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Show PRESTDENT'SWIDOW MRS. JONES WAS "FIRST LADY" OF TEXAS REPUDLIC. Judge Who Performed Marriage Ceremony Cere-mony In 1840 Killed by Indians 8hortly After Near Austin Her Adventurous Life. Austin, Tex. Mrs. Anson Jones, who died tho othor day, was ono of tho most historic women of Texas. Sho was tho widow of Dr. Anson Jonos, who was president of tho Itopublio ot'ToxnB during tho period Just provl-ous provl-ous to tho annexation ot tho common', wealth to tho United States. Mra. Jonea, as "first lady of tho land," pro-sided pro-sided at many social functions which woro given nt tho capital ot tho young republic. In .thoso early days foreign ambassadors wero located In Austin, nnd, desplto tho activity of tho Indiana, In-diana, who kept them in conatnnt dread of bolng killed, those representatives of foreign governments managed to have a very pleasant tlmo. The marrlago of Dr. and Mrs. Jones took place In Austin In Mny, 1840. Tho wedding trousseau was brought all tho way from Houston to Austin, a distance dis-tance of 186 miles, by oxcart. Judgo James Smith, who married Dr. and Mrs. Jones, waB killed by Indiana In-diana whllo out riding near Austin a short tlmo after ho had performed tho ceremony. Mrs. Jones relnted many Interesting Incidents that occurred In tho Toxas capital during tho tlmo that her husband hus-band was presldont of tho republic. She said that the forolgn ambassadors soldom traveled even a short distance into the country out ot Austin without being provldod with a guard to prevent pre-vent attack by Indians. On one occasion oc-casion tho French ambassador, M. Do Sallgny, wanted to take a pleaauro rldo a short way beyond the outskirts of town. Ho applied to President Jones for an armed guard to accompany accom-pany him. The guard was not avail able Just at tho time, and President Jones Informed the ambassador that he was unablo to comply with his request. re-quest. The Frenchman became maddened mad-dened and excited when his request mot with refusal, Mrs. Jones said. He exclaimed as he left the president's presence in a huff: "I hopo a d Indian will kill me, Then see what France will do." The ambassador went on his ride alono and returned safely. Dr. Jones, the last prosldont of tho Toxas republic, was a natlvo of Massachusetts. Massa-chusetts. Ho came to Texas In 1833, beforo tho new republic was born, and located at Drnzorla. He soon became prominent In tho political affairs of tho country after Independence from Mexico was gained. Ho was n member of tho Texas congress In 1838, and that samo year he was appointed minister min-ister to tho United States from Texas. Ho represented this ropubllo at Washington Wash-ington for two years nnd returned to his home to fill tho oftlce ot senator, to, which ho had been olectod. Tho scat ot government was moved from Austin to Washington, Tex., In 1842, whllo Dr. Jones was presldont. Ho named tho exccutlvo mansion at Washington Harrington, in honor of Great Harrington, Mass., tho placo of his nativity. Dr. Jonos dlod la 1858. His widow lived for somo tlmo In Galveston, nnd In 1879 sho moved to Houston, whero she has since resided. The early llfo of this romarltabla woman, beforo her marrlago to Dr. Jonos, was full of advonturo and excitement ex-citement She was born In Lawrenco county, Arkansas, and was tho eldest child ot John C. and Sarah Smith. Her father dlod In 1827. In 1833 sho accompanied ac-companied her mothor on an ovorlnnd trip from Arkansas to Toxas, and whon they reached Urazorla county they Joined Austin's colony. When word reached them that Gen. Santa Anna and his Moxlcan army wero advancing upon tho colony they made a hurried lllght with othor settlers to the eastern east-ern part of Texas. When they learned that Gen. Sam Houston's forces wero victorious at tho battlo ot San Jacinto tho mother and daughter returned to their homo which had been mado desolate deso-late by the Invading forces, |