North Dakota 1889

Dakota Territory it was until 1889. [Also considered part of Louisiana and Minnesota Territories.]  The Dakota word means "Allied", and those who arrived here would certainly need to work together to get through their winters.

An 1870 Census record of this Dakota Territory shows a few folks with the surname JONES. [Thirteen head of households to be exact.]  Four were listed as "soldier" [31%], five were listed as "farmer" [38%], two were listed as "carpenter" [15%], and one was named "laborer".  The females in the households were given as "housewf."   The birthplaces of these folks were from Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Canada, Georgia, Missouri, Maryland, England, and of course Wales.  It would seem that an Alexander Jones and his wife Jane had a child name Carry who's age was listed as "4".  It gives her as being born in "Dakota", which would have placed these folks here 1866.  A carpenter old Alexander was listed, and this activity would certainly have been important.  Brave folks indeed they were.

Montana 1889

From the Spanish meaning "mountain", this Dakota Territory became the 40th State of the Union.
Yellowstone River passes through the area, and in its very beginning was considered part of Louisiana, Missouri, and Nebraska Territories.

There does not appear to be many that carried the surname JONES in this early period.  Montana's "Nez Perce" Jones gets most of the attention.  His name was John Henry Jones and is reported to have been born in Jasper County, MO. around 1844.  He arrived to Montana around 1860 with his eyes on prospecting.  As the story is told by W.W. Moses in the Kalispell Times, Feb. 20, 1930, his experience with the Indian tribes of the area lead them to believe he was "very bad medicine" and left him strictly alone.  His name was given by the Nez Perce Indians and the story of his life is given in Jones Journeys, Vol.10,  pp.568-571.  He is reported to have lived to the age of 82.

Well how about that...any know the story?

Washington 1889

Early as 1811, folks began the settlement to a new territory, called the Washington Territory.  Using the Colombia River they expanded their activities which at first clustered with Oregon and Louisiana Territories.

An interesting set of information can be found in the Census of 1880 for this territory. [Not sure if there are official records prior to this census?]  Enough folks must have joined together, for some nine years later they became a State of the Union.  At any rate, this census contains a fair number of families with the surname JONES.  It listed each family member by name, their age, their place of birth, and the location of their parents place of birth.  Using those identified as being born in the Washington Territory, I tired to figure out who might be the earliest JONES family.  For example, there was in Wahkiakum Co.,  a John Jones listed as "boarder, fisherman".  His age was given at 26, and it was documented that he was born Washington Territory.  This would place [at least his mother] present 1854.  This was the oldest JONES born in the Territory listed in the 1880 census.  A variety of occupations including "works in mill", "laborer", "farmer", "tinsmith", "housekeeper", "merchant", "employee", "stock herder", and "coal miner".  There were those born in Wales, England, Ireland, Finland, British Colombia, and Hamberg.   Multiple states of the Union are listed as place of birth [for both father and mother].  These states included OH, IA, NY, IN, MO, TN, VA, PA, MA, OR, IL, WI, VT and of course KY.  What a group of folks it is.

The information is taken from Jones Journeys, Vol. 16, 1988 - 1989, pp. 1474-1476.  It is titled "Washington Territory, Census of 1880".

Colorado 1876

The Hillside Cemetery, Silverton, San Juan County seems to be one of the earliest burial places for those with the surname JONES.  An account in The Jones Journeys [Vol.18, No. 3, 1833 - 1835] gives the story.  States this area was first settled in 1874.  The major activity was mining, and many of the early folks were involved in this activity.    It is recorded on p. 1835 [The Jones Journeys] that a Louisa Jones [Mrs. W.W. Jones] died 31 August 1892.  A tall stone with a fenced enclosure  surrounds a marker inscription written in Welsh.  A Henry Jones died 13 July 1897, at 46 years of age.  He is recorded as being born at Brithdir, North Wales, and the inscription of his marker was in Welsh.  It would seem that a fair number of Welsh mining folks made their way to Colorado.

Nebraska 1867

It was just after the close of the American Civil War that folks moved their wagons past Chimney Rock to settle in this new territory called Nebraska.  The name meaning 'water-valley', it was form out of the Louisiana and Nebraska territories.  The 1860 Census list at least 45 households that registered an individual with the surname JONES. [Jones Journeys, Vol. 15, 1987 - 1988, pp. 1395-1397.]  There were folks from all over the map, including a fair number from Wales, England, and Ireland.  There were farmers, clerks, carpenters, druggist, servants, teamsters, postmasters, domestics, land agents, millwights, miners, traders, and wagon makers.  There were folks from NY, NJ, PA, OH, IN, IA, IL, MO, and VT. [Mostly Northern ]  There were a few from VA, and MO [southern states] , and several from KY and MD [neutral states].  What a mixture it was.

Douglas Co. Marriage records reveal an Anney Jones (age 18) to have married Nelson Brown on 12 Apr 1857.  A James A. Jones marries a Margrata Sheldon on 2 Sept 1857. [Jones Journeys, Vol. 18, 1990-1991, p. 1783.]  These Jones were active in Nebraska Territory a decade before it became a State in the Union.

Nevada 1864

The 37th state that was to be formed comes from Spanish that means  "Snow-Covered Mountains".  It was admitted to the Union, October 31, 1864.  Interesting enough, it is one of only two states not to have a person with the JONES surname among the pages of Jones Journeys. [Published 1973 - 1992]  No early JONES discussed in these 19 volumes that I can discover.  Does anyone have a source or record of an early JONES family in Nevada?  Please post any information in the comment section below.

West Virginia 1863

Strong opposition to secession lead a group of folks in the western parts of Virginia to withdraw from this state.  These folks were so opposed to separating from the Union, they joined together forming a new state called "West" Virginia.  Prior to 1863, this geographic area had been part of  Virginia, and the first folks to settle there were in counties of Virginia.  Hampshire Co. seems to be the first form in 1754, officially out of Augusta which was formed 1745.

The first Jones listed in this county was on 9 December 1757.  Gabriel Jones, whose wife was listed as Margaret of the city of Augusta leased lot #52 containing 200 acres upon Wappeomo or Great South Branch of Potomac to a George Hoge of the city of Hampshire.  This was recorded in Hampshire records 13 Dec 1757.  "Ja. Keith" and "H. Churchill" were given as witness. 

Reference is taken from Jones Journeys, Vol 8, p.333.  It is recorded as being taken from Early Records of Hampshire County, Va, by Clara McCormack Sage & Laura Sage Jones, 1976.  [There would have to be a Jones in the mix.]