Description
(Excerpted from longer biographical sketch about Milton Jones.) - - The subject of this sketch was born near Lexington, Montgomery County, Kentucky, in August 1825, and is the son of Thomas and Elsa Jones, who were natives of Clarke County, that State. His father was a free man, but his mother was a slave, being the property of his Grandmother Jones. Milton was likewise the property of Mrs. Jones.
Mr. Jones was brought up on a farm as his grandmother’s slave and was not allowed any chance for education, although he managed to learn to read, and picked up considerable information. He was exceedingly bright and especially handy with all kind of tools, learning shoe-making, stone-masonry and carpentering. His duties were varied by driving hogs over the mountains to Atlanta and Charleston, 750 miles away, making usually twelve miles in a day.
Upon the death of Mrs. Jones, our subject became the property of her granddaughter, who had married Thomas Pointer; the latter thus became the master of Mr. Jones, whom he ever treated kindly.
After the death of Mrs. Jones, our subject, with several others, was taken possession of by one Jackson Toll, who kept them until the law gave them to their rightful owner. Mr. Jones was then hired out to Dr. Hood, of Kentucky for $90.
The following 4 years he was permitted by Mr. Pointer to work for Mrs. Toll, in exchange for another man who was unable to attend to her work properly. Later, he remained with Mr. Pointer one month, then went to Missouri to his wife, there to remain until sent for.
Mr. Jones was married in Clarke County, Kentucky, in 1845, to Miss Mary J. Allison. Mrs. Jones was born in Montgomery County and went with her master to Missouri in the spring of 1856, locating in Platte County.
In the fall Mr. Pointer allowed Mr. Jones to join his wife and make what money he could for himself in Missouri. Toward spring his Kentucky master wrote him to select a future master and he was sold to one Landy Barnet, who afterward sold him to Mr. Allison, the owner of his wife.
Upon this occasion he paid $200 of his own money to keep from being thrown into the hands of New Orleans traders. About 1862 Mr. Allison returned to Mr. Jones his $200 in order to try to keep him on the place, fearful that the slaves would be driven away by the Union soldiers. The last time that Mr. Jones was sold he brought the good round sum of $1,400.
In 1863, Mr. Allison, having become addicted to strong drink, was very imprudent and hurrahed for Jefferson Davis in hearing of some of the Union troops, when he was taken charge of and his chattels driven away. Mr. Jones, who had saved up $300 and a team of horses by working extra hours, then embraced the opportunity to leave the country and came, with his family to Kansas, locating near Oskaloosa.
(Researcher's note: Milton Allison and James Allison were Platte County enslavers. On August 13, 1860, James Allison listed 30 slaves on the 1860 Slave Schedule.)Date(s) of Creation
1/1/1890
