James Claiborn Jones (1826 - 1914)

Born 14 Feb 1826 in Floyd, Kentucky, United States

Husband of Seatta Jennie Martha (Goodman) Jones — married 23 Nov 1881 in Grayson, Carter Co, Kentucky

Descendants

Died 25 Nov 1914 at age 88 in Warren, Knox, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Wes Collinwood [send private message] and Linda Oelze [send private message]

Biography

James Jones is Notable.

James was born about 1826. James Jones passed away in 1914.

"OLD CLAIB JONES" "Famous Gunfighter in the Old West" Occupation: Lawman. Warrants for Arrest of Talton Hall who was thought to have murdered Frank Salyer. He got his friend DICK VANCE to help him. Feud with "Devil John Wright" Here is a link to a history of "Old Claib Jones" from: an "Autobiography Of Old Claib Jones" by J W Hall Hazard Book Company 1915. https://yeahpot.com/jones/clabejones2.html

James Jones was featured in Autobiography Of Old Claib Jones JW Hall, Hazard Book Company 1915.

Name: James Claiborn "Bad Clabe" Jones. Given Name: James Claiborn "Bad Clabe". Surname: Jones.

He was Born on ARNOLD Fork, a branch of Beaver Creek, Floyd Co, Kentucky. Note that Mothers Name is Rebecca ARNOLD. After he was born, his father John A Jones moved the family about 15 miles down Beaver Creek to settle on JONES FORK (CREEK). John A Jones was the first man to settle on this creek. It flows into Big Sandy River. His parents separated when Clabe was about 8 years old, because his father John A Jones was a philanderer. His mother Rebecca, beat Katherine Smith, one of John's concubines, with a club, & pulled her hair out in the middle of the street. The, she fled into the woods John Smith filed a warrant for her, so Sherriff John Hatcher had to find her. Rebecca was at a freind Sarah's, having Supper, when Sherriff Hatcher arrived. She hid under the table. She slipped out from under the table & hid in the Chimney Corner. She got a gun & ambushed Sherriff Hatcher at a gap where she knew he was going to be. She shot him in the leg & Killed his horse. She then sent word to Clabe asking for his Bay Mare.

MILITARY SERVICE:

Oct 13 1862 Harlan, Harlan Co, Kentucky. Harlan Battalion.

First Wife: Christina Holbrook (1839-1918), Married: c1858, Kentucky. Children with 1st Wife: Rebecca Elizabeth Jones (Cline) (Bryant) (1859-1944), John Jones (1862-?), Susan Jones (1864-?), Docia Jones (1873-?), William Jones (1869-1893), Dora Lee Jones (1873-?), Elafare "Ella" Jones (1877-1914), Huram Casey Jones, William "Willie" Jones.

Other Children: Charles Aron Jones (1876-1948), Phoebe Myrtle Jones (Luttrell) (1887-1979), Joseph Kenneth Jones (1893-1988) & Huram (Hiram?) Francis Jones (1895-1984)

Brother: Abram Rancier Jones.

The following is taken from "Mountain Feuds Of Kentucky" by Noah M Reynolds: "Old Claib Jones & John Wright Feud" c1882 Hazard, Perry Co, Kentucky: Linvil Higgins was murdered by William S Wright, brother of "The Devil" John Wright. & 2 others, at what is now Hindman, Knott Co, Kentucky. The Wrights & Talton Hall, were from Elkhorn Creek, Letcher Co, Kentucky William Wright was indicted for murder. Dolph Drawn, Deputy Sherriff of Knott County, took a posse of 30 men to Letcher Co, Kentucky to apprehend him & the 2 others responsible. On the way they were ambushed by Wright & were retreating back to Knott County, but on the way, they met up with "Old Claib Jones" who had earlier refused to join Deputy Drawn in a cavalry style raid into Letcher County. The men then banned together under the leadership of "Old Claib Jones" in the name of the law, While John Wright did the same for his side. Both men having rewards for the other, signed by the Governor of Kentucky, Simon Bruckner. Traveling at night, & hiding in the mountains during the day, they arrived at "Fort Wright", but John Wright had went to Knott County, looking to arrest Clabe, since he was not there, they returned home. THE SECOND RAID ON "FORT WRIGHT" BY CLAIB JONES: "Fort Wright" was on the head of Elkhorn Creek, in Letcher Co, Kentucky. Traveling by night, the party arrived at "Fort Wright" at night, and waited for daylight. The shooting lasted for 2 hours, Claib Jones retreating, since he could make no headway in capturing Wright. Wright pursued Claib Jones & his men when they retreated, & came apon them at Mill Creek, a tributary of Rock House Fork, of the Kentucky River. A big gunfight ensued, in which neither side could gain an advantage. Bill Cook, one of Jones' men captured Wash Craft near the mouth of Millstone Creek, & began taking him to Hindman Jail, but was killed by Craft, who snatched a revolver from guard T Washington Adams. Craft later rejoined Wright. The feud lasted for several years. Approximately 150 men were killed.

