WELCOME TO THE JONES PRAIRIE, TEXAS WEBPAGE

Jones Prairie, Texas, located on Farm Road 979, about ten miles northeast of Cameron in northern Milam County, was established in 1853 and named for Joseph P. Jones, who received a land grant in the area in 1834. The town officially got it's post office in 1876.



Joseph P. Jones was born about 1798, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones of Christian County, Kentucky, Crawford County, Illinois, and Edgar County, Illinois. J. P. Jones married Sarah "Sally" Brimberry in 1819. Sally was the daughter of Isaac and Mary Beethe Brimberry of Bourban County, Kentucky.

In an effort to restore Sally's failing health, around 1833, she and J. P. traveled to Texas in an oxen-pulled covered wagon, where J. P. obtained a Milam County, Texas land grant.

J. P. Jones served for about a year as a sergeant in Captain Thomas H. Barron's Company of Texas Rangers ( a Milam County militia organized to protect against Indian attack). In 1838, Jones was killed by Indians near Dawson in Navarro County, Texas while serving as a member of a surveying party. The victims of the attack were buried in a mass grave and Battle Creek Burial Ground is today marked by a state-erected monument.

Sally Jones resided on the Milam County land grant until her death in 1861. She was buried at Little River Baptist Church Cemetery, in Jones Prairie.

J.P. and Sally Jones had the following children:

Rosetta Jones (died on 1 Sep 1839 in , Robertson County, Texas)

James A. Jones (born on 24 Oct 1821 in Illinois; married Martha on 7 Oct 1852, died on 29 Mar 1875 in Milam County, Texas and buried in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery).

Juliet E. Jones (born on 3 Jun 1823 in , Edgar, Illinois; died on September 6, 1873 in Milam County, buried in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery, at Jones Prairie).

Elizabeth Jane Jones; Mary Jones (born on 20 Jun 1828 in Illinois; married Armstead Rogers who died on Apr 1, 1894 and buried in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery; Mary died on October 27, 1892 in Brown County and was buried in Zephyr Cemetery).

Nancy Caroline Jones (born on June 2nd, 1830 in Illinois; married J. Thomas Stidham, and died on April 10th, 1907 in Jones Prairie-buried in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery).

Martha A. Jones (born about 1834 in Illinois; married Lewis M. Ethridge); and Edward Frank Jones (born in December of 1835 in Texas, married Sarah Ann Lester and died on 21 Jan 1926 in Atascosa, Bexar County, Texas and buried in Blackhill Cemetery, Atascosa, Bexar County, Texas).

Little River Baptist Church (1849)

The Little River Baptist Church began meeting near the Jones Prairie site in 1849, and a Masonic lodge was organized there in 1849 or 1850. A post office was established at Jones Prairie in 1876.

In the 1880's, Jones Prairie had a gristmill, a cotton gin, a district school, three churches, and 150 residents. Jones Prairie was on the stage line between Calvert and Cameron but was bypassed when the railroads were built through Milam County in the 1880s and 1890s. A population of 100 was reported at Jones Prairie in the mid-1920s.

One of the citizens prominent in early-day development of Jones Prarie was George William Roden, a farmer and carpenter who built several of the homes in the area.


Photo of Geraldine Roden Gower and her family. Geraldine was born and raised in Jones Prarie. All of the people in this picture were living in the house in the background. Notice the skid marks in the dirt in front of great great granny(Julia Ann Ashabranner). She was dragged into this picture. (Photo curtesy of Dan Roden (txturbo@cox-internet.com)

The Jones Prarie post office was discontinued in the 1950s and the town population is still about 35.

