George Jones

Silas Jones (son of George Jones)

Deborah A. Mitchell

Quick Facts

Significance:

Florida Homesteader

Place of Birth:

South Carolina

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1846

Place of Death:

Alachua, Florida

Date of Death:

July 15, 1915

Place of Burial:

Unknown, possibly Alachua, Florida

George Jones was 34 years old when enumerated on the 1880 United States Federal Census. He and his wife Caroline [Evans] Jones lived in Old Store, Chesterfield, South Carolina and were married for one year. George was listed as a farmer. Caroline was listed as 40 years old, although her correct date of birth is October 1864. She was born in South Carolina and was listed as a housekeeper. No children were listed. George and Caroline’s first daughter, Bennie, was born in November 1880. Over the next several years five more children were born: Abe in 1882, Silas in 1885, Janie in 1886, Hattie in 1888, and Amos in 1891.

On January 28, 1891, under the Homestead Act of 1862, George filed a homestead entry for federal lands (Application No. 21095) with the Gainesville, Florida Land Office for the SW¼ of SE¼ of Section 20, in Township 7 South of Range 19E, containing 40.05 acres of land.

According to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, George Jones was able to read and write, yet on all of the documents in his file, he signed his signature with the mark of an X.

George settled the land in April 1891 and moved his family to LaCrosse in the summer of 1893. The improvements made to the land included adding a log dwelling house, a kitchen, a corn crib (a barn-type structure used to store ear corn), fencing and trees. He valued his homestead at about $200. Over the next several years, three more children were born: Edgar in 1893, Phillip in 1895, and John in 1896. George continued to cultivate the land and lived continuously in his home with his family.

Five (5) years after filing his Application, George gave notice of his intention to make final proof to establish his claim to the land. He was to return to the Land Office on April 2, 1896 to prove his residence and cultivation. He provided the names of four witnesses: Willis Turner and Sam Burnett (also Homesteaders), Tas. Bloodworth and Dick Beckam - all of LaCrosse, Fla. Two of the witnesses would testify on his behalf.

On April 2, 1896, Public Notice of the Homestead Application appeared in the Gainesville Weekly SUN, a newspaper published in the City of Gainesville, Alachua County. The Notice was advertised for six weeks before George was to make final proof. 

On April 2, 1896, George returned to the Land Office to make final proof and claim the land. In his testimony, he stated that he, his wife and 11 children had lived continuously on the land since April 1891. He added a log dwelling house, a kitchen, a corn crib, fencing and trees. He valued the land at $200.

Tas. Bloodworth and Dick Beckam testified on George’s behalf. Their testimonies were similar. They testified that: 1) George had settled on the land for about 5½ years; 2) George built a dwelling house, a kitchen and a corn crib; 3) George and his family had resided on the homestead continuously since his first settlement and had not been absent from the property; 4) Fifteen acres of the land was cultivated producing four crops, the fifth crop was planted; 5) there was no oil or other minerals present and that the land was more valuable as agricultural land than for its mineral potential; 6) the property had not been mortgaged; 7) neither had a vested interest in the property; and 8) improvements made to the property was valued at about $200.

George Jones was issued patent #12225 for 40.05 acres of land located in Lacrosse, Florida on July 27, 1896. Twenty-four years after settling his land in 1891, George died on July 15, 1915 at the age of 68.

Upon his death, transfer of ownership of the homestead moved to his son, Silas Jones. Silas and his first wife, Rosetta Parker Jones had five children: Frank, Araminta “Orrie”, Albert, Australia and Leroy.  Rosetta died in 1914 when she was 30 years old. Silas married Julia Thelma Lawson Jones on June 24, 1917. They had 10 children: George, Victoria, Daisy, Theresa “Teress”, Samuel, Joseph, Ernest, Naomi, Carolyn, Betty, and one adopted daughter, Ida Pearl.