The following is taken from "KNOTT COUNTY GENERAL HISTORY", from Appalachian Heritage Magazine, Vol 2 #4 Fall/Winter 1974/75: Clabe Jones was elected Jailer of Hindman, the County seat of Knott County, Kentucky. (He was a Civil War Veteran). It was a Log Jail. He & his men turned the jail into a fort during the feuds of Kentucky. He & his men barricaded themselves inside in a shootout with Capt Anderson Hays & the Hays Family Clan, who were in a log house across the street. Clabe's allies, who mannes "Jones Fort" were the Vance's, Bates, Slone's, & Draughn's.

The following is taken from "An Autobiography Of Old Claib Jones" as told to J W Hall: CIVIL WAR: He was a Democrat, but he sided with the Union Cause, so he had to leave home, or be killed. Nearby lived "Old Man Coburn", a Rebel, who reported Clabe as a Yankee, & burned his house down, leaving his wife & child homeless. He met up with one of the Coburn's, carrying some of his property that had been stolen from his house. The man lunged at him with a long knife, but Clabe knocked him down with his gun. Clabe next went to Perry Co, Kentucky, & enlisted with the Federal forces, just during the formation of a new Battalion of Soldiers. He mustered into the Union Army Oct 13 1862 Harlan Battalion. He was mustered out Jan 13 1863. He was a First Lieutenant under Capt Morgan, Company A. He did mostly scouting. He went back to Floyd County, to see about his wife & mother, but was captured by Colonel Ben Caudill & taken to Letcher County. He Escaped. He later met Colonel Caudill & threated to kill him if he "didn't hit the road". Colonel Caudill later put out a 500 Dollar reward for Clabe's capture. Clabe helped later to capture him, at Gladeville, Virginia.

Clabe & Capt Shade Combs were attacked at the mouth of Carr's Fork, by Capt Anderson (Confederate side). Capt Anderson was later camped at the mouth of Lott's Creek below Hazard, & were attacked by Clabe with Capt Strong.

A black man named Nelson, had shot Clabe during the feud with the Hay's.

DEATH CERTIFICATE:

Warden, Knox Co, Kentucky Commonwealth Of Kentucky State Board Of Health Bureau Of Vital Statistics File #: 29247 Died 3pm Nov 26 1914

BURIAL:

D Y Combs Cemetery 342 Cornell St. Hazard, Perry Co, Kentucky Undertaker: Carter Coal Company Warren Kentucky. Occupation: Farmer. see grave photo.

Sources

• "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SQ-NZWJ?cc=1804888&wc=QD3Q-4W6%3A1300208201 : 17 May 2018), 004260201 > image 398 of 437; citing multiple county clerks, county courts, and historical societies, Kentucky.

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:MHVW-GJ4 : 29 May 2021), Household of James C Jones, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8SF-YZB : 14 January 2022), James Jones in household of John Cline, Monroe Township, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .

• "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9HV-7Q1 : 11 March 2022), James C Jaues in entry for Thomas Johnson, 1900.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRVS-V7Y?cc=1727033&wc=QZZ7-RQ4%3A133641601%2C136068801%2C140439201%2C1589088920 : 24 June 2017), Kentucky > Knox > Artemus > ED 103 > image 20 of 30; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NS5W-FBC : 2 March 2021), J.c. Jones, 1914; citing Death, Warren, Knox, Kentucky, United States, certificate , Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm 1,942,658.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87018489/james-claborn-jones : accessed 02 July 2022), memorial page for James Claborn “Claib Clabe” Jones (14 Feb 1826–25 Nov 1914), Find a Grave Memorial ID 87018489, citing DY Combs Cemetery, Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Linda Oelze S (contributor 47356114) .

• BillionGraves.com, Grave record for James Claburn Jones (14 Feb 1825 - 25 Nov 1914), BillionGraves Record 21139388 Hazard, Perry, Kentucky, United States