EARLY-DAY CITIZENS OF JONES PRAIRIE

Elizabeth TARVER
Alfred TARVER Son
Benjamin TARVER Son
Etheldred TARVER Son
William TARVER Son
James TARVER Son
Muggie TARVER Son
John C DEVEREUX
Louisa DEVEREUX Dau
Minnie DEVEREUX GDau
Neighbors: Thomas Prater, Frank Bates, Edward Booker, Green Jourdan, Calvin C. White


Etheldred T. "Frate" Tarver was born 1829 in Georgia. While in the Texas Rangers, he was 3rd Corp. in a Ranging Company stationed on the Medina River, Medina County in 1850. He mustered into the Civil War at Galveston, Texas in 1864 and served under Capt. Sam A. Easley. The place of his enlistment was Cameron County, Texas. Etheldred and Elizabeth Pierson (born September 15, 1833), married on March 10, 1851. Etheldred died in September of 1879 and is buried in the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery in Jones Prairie, Milam County, Texas.

Other famous residents included: J. P. Pool (1870-1940) ; Born in Jones Prairie, Milam County, Tex., July 7, 1870; elected to the Texas state senate 11th District in 1893and 1894; elected to the Texas state house of representatives 74th District, 1906-08; elected county judge in Texas, 1909-20; district judge in Texas, 1929-40. Died January 19, 1940.

Another famous resident of Jones Prairie was James Madison McKinney, who was elected to the Texas state senate, 11th District, in 1893 and 1894.

Cpl. Ben Yager, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Yager, Jones Prairie, attended Texas University; entered the Army Air Corps, 1943, trained in Illinois and Louisiana. Served as Celestial Navigation Operator in USA. Ben's brother, Capt. Thomas S. Yager, attended John Tarleton Agricultural, Entered Army Air Corps, 1941, trained in California and Florida; served in the Solomons and awarded DFC, 1 Cluster, Air Medal, 3 Clusters. Thomas Yager was discharged from the armed forces in 1945.

James Armstead Rice, was born near Jones Prairie, Milam County, Texas on September 1, 1868. Armstead Rice stood about six feet tall , had gray eyes and black hair. Throughout his life, Armstead Rice labored at a variety of jobs, including teaching. One of his early teaching jobs was at Turkey Peak, located in Brown County, Texas. However, Armstead's first love was always farming. Armstead labored as a stock farmer for the better part of his life; he raised jersey cattle. Although Armstead apparently moved with his parents to Brown County around 1890, he returned to Milam County where he married Jessie Lee Harrell on December 23, 1896. Jessie Lee Harrell was born in Maysfield, Milam County, Texas on August 7, 1879, the daughter of Thomas W. "T. W." Harrell and Joanna Massengale Harrell. Jessie Lee's father, a Confederate veteran, came to Milam County from Martin County, North Carolina. Jessie Lee's mother came with her parents to Milam County from Coosa County, Alabama. Jessie Lee graduated from the Jones Prairie community school. James Armstead and Jessie Lee Rice had the following children: Carrie Anna "Carolyn" Rice; Harrell Henry Rice; Irving Grady Rice; Gladys Rice; Mary Louise Rice; Jesse Armstead "Junior" Rice; and, Florence Joy Rice. Armstead and Jessie Lee Rice settled in Jones Prairie. Their home was purchased, at least in part, with money that Jessie Lee had inherited. Soon after Armstead and Jessie Lee married, two of Jessie Lee's sisters came to live with them. These sisters, Elma and Florence Harrell, continued to reside in Armstead's home until they married.

Armstead Rice's Jones Prairie home bordered on a tract owned by a Mr. Black. The Black children and the Rice children grew up and attended school together. Carl Black, Mr. Black's son, later served as sheriff of Milam County for many years. Georgia Black, Carl Black's sister, was a life-long friend of Armstead's daughter Carolyn.

Armstead and Jessie Lee resided together in Jones Prairie from 1896 until 1918. During that time all seven of their children were born. Jones Prairie was then perhaps more of a metropolis than it is today. For example, the town then supported two stores. The Flynn store carried a more complete line of merchandise than did the Lester store.

Additionally, there were then two schools in Jones Prairie. The Barron School and the Tarver Grove School were at opposite ends of town: each had two or three teachers and offered the same number of grades. Most students attended the school that was closest. Because of its proximity, Armstead's children attended the Barron School.

