Ransopher Heywood Jones was one of twelve children born to Woody and Elizabeth Magee Jones. He was born in Rankin Co., Mississippi, March 14, 1819. As a young man he went to La. where he met and married Cassandra Morris on Jan. 9, 1840. They went back to Miss. and their first child James Thomas Jones was born on Jan. 23, 1841. They went back to La. and a second son, Hardy Richardson Jones was born Jan. 7, 1844 in Washington Parish. Then in about 1845 or 46 they started to Texas but could not cross the Red River and were in Arkansas for 7 years. During that time another son, John D. Jones was born in 1848. In the gold rush of 1849, Ransopher went to California to "make his fortune"--leaving his family in Louisiana. Returning to Louisiana in about 1854 with one gold nugget and one gold stick pin, he packed up his family in 1855 and moved from Louisiana to Texas--first to Cooke County, then to Bee County, to McLennan County, and finally settling at Mooresville in Falls County. Years later, he gave two granddaughters the fruits of his gold rush days in California: to Carrie (daughter of son, James ), the gold nugget; and to Madge (daughter of son, Hardy), the gold stick pin. The trip to California was an ordeal, but he was thought to have T .B. and exposure was thought to be a cure. Even though he found no gold, he was healed in body and lived to be 86 years old. Their son, John D. Jones died in Bee Co. from a snake bite and is buried on the Ceilson Ranch, after many years of being engaged in farming a nd stock raising. In 1855 they crossed the river at Old Fulton and moved in to Cook Co., Texas. Then in 1859 they moved to Bee Co. settling 6 miles South of Beeville. In 1860 they came to McLennan Co. settling 20 mil es north of Waco on Hog Creek. In 1863 he joined a Co. of State Troopers for the protection of the citizens against the Indians. In 1866 they moved to Falls Co. settling 2 miles west of what is now the village of Mooresville. Still engaged in farming, stock raising and ran a gin. James a nd Hardy had been 4 years at Galveston in Co. A Cooks Heavy Artillery in t he service of their country during the Civil War but as the war was over t hey were home and had families. Ransopher served in the Texas Militia during the Civil War -- enlisting in 1863 to assist in protecting settlers against Indians. A letter written (copied below) in 1866 from R. H.'s brother, Hiram Jones, related how the Mississippi family members had been devastated during the Civil War. Living near the creek there were lots of mosquitoes, flies and the children had chills and fever. The Doctor thought the chills were caused by decayed timber in the woods and advised them to move to the prairie which they did in about 1874, buying land 3 miles west of Mooresville. He died Jan. 23, 1906. He loved to ride horseback and every pretty day could be seen riding over the fields watching the crops grow. He was a wonderful man this Grandfather of mine.
Written by Aunt Carrie.
Info Received from:
GAndrews (#46912745)

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Thank you to Sarah Locklin Taylor
findagrave contributor
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