From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print
Fereby McCullough and her husband, John Henry Jones, and three of their children came to Texas from Kentucky with the wagon train in 1855. They had nine children, five of whom lived to be grown. When the family came to Texas Eleanor Jane was 15, James Thomas 10, and Armilda 5 years old. The two youngest children were born in Texas, John Daniel in 1857, Sarah Emily in 1863.
Not a great deal is known about John Henry Jones and it is not clear the exact date he came to Dallas County. Along with the other men in the family he was involved in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy and he was the only one to receive injuries that resulted in his death at age 47. This early death meant that none of his grandchildren ever knew him personally. His oldest granddaughter, Mary Susan Kirk, was only three years old. However, from public records of that time we can draw the conclusion that he was a person of action because, after arriving in Hill County December, 1855, he bought land in 1856. The records show him both buying and selling in 1857, but in 1858 and 1859 he seems to have sold all his property. In the meantime, in 1858 he appeared on the Dallas County Tax rolls when he bought property on White Rock Creek in the J. Jackson and C. A. Lovejoy Surveys. From that time on the John Henry family lived in Dallas County.
A story is told about an event that happened while they were still in Kentucky. It seems to imply that he was strict with his children and taught them to appreciate what they had. Everybody at that time wove fabric for their clothes. The girls learned to weave as naturally as they learned to cook or do other household chores. One time when his daughter, Eleanor Jane, was 8 years old, she wanted a little white parasol like some of her friends had. He told her that he would get her one if she would weave a yard of material in one day. That was a large order for a little girl her age but she did it and got her parasol. Perhaps this also indicated a determination that she inherited from her parents.
When Fereby Jones was left a widow at age 43 with small children and a farm to look after, the Civil War was at its height. Most of the men were away and the women and children were alone. Fereby’s oldest daughter, Eleanor Jane, was married and had several small children also. She moved in with Fereby and they took care of each other. It was said that Fereby was not afraid of anything. If she heard strange noises outside of the house she would take her rifle and go out and investigate. Eleanor was not so brave; in fact, she was easily frightened. One night they were at home alone with the children and Fereby thought she saw a man cup his hands around his face and put his face close to the window to see inside. She did not want the children frightened so even though she saw this several times she made no move until she got them all to bed. Then she took her rifle and went out to satisfy herself about what was there. She found only a mule who had wandered into the yard and was attracted to the light. With his long ears close to the window it gave the appearance of a man’s face and hands.
Fereby was married for the second time in 1868 to B. S. (Bob) Pickett. Her younger children and the grandchildren grew up knowing him as Fereby’s husband. He was welcomed into the family and everybody was devoted to him. From this time on Fereby was known as Grandma Pickett to the immediate family and Aunt Fereby to other relatives and friends.
Two granddaughters were named for their grandmother, Fereby Elizabeth Jones McSween and Lillie Fereby Kirk Maxcy. It is from these two granddaughters that we have most of our information.
In her later years and after her second husband died she lived with her children. A small clay pipe was her constant companion. When she stayed with her daughter, Eleanor, she invariably asked her granddaughter, Lillie, to take her pipe to the kitchen and light the tobacco by placing a small coal of fire on it. The kitchen was some distance from the living quarters, and Lillie had to go through a breeze way. The only way she could keep the pipe lit until she could get it back to her grandmother was to take a few draws on it. This would always make her sick but she got no sympathy from Fereby; she thought it was very funny.
Fereby died in 1895 at the home of Eleanor and James A. Kirk, at age 76.
By Mabel E. Maxcy, great granddaughter, Denton