During the time that Armstead's children were attending the local school, Jones Prairie had a barbershop, a blacksmith shop (operated by Mr. Black, Armstead's neighbor), and a Justice of the Peace facility complete with cells for holding prisoners. Although the town then contained a post office, Armstead Rice received mail on a rural route carried out of Cameron.

Armstead's daughter Carolyn recalled that when she was growing up Jones Prairie always had at least one doctor. Among the physicians that served Jones Prairie were Dr. Herring, Dr. Fontaine, and Dr. Carlton McKinney. Dr. Herring delivered Armstead and Jessie Lee's four oldest children. Jessie Lee thought that Dr. Herring was the best doctor that she had ever encountered. However, her daughter Carolyn did not like Dr. Herring because the doctor had lied to her. Once, when she had a boil, he told her that he would only examine it, and not touch it, if she would hold still. When he got close enough, he slashed open the boil. Carolyn maintained that she would have held still even if the doctor had told her of his true intent. However, she could not tolerate his lie. Carolyn was happy, but Jessie Lee was disappointed, when Dr. Herring left Jones Prairie to practice near Temple, Texas.

Dr. Fontaine saved the life of Irving Rice, Armstead's son, when Irving was only three years old. He cured Irving of dysentery. It was thought that the illness was caused by some cabbage that Irving had eaten. Dr. Carlton McKinney was a native of Jones Prairie. However, he practiced there for only a short time.

During the time that Armstead Rice's children were growing up there, the Jones Prairie community offered its share of amusement, scandal, and disaster. Residents often created their own entertainment. Armstead's family would occasionally camp on the Little River, near Jones Prairie, with other families. Some campers would swim and wade in the river. The men would fish: everyone would eat their fill of fried fish. Armstead's daughter Carolyn recalled that Jessie Lee always made gingerbread cookies for the river outing.

As an example of local scandal, the Rice family's long-time Jones Prairie pastor once announced in church that his own daughter and her boyfriend had become overly intimate. He advocated that both the boy and girl be "turned out of" (dismissed from) the church, which they were. The preacher apparently hoped that this experience would break up the couple. However, the couple married soon thereafter.

The weather was a major cause of local disasters. About 1910, around Christmas, a cyclone hit Armstead's Jones Prairie house while the family slept. It was an old house made of hewn logs. Suddenly, the roof was gone and the rain poured in. Although the chimney fell between some of the beds, only a clock and rocking chair were damaged. Luckily, Armstead Rice owned a vacant rent house, into which the family moved. This was an especially trying time for son Irving: he was still recuperating from a bad burn on his arm. A Roman Candle had shot up Irving's sleeve during the Christmas festivities.

Daughter Joy recalled that Jessie Lee Rice was always terrified by storms. It was a fear that Joy found to be contagious. However, Armstead Rice did not share his wife's concern with bad weather. One night, when a dark cloud appeared, Jessie Lee ordered all of the children to go to a neighbor's storm cellar. Armstead observed that he would rather blow away than spend time in a dark and dusty cellar. Consequently, Armstead went to bed and the rest of the family went to the cellar. Fortunately, the storm did no major damage.

The Jones Prairie weather occasionally wrought more pervasive adversity. Around 1916, Jones Prairie and much of Texas suffered from a severe drought. Armstead traveled to Oklahoma where he performed agricultural work with what was called the Farm Depression Crew. The workers were paid five to six dollars per day; they also received room and board. Armstead faithfully sent his check back to his family. He periodically worked with this crew for several years: he would go home to make a crop and then return to Oklahoma.

After work, Armstead found time for relaxation. He loved to read: his favorite magazine was "The Saturday Evening Post." His favorite radio programs were "Amos and Andy" and "Fibber Magee and Molly." He enjoyed playing dominoes. Armstead was opposed in principle to the game of football until he saw a game; thereafter, he became quite a football fan.Armstead always took a great interest in politics. Once, he unsuccessfully ran for public office in Milam County. Armstead was very disappointed over the loss; he felt that some who had promised support had not been sincere.

