Dr. T. H. & Mary Jane Jeffries with their adult children. Back row, left to right, Leroy, Lawson & Bertha Jeffries. Middle row, in unknown order, Donna Wormington, Emma Reese and Nolia Jones, all nee Jeffries. About 1890's.

Goodspeed's 1888 History of Barry County, Page 172

Dr. Thomas H. Jeffries, the oldest practicing physician and surgeon of Monett, Mo., was born in 1837 in Clinton County, Ky., and is a son of William and Clara (Lawson) Jeffries.  William Jeffries was of English descent, and was born in Tennessee in 1812.  He resided in his native state until after his marriage, when he removed to Clinton County, Ky., where he resided until 1856.  He then removed to Benton County, Ark., thence in 1863 to Lawrence County, Mo., coming to Barry County three years later.  Here he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1869.  His wife was born in Tennessee in 1813, and is still living.  She is the mother of twelve children, viz.: Nancy (deceased), John (a farmer in Arkansas), Joshua (of Washington County, Ark.), Sarah (wife of Hiram Cooper, of Barry County, Mo.), Susan (wife of John Gilham, of Barry County, Mo.), William (deceased), Lucetta (wife of Thomas Wells, of Barry County), James (of Barry County), Clara (wife of George Counts, of Madison County, Ark.), Victoria (wife of Alex. Fritz), Lawson (deceased) and Thomas H.  Our subject grew to manhood on his father’s farm in Kentucky, and in 1856 went to Benton County, Ark., coming to Barry County, Mo., in 1867.  He located at Corsicana, and established a drug store, and in 1870 began the study of medicine.  Three years later he commenced practicing his profession, at which he has since been actively engaged.  In 1877 he removed to Washburn, remaining until March, 1883, when he came to Plymouth, now Monett, where he has since resided.  His marriage with Mary J. Ricketts was celebrated in 1858, and to them have been born eight children: Caledonia (Mrs. H. Wormington), Leroy, Emma (Mrs. Frank Reece), Nolia (Mrs. Lloyd Jones), an infant deceased, Lawson, Bertha, and Clarence (deceased).  Mrs. Jeffries was born in Tennessee in 1839, and is a zealous member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  For the past five years Dr. Jeffries has, in connection with his practice, been engaged in the drug and grocery business.  Politically he is a Republican.  He is president of the board of councilmen of Monett, and is a Mason and Odd Fellow.

MonettTimes, About January 21, 1921

Mrs. T.H. Jeffries, age 81 years, died at her home 200 Main street at 11:20 o’clock, Wednesday night, January 19.  She had been an invalid for fifteen years.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 o’clock, Friday afternoon, January 21, at the home.  Internment will be made at Oakdale cemetery. Rev. J.F. King will have charge of the services.

Mary Jane Ricketts was born near Fosterville, Tenn., April 23, 1839.  She moved with her parents to Bentonville, Ark., when a child, going most of the way by boat.  She was married to Dr. T.H. Jeffries at Bentonville, October 27, 1858.

They were the parents of eight children, two of whom died in infancy.  The children surviving their parents are Mrs. J.H. Wormington, J.L. Jeffries and Miss Bertha Jeffries, of Monett; Leroy Jeffries and Mrs. F.N. Reese, of Cassville and Mrs. L. B. Jones of Neosho.  Two brothers survive her – Harvey Ricketts, of Pea Ridge, Ark., and Nack Ricketts, of Wyoming.

Dr. Jeffries, her husband, died August 12, 1902, and Mrs. Jeffries and Miss Bertha Jeffries had made their home together at the old home place since that time.

Mrs. Jeffries saw many hardships in her early life.  The family went to Arkansas in the early days and lived the frugal life of the pioneers.  She was a young mother during the Civil war and as her husband was drafted into the Confederate Army and later escaped to join the Union Army, she was left alone in the wilderness to care for her little ones.  She lived near the Pea Ridge battlefield, and saw many of the horrors of that terrible battle, and helped with here own hands to bury the dead.  She was a woman of great courage and resourcefulness and bravely did the duties that came to her.

After the war the family moved to Corsicana, Barry county, Mo., and later to Washburn.  They came to Plymouth Junction, now Monett, when the station was established and Mrs. Jeffries conducted a boarding house, while her husband practiced his profession and looked after business interests.  The older railroad men remember the excellent meals served by this industrious woman.

She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church for a number of years and was a good Christian woman.  She was firm in her faith and was ready and willing to go when death came.  He was a charter member of Monett Chapter Eastern Star No. 190.

She not only reared her own family but was a mother to several other children, caring for them the same as her own.

Through her long invalidism she never lost her remarkable courage and did not take to her bed until Christmas day, when the frail body refused longer to support her.

All her children were with her in her last hours and the end was quiet and peaceful.

The Jeffries Collection of Monett Photographs & Documents.

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