Chilton County Historical Society - Jones, Dick "Uncle Dick"

A man who has known and loved Clanton from its infancy is Mr. Dick Jones who is affectionately known to his friends as "Uncle Dick."

Mr. Jones came to Clanton 61 years ago when the place was too small to be called a town. There were only three stores and about 200 inhabitants here. From this small beginning and during this long period of time Mr. Jones has believed in Clanton and has proved it by standing by the town. In every phase of its progress he has had an active part in the development of our modern little city.

Mr. Jones, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Jones, was born in Russell County, Alabama, near Columbus, Ga., in 1848. At an early age the Jones family moved to Auburn where Mr. Jones received his education. In 1866 he came to Clanton and took a position with Hall and Campbell, a big sawmill company at Stansfield switch. His next position was with Hayes Hunt another sawmill threes miles west of Clanton. For a number years after that Mr. Jones devoted his time to the sawmill business in which he was most successful.

In 1886 he married Miss Rosa Wood of Coopers and in 1890 he lost his splendid wife. Mr. Jones is the father of two children, Mrs. T.C. McSwain and Mr. Macy Jones, and has four fine grandchildren, Louise, Mary, Elizabeth and [unreadable] McSwain.

Mr. Jones and his descendants have meant much to the community life of Clanton. They are prominent in church and social life of the town.

When we consider the splendid Christian character of "Uncle Dick" we are not surprised that a town backed by such men as he should become a real town.

We asked him what was his first impression of Clanton and he answered, "I liked the place and believed that it had a future," and we realize that his belief was not unfounded.