Armstead spent many hours arguing about governors with neighbors and relatives. He leaned toward the Republican Party but believed in voting for the best candidate without regard to party affiliation. Armstead opposed Franklin D. Roosevelt; he feared that Roosevelt would ruin the country.

Once, while the family still lived in Jones Prairie, Jessie Lee wrenched her back while canning foods. She suffered with the problem for most of a summer. The doctor that she consulted thought that she had developed tuberculosis. However, at Jessie Lee's insistence, the doctor agreed to operate. Daughter Carolyn was told that Jessie Lee would not survive the operation. Because the operation was in the Rice home, Carolyn had to take the children elsewhere. Happily, the operation was a success; the doctor found the abscess that Jessie Lee had diagnosed.

Despite her health problems, Jessie Lee maintained a good sense of humor for most of her life. She enjoyed socializing and often invited others to share a meal in her home. Daughter Carolyn grew to dislike company as a result of the extra dish-washing thereby occasioned.

Jessie Lee's grandson, Harrell Benge Rice, recalled that Jessie Lee customarily baked an angel food cake for his birthday. He recalled that the cake was always delicious. An excellent seamstress, Jessie Lee did a great deal of sewing for relatives and Jones Prairie neighbors, without charge. She could cut a pattern for an outfit after having seen only its picture. Jessie Lee's sisters would usually come for a summer visit so that she could make clothes for their children.

Armstead and Jessie Lee were active in religious affairs. He was a Baptist and was very firm in his beliefs. Armstead would argue religion with relatives; daughter Carolyn recalled that he was good at proving his point with citations to the Bible.

Jessie Lee's mother was a Methodist and her father was a Primitive Baptist (a group that practiced a foot-washing ritual). Jessie Lee told her children that these influences combined to make her a Missionary Baptist. She enjoyed church work and taught Sunday School. One year Jessie Lee was president of a church club.

Jessie Lee and the children regularly attended church. However, Armstead's church attendance was less than regular; daughter Carolyn recalled that he attended when he felt like it. When Armstead and Jessie Lee did attend together, they sat on different sides of the church. Even when Armstead attended church, the children were required to sit by Jessie Lee so that she could make them behave.

Armstead Rice's method of disciplining his children was to give them a stern lecture. Daughter Carolyn recalled that the lectures were so serious that she would have preferred to take a whipping. In contrast to Armstead's style, Jessie Lee believed in the adage, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Daughter Carolyn recalled that her mother would make her "get a switch" even when the switch was to be used on one of the other children. Daughter Joy remembered being switched "several times" by her mother. Once, when Joy went home with a friend after being denied permission, Jessie Lee whipped her with a shingle (their house was being re-roofed). Joy thought that she had been "nearly killed." Joy also remembered that Jessie Lee used to say that the whipping hurt Jessie Lee more than it hurt Joy. Joy thought that this was the most foolish thing she had ever heard: she did not believe it.

Jessie Lee Rice was superstitious. For example, she forbade anyone to carry a hoe through her house: a hoe in the house was thought to bring on bad luck. Jessie Lee told her daughter Joy that Jessie Lee's own mother, shortly before her death, had seen a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. Jessie Lee believed that this vision was an omen of death.

JONES PRAIRIE AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Received the following email from Irene Strait (straitalk@hotmail.com):

My name is Irene Wilcox Strait and my mother was Florence Herring Wilcox, daughter of Dr. James C. Herring who I read about on your web site on Jones Prairie. He and my grandmother, Emma Sanders Herring, and most of our older relatives, are buried at Little River Cemetery. They were members of Little River Baptist Church.

I was searching the web for information on my cousin Carl Black, Sheriff of Cameron County, to see if he was any relation to Sheriff William H. Black of Anderson County who is mentioned in an article in the Austin American-Statesman, Sunday edition 2-24-2013, by E.R. Bills, and found your site on Jones Prairie.