Silas Jones (son of George Jones) and wife, Julia Thelma Lawson Jones
Photo Credit: Silas Emanuel Jones

Silas and Julia lived and worked on the family farm all of their lives, as did their children until they all left home to start their own families. Silas and Julia served at Bethel A.M.E. Church and remained members for 52 years. Silas served as leader of Class Number One for 46 years. His favorite saying was, “It’s not what you make, but what you save.” Julia was a strong, hard working woman who could out-work anyone in the fields. She worked for the church selling peanuts, ice cream and candy for over 15 years to help build a new church. Mother Julia loved her family and adored her church, community and friends. She later became a speaker/evangelist.

The second Jones Family home built years after the original home was built in 1891 by George Jones.
Photo Credit: Silas Emanuel Jones

Silas and Julia’s grandsons, Silas Emanuel and Phillip, were born on the farm and raised by their grandparents. Daisy was their mother. After the children had all left home, Silas Emanuel and Phillip helped their grandparents farm the land, working incessantly to keep up with the daily demands of the farm. They worked on the farm until they graduated high school in 1958 and 1959, respectively.

Each year the land yielded crops of corn, string beans, cucumber, bell pepper, peas, squash, sugar cane, greens and tobacco. Two horses named Molly and Rudy were used to pull the cultivating plows. Trackers and other equipment was utilized in the day-to-day operation of the farm. There was livestock such as cows, hogs, chickens, roosters and a few goats. 

Children of Silas Jones with spouses, descendants of George Jones
Photo Credit: Silas Emanuel Jones

Silas Jones died at the age of 85 on August 15, 1970.  Upon his death, transfer of ownership moved to his oldest son, George L. Jones, Sr. George L. Jones, Sr. died at the age of 72 on May 22, 1990.  Upon his death, transfer of ownership moved to three of his 14 children: John L. Jones, Gloria Jones Moore and Jerry Jones. Jerry died in 2001.

The 40.05 acres of land that Florida homesteader George Jones worked so hard to obtain in 1891, has remarkably remained in the family.

~ Contributed by Deborah A. Mitchell, descendant

Deborah A. Mitchell

Deborah is the 2nd great granddaughter of George Jones, the great granddaughter of Silas Jones, and the daughter of Silas Emanuel Jones. The land belonging to the Jones family in Lacrosse, Florida remains in their possession to this day.

Silas Emanuel Jones, grandson of Silas Jones and great grandson of George Jones at the family’s homestead in Lacrosse, Florida in January 2022.
Photo Credit: Deborah A. Mitchell

More from the contributor:  In 2019 I ordered an AncestryDNA Test Kit in search of my biological father. On June 10, 2021, a Jones family member from my AncestryDNA Match List and I connected and collaborated until our research led to his first cousin, Silas Emanuel Jones. On June 29, 2021, I spoke with my father for the first time. In August 2021, I met him in Florida. He was 81 years old at the time and I was 62. On September 27, 2021, my father’s AncestryDNA test results were positively confirmed.

I set out on a journey to learn about the history of my paternal ancestors. While spending time in Florida with my father in January 2022, I visited the gravesites of my ancestors, paying homage to them. My father shared many stories about the Jones family homestead and about his life growing up as a young boy on the farm. He took me to the land – the family’s land of opportunity. There he shared what it meant to him to be born and raised on the 40 acres of land his great grandfather, George Jones, was able to amass some 130 years ago. George Jones’ hard work and tenacity in 1891 paved the way for past and future generations to come.

I was truly blessed to not only find my biological father alive and well at age 81, but to have him personally share the rich heritage of my ancestors was icing on the cake!

The homestead history of George Jones is contributed in collaboration with my father, Silas Emanuel Jones.

Silas Emanuel Jones and his daughter Deborah A. Mitchell

About the contributor:  Deborah is an avid family history buff. She has been researching the genealogy of her family for over 30 years. She completed her stepfather’s book, Bush Family Heritage Book 2000 in May 2000. In a book presentation ceremony held on July 21, 2012, the Bush Family Heritage Book 2000 was recognized as an authentic genealogy research book and is housed in the Genealogy Department of the Dougherty County Public Library in Albany, Georgia. In June 2014, Deborah completed an updated book, Bush Family Heritage Book 2014. In 2019, Deborah completed her mother’s family book, Duckworth Family Heritage Book 2019. In her spare time, Deborah enjoys genealogy research, interior decorating, event planning and traveling.