Thomas Laurens Jones
Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 July 1887, page 4
NEWPORT
Hon. Thomas L Jones died at his home on the Alexandria Pike, back
of Newport, yesterday, from cancer of the stomach. His death was not unexpected,
as he had been ill for a number of weeks. No man in the State of Kentucky was
better or more favorable known throughout the State than Hon. Thomas L Jones and
his death will be sincerely mourned.
The deceased was born on the 21st day of January 1819, in Rutherford County, North Carolina. His father, George Jones, was an extensive planter of the old Welsh-English stock, and was a native of Orange County, Virginia. His mother, Elizabeth Mills, was a daughter of Colonel William Mills, who was of English descent.
Colonel Jones received his preparatory education at Spartanburg SC and at the Columbia College of that State. After passing through this college he entered Yale and graduated at Princeton College in 1842. He then studied law and graduated at Harvard University in 1842. After traveling in Europe for a period of two years Colonel Jones was admitted to the bar at Columbia S C and subsequently pursued his profession in New York City with marked success.
When the Western boom was talked of in early days, Colonel Jones came West to grow up with it and located in Newport in 1849. Colonel Jones was an admirer of politics that were pure and always took great interest in them. Soon after coming to Newport he entered the political field and was generally successful.
In the year 1850 he was married to Miss Mary K Taylor, daughter of the late Colonel James Taylor. Four children was the result of the happy union. His children are James T Jones, Mrs. Brent Arnold, Laurens Jones and Thomas L Jones. One week ago yesterday, he wrote a letter, which was as follows:
July 13, 1887, "If I should died in my present illness I want the following gentlemen to act as my pall bearer:
Hon A S Berry, Mr. Walter Overton, Geo P Wilshire, Colonel P B Spence, Hon A T Root, Mr. J C Schroll, Colonel Geo Washington, Hon W E Arthur, Hon Judge Makibben, Mrs. W K Boal, Hon John S Ducker, Colonel James Arnold, Hon Judge J W Price, Colonel Chas J Helm, Colonel W S Williamson, Hon Judge Boyd, Colonel W S Merrill.
These pall bearers will assemble at St Paul's Episcopal Church and be brought to my house in carriages. My body will be escorted by the pall bearers to the church and after the cemetery conveyed to the grave with as little display as possible. I die in full faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church but entirely without prejudice. I love all Christian denominations. I have always had friends among the Catholics and am indebted to them for many kindnesses. May God bless all mankind. Amen."
His funeral will take place Friday afternoon at three o'clock from St Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, Newport.