My mother was born in February, 1900 and died July, 1999. She was one of 5 daughters and 3 sons in the marriage of Dr. and Mrs. Herring. She wrote a wonderful book about her life in and around Jones Prairie, Temple and Burlington (where my grandfather practiced and ran the Post Office and drugstore until his death in 1936). She is buried next to my father, George Washington Wilcox, in Creek Cemetery, Creek, Texas, where he was raised after returning there from Corsicana Baptist Orphanage at age 12. Her book is called "My Memories" and she wrote it in 1991 at the age of 91. It is about 50 pages and I would be glad to print it out and send it to you if you are interested.

Emma's sister, Mattie Sanders Black, married August Carl Black of Milam, and their son was Carl Black. August died of a heart attack after digging a grave in icy ground for Olga Herring, age 7, in 1905. Aunt Mattie was left to raise six children, oldest 13 and youngest 3 months old. She never remarried and lived to be 96. I believe she is buried at Little River Cemetery also along with August Black.

The first relative buried there was my maternal great-grandmother Mary Olivia Kent Sanders, March 18, 1888. Also my Aunt Olga Herring, age 7,1905; Dr. James C. Herring, age 75, 1936; Emma Sanders Herring, age 83, 1953; Uncle Jerome McAtee, 1966; Uncle Carleton Herring, age 65, 1970; his wife Marie Herring, 1971; Uncle Joe P. Marek, 1972; Aunt Mary Jane Herring Marek, age 83, 1975; Uncle Arthur Gilliland, 1975; Aunt Irene Herring Gilliland, age 95, 1988; Aunt Bertha Herring McAtee, date unknown; also many more aunts, cousins, etc.

Thank you for a beautiful article about historical Jones Prairie. I would love to have a copy and if there is any way I could purchase one I would be so thankful. You have done a lot of hard work on it and it is appreciated. Please let me know if that is possible.
Sincerely,
Irene Strait
512-346-0435

Received the following email from Lisabeth Harper Capel on April 3, 2010 :

I found your website about Jones Prarie in Milam county Texas just by chance. It's very interesting and I was trying to find a connection with my ancestors. I'm sure there is some connection with Joseph P. Jones.

My great grandmother, Luther Antonette Jones, was born in Jones Prarie March 1, 1868. Her father was Samuel Barnett Jones, b. 13 Oct 1838 (we think in KY) and d. 21 Nov 1893 in Jones Prarie. His wife was Mary Antonette Watts. She also died in Jones Prarie 22 Jan 1894.

Luther told my mother the story that when she was growing up in Jones Prarie they owned slaves. She said she was a 'tom boy' and very spoiled. One of the slaves (I don't know his name) was very nice to her and when she would go out and ride the horse too hard or too long and bring it back all sweaty this slave gentleman would hurry and brush down the horse and cover for her. I think my mother said they raised cotton on a big plantation or farm. But I'm just wondering if Samuel (Luther's father) was related to Joseph P. Jones --maybe a nephew. We think Samuel's father's name was John Henry (Jack) Jones, b. abt 1804 in KY and that's as far back as we have. Have you come across any of these people in the history of Jones Prarie? It would be fun to know who the slave was too...and find his descendants. Luther spoke very fondly of him.

We have deep Texas roots! We have traced another line (the Stones and Arriolas) back to the very beginnings of Texas...they lived there when it was part of Mexico...and some of our ancestors were Texas Rangers. Gray Arriola was one of those Rangers and his line has been traced back to the 1500's in Mexico.

I hope you can direct me to some new information on this Jones line. Thank you for your work in this area. Very interesting!

