I will start with my BRICK WALLS...maybe I will finally get lucky. Ha! Ha! My Jones lines is most difficult and considered my brick wall. I am referring to my 3rd great grandfather. His name on his daughter's death certificate is "Joe Jones." Her mother, Rutha Simmons/Simons. I also have an article from the Andalusia Star dated 1931. It is an interview done with Martha Ann (Jones) Rainer at the age if 98. In the article, she said this about her parents. Mrs. Rainers father was Joseph Jones and he was one of the first settlers in this section. He was an Indian warrior ,and he and his wife who was Rutha spent much time in the forts where the settlers would gather in the time of an Indian uprising. They did their trading at the Old Montezuma capital of this county. One can find Joseph Jones and Rutha first appearing on the 1850 Pike County, Alabama Census in house # 99, page 17. The information gathered in that 1850 census is as follows: Joseph Jones - age 40 - Male - Farmer- born in Georgia Rutha Jones - age 49 - Female - born in Georgia Susan Jones - age 16 - Female - born in Alabama Samuel Jones - age 14 - Male - born in Alabama Isham - Jones - age 11 - Male - born in Alabama Malissa Jones - age 7 - Female - born in Alabama Joseph Jones can't be found on any census after that. However, Rutha Jones can be found on the 1860 Butler County Alabama census, Precinct 5, House # 1017, as follows: R. Jones- age 60 - Female - Born in Georgia I.B. Jones - age 20 - Male - Born in Alabama M. Jones - age 16 - Female - Born in Alabama (wife of I.B. Jones) M.L. Jones - age 16 - Female - Born in Alabama E.L. Jones - age 50 - Female - Born in Georgia M. Jones - age 30 - Female - Born in Alabama M.L. Jones - Age 9 - Female - Born in Alabama L. Jones - Age 2 - Female - Born in Alabama I have not yet figured out who the "E.L. Jones" and the children living with her are yet. I can't find Rutha on the 1870 Census anywhere, but she appears again on the 1880 Butler, South Butler, Alabama Census District 42, House #88 living with her daughter, Martha Rainer, and grand children. Martha Rainer - Age 48 - Female - Born in Alabama James Rainer - Age 22 - Male - Born in Alabama Robert Rainer - Age 20 - Male - Born in Alabama Herretta (?) Rainer - Age 17 - Female - Born in Alabama Lanler (?) Rainer - Age 11 - Female - Born in Alabama Rutha Jones - Age 80 - Female - Born in Alabama I have some good information on 3 of Joseph & Rutha Jones' children, Isham Benjamin Jones, Samuel James Jones, and Martha Ann Jones. But I can't find anything on Malissa or Susan. Per old family letters from Isham to his mother and sister, Martha, I know that Susan is still alive well into the late 1870's and still living in the Butler County area, or surrounding counties. There is no mention of Malissa in these letters. I have a receipt dated 1866 for $300 paid to a James Golden by a Joel Carter on behalf of Susan Williams, Martha Rainer and Malisey Jones. I am assuming Susan and Malisey are Martha's sisters. If that is the case, then Susan Jones married a "Williams." In another letter from a G.W. Simmons written in 1866 from Prattville, Alabama to "his aunt" he also mentions his "cousin Malisey." He also mentions Gracey, Betty and Mary. I am hoping someone will recognize some of these names and will help me make a connection to which Jones family my 3rd great grandfather is from and perhaps who were his wife's family. Any help is appreciated. Other surnames I am researching from Pike & surrounding counties: Rainer Descendants or ancestors of Richard Williams Rambo Descendants and ancestors of James Golden Descendants or ancestors of Isaac Richard Smith or Henry C. Smith Descendants or ancestors of Henry Frances Caine who married Martha Louise Ludie" Rainer 23 Dec 1886 Descendants and ancestors of James Shadrack Williamson Thanks, Kim