Memories of Martin Harmon Jones Part 2

 Interview with Martin Frank Jones (my uncle)

12 Feb 2013

Recorded by Nancy Quillin Long

I went to visit with Martin and the following is from that visit.  See also the printed copy of Martin Frank’s blog.  Several years ago, Martin Frank wrote his memories down and now is placing them a little at a time on his blog. 

 Martin Harmon Jones never owned anything.  He grubbed out mesquite trees, chopped cotton, and was a day laborer for other farmers.   People thought a lot of him.  He was known as “Farmer Jones”.  He always lived on farms.  When the Depression hit, Martin Harmon lived in a 2-room house that Mimi and Pappy (Mimi is Ava Ella McNair Jones and Pappy is Joe Carroll Jones) had lived in there in Thalia, Texas, after they moved to their house on the hill.  Mimi and Pap's home on the hill burned down and then they rented a home from Allen Schulty back in town. When they were able, Mimi and Pappy bought the Stovall’s house (the house by the school) in Thalia.  When Martin Harmon developed bad heart problems, Pappy moved that little 2 room house onto their lot, very close, so that Mimi could care for them.  That is the house that Martin Harmon lived in when he died.  Later, Pappy had purchased a home in Crowell that he was letting Martin Frank/Vonne live in, and when Pappy retired from farming, Martin and Vonne bought a house by the school. Mimi and Pappy then moved to Crowell.  Once again, Pappy moved that little 2 room house to Crowell and place it on a lot just across a pasture for Mattie Bell to live in.  Pap added a room to it.  Pap then purchased the house right next door and Bill/Faye lived there until Bill got a job as a game warden in Canadian.  When Bill/Faye moved, Pap sold Mattie’s house and moved her in next door.