Sincerely,
Lisabeth Harper Capel

Received the following email from Michael Porter:

Mr. Kubiak your website is an excellent tool. I am a teacher here in Houston but My roots are in Jones Prairie. I am a member of the Porter Family African Americans that lived in Jones Prairie. My grandfather was Willie Porter & my great great grandfather was Pete Porter. In looking at the 1880 census Benjamin Porter lived in Jones Prairie with his wife Ricey/Reesie and they both where born in N. Carolina . Do you know of any families that came to Milam county from N. Carolina or Alabama , & owned slaves, because I think that is how Benjamin arrived in TX.

Received the following email from Chuck Krueger of Dallas Texas (cekrueg@aim.com):

My sister sent me a link to the Jones Prairie website. Thank you so much for all of your hard work. What was striking is that as I opened the page, I was looking at the picture of the Sarah Elizabeth Tarver Canady. She is my great grandmother.

Her son, William Ivy Canady (who married Ethel Inez Bell) is my mother's father. My mother married Edward Mark Krueger, and here I am. Both my mother and father are now buried in Little River Baptist Cemetery.

I am curious where you got the image that you have on your webpage of Sarah Canady. My mother was in posession of this picture - oval in a burled wood frame under curved glass - until her death in 2005. At that time it went to my oldest sister - Debra Watkins Cox, in Kentucky.

The picture was in bad disprepair until the 90's when (I believe) she and my aunt - Mildred Canady Schaeffer, had it removed from the frame, somewhat restored, and had digital copies made. I have a copy of that now.

Chuck Krueger Dallas Texas

Received the following email from Mark Tarver:

"Mark Tarver" (mjttx@earthlink.net)
Subject: Re: Jones Prairie Site (Etheldred Tarver)
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 23:21:41 -0600

Leonard,

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum in Waco (The official State Hall of Fame and Repository for the Texas Rangers) has a record and file of Etheldred Tarver's Ranger service. Their records also derive from this same 1850 Federal Census.

Elizabeth Pierson, my great great grandmother, was the daughter of Texas pioneer John Goodloe Warren Pierson (b.1795 d.1849) and Elizabeth Montgomery (b.1805 d.1833). Elizabeth Pierson was born 15 September 1833 at Independence, Washington County, Texas and her mother, Elizabeth Montgomery Pierson, apparently died during childbirth or shortly thereafter the same day.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Elizabeth Pierson was residing in Grimes County, Texas in the household of her step-mother and recent widow, Narcissa Cartwright Pierson (b.1817 d.1897). At that time Elizabeth Pierson was listed as 17 years of age.

It seems very likely to me Etheldred Tarver and Elizabeth Pierson were well acquainted at the time of the October 1850 Federal Census, because they married the following Spring. Etheldred Tarver and Elizabeth Pierson were married 11 March 1851 in Grimes County, Texas.

In the 1860 Federal Census Etheldred Tarver and Elizabeth Pierson Tarver were residing in the Western District of Milam County, Texas. This Federal Census was enumerated on the 22nd of July, 1860 at the Port Sullivan Post Office. Etheldred and Elizabeth had the following children in their household: Alfred Tarver (b.1852, d. unknown), Sarah E. Tarver (b. 1855, d. unknown), and Louisa Emma Tarver (b. 1858, d. unknown). It should be noted that Etheldred and Elizabeth had two other children who died prior to the 1860 Federal Census who were: Minnie E. Tarver (b.1855, d. 1857) and Johnnie G. Tarver (b.1857, d. 1857). Both of these children were buried in the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery at Jones Prairie, Milam County, Texas.

On 17 March 1862 Etheldred Tarver enlisted as a Private in the CSA at McKinney, Collin County, Texas. He was assigned to Company E Morgan's Regiment Texas Cavalry formerly known as Johnson's Spy Company Texas Cavalry. On 10 August 1862 he was discharged with an unstated disability.

During the early part of 1864 Etheldred Tarver again was recorded to have been enlisted in the CSA at Cameron, Milam County, Texas. He was assigned to Company C Mann's Regiment Texas Cavalry formerly a Company of Bradford's Battalion.

