, b. 19 Feb 1808, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 02 Jan 1890, Angelina Co., Texas.
4. iii.   JESSE RIGGS JONES, b. 02 Aug 1810, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 14 Jul 1848, Jones Prairie, Polk Co., Texas.
5. iv.   MARY ELIZABETH MARIBE JONES, b. 26 Mar 1813, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. Aft. 1860, Possibly in Centerville, Leon Co., Texas.
6. v.   HON. ENOCH CALVIN JONES, b. 30 Jan 1816, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 11 Jun 1886, Hot Springs, Garland Co., Arkansas.
7. vi.   MARTIN WILLIAM JR. JONES, b. 24 Apr 1818, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 20 Jan 1864, Angelina Co., Texas.
8. vii.   PHETNA MARIAH JONES, b. 15 Sep 1820, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; d. 28 Nov 1845, White Co., Arkansas.
9. viii.   JASPER HAMILTON JONES, b. 1823, Bedford or Jackson Co., Tennessee; d. Abt. 1872, Cherokee Co., Texas, near Troup, Smith Co., Texas.
10. ix.   FRANKLIN CRAWFORD JONES, b. 23 Jan 1826, Paint Rock, Jackson Co., Alabama; d. Bef. 07 Oct 1860, Angelina Co., Texas.
11. x.   WILLIAM MARION JONES, b. 18 Aug 1828, Paint Rock, Jackson Co., Alabama; d. 17 Sep 1887, Angelina Co., Texas.
12. xi.   CALLOWAY TAYLOR JONES, b. 18 May 1831, Old Royal Colony, White Co., Arkansas; d. 01 Aug 1874, Lufkin, Angelina Co., Texas.
13. xii.   RHODA ANN ELIZABETH JONES, b. 1832, Old Royal Colony, White Co., Arkansas; d. 1866, Angelina Co., Texas.

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