Jones M. Williams fought with great valor in the War Between the Sates, he being with Gen. Robert E. Lee's army in Virginia.   Williams was present when Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. U. S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia.  He returned to his home and was elected State Senator from the Barwell District of South Carolina.  Sen. Williams was an extensive cotton planter and resided at his plantation on Briar Creek.  It was sometimes referred to as Briar Creek Plantation.  Minutes of the Barnwell Baptist Association show that he was appointed General Chariman for the Barnwell Baptist Association from Great Salkehatchie Church in 1860.  He also served on the committee to revise the Constitution of the Association in 1867.  That same year as General Chairman of the Convention, he reported great destitution "in our land and lack of means to procure a much needed Missionary in our district."  During his service as Gen. Chairman of the Association, he finished paying for the publication of the History of the Barnwell Association and its Churches by the Reverend L. H. Shuck, the first Missionary to China.  Minutes of the Barnwell Baptist Association in 1877 reflect "the Association sustained another loss in the death of Jones M. Williams, for many years a chairman of the General Convention and one of its wisest and safest counsellors."

He was an executor of his father’s estate. Received four slaves from father’s estate. He ran a horse racetrack.  The sport of the day was horse racing with gambling a major part of it. Several planters had their own racetracks. Jones M. Williams racetrack had a mahogany rail around it. Rumor has it the doorknobs in their home were of silver. He was an influential and wealthy man. He inherited from his father 300 acres called the Williams Estate. His name appears in the deed records buying and selling in Barnwell County many, many times.  In 1851 Jones M. Williams sold 132 acres which had once belonged to his grandfather Wilson Williams: For purpose of obtaining a new grant for himself-It being a part of a tract of 640 acres granted to Wilson Williams in 1806 on Wells Branch. The Jones M. plantation contained 3,735 acres when he died. He is included in the Biographical Directory of the Senate of SC 1776-1964. It states: Jones M. Williams, Senator from Barnwell County, the son of John Williams. Extensive cotton planter of Briar Creek Plantation, Barnwell District. Married Rebecca T. Priester, who died in 1908. Commissioner of free schools, Magistrate. Commissioner of Roads. Soldier’s Board of  Relief 1862-1864. SC Senate, Barnwell Co. 1876-77. Member Great Salkehatchie Baptist Church. General chairman for Barnwell Baptist Association 1867. As chairman finished paying for publication of History of the Association and Its Churches by the Rev. Lewis H. Shuck. Died in office as Senator February 14, 1877 in Barnwell County. Buried in Great Salkehatchie Cemetery, in Ulmers. Two of Jones slaves were members of the Salkehatchie Church. Jones was Junior Warden when the Masonic Lodge at Buford’s Bridge was organized. It was later moved to Jennys, and Loadholts Mill, then to Fairfax, SC. In 1850 he donated for the preacher. His wife was excluded from Great Salkehatchie. Jones gave property for Allen Chapel Baptist Church in 1856 near Ulmers on the Barnwell Road. This church still stands and is used today. Most of his lands was around the Ulmers area (Wells Branch, Jackson Branch, Big Salkehatchie.)  This area was called the Great Cypress. He left his widow and children well taken care of.