In the 1870 Federal Census Etheldred Tarver and Elizabeth Pierson Tarver were residing in Milam County, Texas. This Federal Census was enumerated on 15 July, 1870 at the Maysfield Post Office. Etheldred and Elizabeth had the following children in their household: Alfred Tarver (b. 1852, d. unknown), Sarah (Sallie) E. Tarver (b.1855, d. unknown), Louisa Tarver (b.1858, d. unknown), Benjamin Hogue Tarver (b. 1862, d. 1929), Etheldred Tarver, Jr. (b.1864, d. unknown), William Andrew Tarver (b. 1867, d. 1936), and James Tarver (b.1869, d. unknown). Three other children were residing in the household who were: Augustine Williams W-F-16, , Richard Williams W-M-13, and Jennie Williams W-F-8.

On 8 April 1879 Etheldred Tarver died in Milam County, Texas. The details of his death are unknown. He was buried in the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery next to his and Elizabeth's two children who died in 1857. Etheldred Tarver's grave is toward the back of the cemetery under a very large post oak tree. There is a rather large and ornate headstone and small foot stone. The head stone indicates Etheldred Tarver was born 16 May 1830.

In the 1880 Federal Census Elizabeth Pierson Tarver, a widow, was residing at Jones Prairie, Milam County, Texas. This Federal Census was enumerated on the 23rd of June 1880 at the Jones Prairie Precinct Beat Number 2. Elizabeth had the following children in her household: Alfred Tarver (b. 1852, d. unknown), Louisa Emma Tarver Devereaux (b.1858, d. unknown), Benjamin Hogue Tarver (b. 1862, d. 1929), Etheldred Tarver, Jr. (b.1864, d. unknown), William Andrew Tarver (b.1867, d.1936), James Tarver (b. 1869, d. unknown), and Muggie Tarver (b.1877, d.1906). Also residing in the household were son-in-law John C. Devereaux (b.1848, d. unknown) married 16 July 1879 in Jones Prairie to Louisa Emma Tarver, and grand daughter Minnie Devereaux (b. 1979, d.1950), daughter of John C. Devereaux and Louisa Emma Tarver Devereaux.

1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire.

In the 1900 Federal Census Elizabeth Pierson Tarver, a widow, was residing in La Salle County, Texas. This Federal Census was enumerated on the 2nd of June 1900 in Precinct 1. Elizabeth had the following children in her household: Mug Tarver (b.1877, d. 1906).

It should be noted that in this same census Etheldred and Elizabeth's sons William Andrew Tarver and James Tarver were also residing in La Salle County, Texas. Both of these son's had married and had families of their own.

The Little River Baptist Church membership records held at Baylor University in Waco, McLennan County, Texas indicate the following Tarver's and family were church members: Elizabeth Pierson Tarver, William Andrew Tarver, Mug Tarver, Martha "Mattie" Louise Pool Tarver (wife of William Andrew Tarver), and Minnie Devereaux (daughter of John C. Devereaux and Louisa Emma Tarver Devereaux). Although these were the only Tarver's found in that record it is highly likely the entire family were members of the church while residing in Milam County.

I have much more detailed information if you're interested. I also have a photograph of Etheldred and Elizabeth Pierson Tarver's son Benjamin Hogue Tarver with his wife Beulah E. McCaffety Tarver.

My great grandfather was Mug Tarver. Please feel free to contact me at any time, and of course I'd be very interested in any information regarding the Tarver family you may have or find in the future.

Sincerely,

Mark J. Tarver
214-316-5074 cell Mark Tarver
mjttx@earthlink.net

Received the following email from Richard D Jones (isja2all497@juno.com) :

Thanks for the wonderful "Jones Prairie" site! My family descend from these Jones's! Keep up the good work!

Richard D Jones

If you have announcements of general interest to the Jones Prairie readers, send me an email and I'll post it.


This is a work in progress. Bookmark this page and come back often. If you have old photographs of Jones Prairie, please email me a copy and I'll include your photos on this webpage.
Thanks

Leonard Kubiak



For questions or comments, send me an Email