History Happy Hour: Jeremy B. Jones
Tue, Nov 04
|Center for Pioneer Life
Cipher by Jeremy B. Jones uncovers the secret life of the author’s ancestor, whose coded 19th-century diaries reveal a world of hidden passions, intellectual obsessions, and uncomfortable truths. Through this family story, Jones explores legacy, identity, and the messy roots of Southern history.
Time & Location
Nov 04, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Center for Pioneer Life, 134 Joe Young Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714, USA
About the event
Join us for History Happy Hour on Tuesday, November 4th at 6:30 PM as author Jeremy B. Jones discusses his newest book, Cipher. The book follows the discovery and decoding of his ancestor’s 19th-century diaries—hidden in plain sight in a condemned North Carolina house. These hand-sewn notebooks reveal the private life of William Thomas Prestwood, a farmer whose coded entries detail everything from planetary orbits and forbidden romances to encounters with historical figures like Zebulon Vance. Jones combines memoir, investigative research, and lyrical storytelling to unravel a complex Southern past—and the deeper story of what we inherit. Don’t miss this powerful evening of history, mystery, and reflection.
Jeremy is the author of the forthcoming nonfiction book Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries (Blair, 2025) as well as the memoir Bearwallow: A Personal History of a Mountain Homeland (Blair, 2014). Bearwallow was named the 2014 Appalachian Book of the Year in nonfiction…
