(from: http://www.brentbrown.com/familytree/ps02/ps02_069.html)

Solomon Jones, later known as the road builder, wrote in his Day Book, "Solomon Jones Book of generations, deeds and wills, July the 23, 1855. Intended for Justice and and the union of posterity for fourteen generations. Solomon Jones from who the Jones family sprang was a Welchman, come to America in the eighteenth sentry, married Mary Plumer in Virginia, came to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Thomas Jones son of Solomon Jones was born about the middle of the eighteenth century, married Lucindy Hix."

Solomon Jones was born March 7, 1802, near the headwaters of Mud Creek, six miles south of the present town of Hendersonville, the son of Thomas and Lucinda Hicks Jones. Thomas was the brother of John Jones Sr., who married Mary Jane Hicks, sister of Lucinda. John and Mary Jane Jones were the progenitors of the Joneses of the Blue Ridge section of Henderson County.

On the 20th of November 1822, at age 20, Solomon married Mary Hamilton, born January 16, 1807, daughter of Robert and Ann Orr Hamilton. She was a sister of Colonel Joseph Hamilton, well known leader of the Union soldiers of Henderson County during the Civil War.

Solomon was a public spirited individual, being among the Commissioners of Public Health and Public Building in Henderson County in 1841. His name is among "dedicated citizens and leaders" to whom a Centennial History of Transylvania County is dedicated.

Solomon Jones was one of the most remarkable engineers of his age. He used no instruments, but his ingenious mind was never exceeded in the location of thoroughfares across the most difficult barriers of the Appalachian system. He was the most noted road builder this section has ever known. Perhaps his most wonderful piece of engineering was the Jones Gap Turnpike which went through the break in the range once known as Douthat's Gap, and by the way of Cedar Mountain and Caesar's Head to Greenville, South Carolina. Other important work was the grading of the Cashier's Valley road in Transylvania County, the Flat

Rock and Green River turnpike and Jones' Pleasure Drive, leading from Hendersonville to Mount Hebron.

Early in life Solomon bought a mountain peak near the present town of Laurel Park, and named his mountain Hebron, for it was almost identical in height above sea level as the Biblical Hebron - three thousand feet. Solomon felled trees and build his mansion and got things growing in the rich soil. On the hottest days, the spring at the house place furnished almost ice-cold water and the dairy supplied abundance of cream. Peaches and other fruit grown nearby were dispensed to all who desired them. The house built by Solomon Jones is still in use today.

Solomon and Mary Hamilton Jones reared a family of two sons and ten daughters, three of which married McCrary's, a pioneer family that lived nearby.

Solomon and Mary lived a great number of years on their Salem Plantation in Greenville County,South Carolina. It was there in May 1881 at the age of seventy-four that Mary Hamilton Jones died. She is buried in the old Salem, or Jones cemetery in the Oil Camp section of Greenville County.

After the death of his wife, Solomon returned to Mount Hebron and spent the remainder of his life there. At the age of eighty, Solomon married Assena Tantaline Louise Jimison, who was born March 2, 1844.

The obituary of Solomon Jones is recorded in the French Broad Hustler of April 26, 1899 as follows: "Last Sunday afternoon at his lovely home on the summit of the far-famed Hebron Mountain where he has resided for the past eighteen years, this noble old man turned his eyes from the scenes of earth and faces of loved ones and his kindly spirit wafted its way to the God who gave it. He was ninety-seven years old at his last birthday. His tombstone was prepared under his direction by Mr. Joshua Blythe, about five years ago and bears the singular inscription: 'Here lies Solomon Jones, The Road Maker. A True Patriot. He labored fifty years to leave the world better then he found it. Born 7 March 1802 died 23 April 1899.' The funeral occurred at the home on Tuesday and was largely attended."

Assena T. L. Jones lived on at the Mount Hebron place for several years after the death of Solomon. She collected tolls from Solomon's toll roads and sold produce and dairy products in the Hendersonville area. In her later days she went to live with a niece, Etta Livingston King in the Hoopers Creek section of Henderson County, where her death occurred September 8, 1928. She had requested not to be buried on Hebron Mountain beside her husband, so she was laid to rest in the Jimison family cemetery at Uno, Henderson County, near the graves of her parents, James and Louise Duncan Jimison.

http://ncgenweb.us/nc/henderson/2009/07/23/will-of-solomon-jones/

THE WILL OF SOLOMON JONES

I Solomon Jones of Henderson County and State of North Carolina being by occupation a farmer make this my last will.

I give, devise and bequeath my estate and property real and personal as follows that is to say:

My real and personal estate on Mount Hebron in Henderson County North Carolina to go to my wife Anasena T. Jones during her natural life then to be sold and divided equally among my first wife’s children and if none alive to my first wife’s grand children.

I give and devise Larking and forth three dollars ….. middle Saluda Turn Pike Road to my sons and daughters as follows to wit: William Jones, Hicks Jones, Elizabeth Sentell, Eliza Fangler, Lucina McCrary, Mahulda Anders, Matilda Hart and Jane Cox.

I give to Julia Ann McCrary her husband Adolphus cash notes; to Rebecca Mullinax – her husband Erwin Mullinax ‘s cash notes: to Mariah Anderson, wife of William Anderson, one hundred and fifty dollars in notes on her husband.

If my present wife should have heirs or …by me, I devise it or them to be equal here with my first wife’, Mary Jones’ children.

I appoint Assena T. Jones, my wife, of the County of Henderson and State of North Carolina Executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have signed and sealed and…… and declared this instrument as my last will and testament at Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina. This the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred eighty five the eleventh day of June. Signed Soloman Jones

Page 313 Henderson County Superior Court ..In the matter of the will of Solomon Jones. … Clerk Superior Court, Asaina T. Jones, being duly sword doth say: That Solomon Jones late of said County is dead having first made and published his last will and testament and that she is the executrix named therein.

Further that the property of the said Soloman Jones consists of a tract of land containing 160 acres with about..a small amount of household and kitchen furniture is worth about $1500 as far as can be ascertained at the date of this application and that she is the party entitled under said will to be the said property during her life time. Sworn and …Anesena t. Jones before me 11 day May 1899.

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