Thomas H. Jones
Excerpts from: Major R. D. Winn's History for the Herald

The late Mr. Jones was for a long time a citizen of this county, and one of the early settlers.

He was born in Dinwiddie County, VA., Feb. 8th 1799.  While yet a boy his father moved to Lincoln Co. North Carolina where he was educated.  When he grew up he engaged in the mercantile business & sold goods for Andrew Hoyl for several years.  He was elected in that county to the Ofc of Sheriff & held it for a term.  He taught school there and his first wife MARGARET HOYL, was one of his students.  Adam moved to Georgia and settled in the western area of GA in 1826 with Thomas  following the next year and forming a partnership between them.  Margaret & Thomas were married April 28th, 1828 - he moved to Norcross after the Air Line RR was built and lived there til his death. 

Soon after marriage he and Margaret joined the Presbyterians at Fairview.  In 1830 he and Adam Hoyl, Jas. S. Rupell, Robert J. GOza, Daniel and Moses Liddell and others built Gozhen Church and he moved his membership there.  At the organization he was chosen as one of its ruling elders and held that position until his death.  Margaret and Thomas had 7 children - 6 sons and 1 daughter, the girl died in infancy.  Adam, the oldest son, read law in Lawrenceville with the late Judge Hutchins and practiced his profession there a few years, first in Walker County, then in Atlanta, and was while there cashier of the Central Railroad bank, and is now in the banking business in Griffin, Georgia.  [editor note: Spalding County]

Thomas, 2nd son, before the war was engaged in the iron business with Dr. John W. Lewis in Cass County.  He was in the army, and with Hood in its retreat from Nashville, lost his health and never recovered - died in Cherokee County, where he resided in 1866.

George is a successful farmer living on the Chattahooche, and represented this county [Gwinnett] in the Legislature a few years since.

Miss Helena, the only daughter is an educated young woman with many accomplishments; an ornament to the community.... [this seems to be 'not in concert' with her having died at infancy]

Mr. Jones was an ardent and uncompromising Southern Rights man and of the few who was never "reconstructed."  In politics he was a democrat of the old school.  For many years he was Postmaster at Pinkneyville in his district and was Justice of Peace for a term of years.  20 or more years ago he was a candidate for the Legislature on the "Gallon Ticket Law".  It was then, an unpopular ?.  Any policy that might antagonize the free use of whiskey, or abridge men's "liberty" so called, met with little favor at the ballot box then, and he and his colleagues were defeated.  ...

After the war he was appointed Postmaster at Norcross, and the "Iron Clad" oath sent him.  He spurned it, and struck out the Iron part of it, swore to the balance sent it back and was accepted by the Dptmt and he was commissioned.

Mr. JOnes was of ardent temperament, excitable and impetuous.  He was outspoken and unreserved in all his opinions, and never occupied doubtful thoughts on any question.  In everything he was emphatic and his whole nature positive. 

In social life he was genial and companionable--...  In former years he served on the Grand Jury and sometimes its Foreman.  ....

T. H. Jones died Oct. 4, 1877