Minnesota 1858

David Jones is describe as "...a prominent citizen and well-to-do farmer of Shakatan township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, and resides on section 11."  A fairly lengthy account can be found in "Illustrated Album of Biography of Southwestern Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa - 1889."

His family story is given, and best I can tell he arrives Winnebago county, Wisconsin around 1850.  Interesting story given here.  He has to be one of the earliest JONES to the Minnesota area.  Any descendants out there?

The reference is taken from: Jones Journeys, Vol. 4, 1976, pp.43 - 45.

California 1850

The California gold fields attracted many to this part of the world.  For those with JONES surname it seemed to be so.  The index to the 1850 census reveals that every county except San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties had numerous Jones.  They were from many different places including : NY, VA, KY, VT, NJ, MO, OH, ME, DE, PA, MI, WI, CT, IL, MA, LA, TN, AL, MS, GA, IN, Wales, Great Britain, Ireland,  Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Mexico, and Canada.  What a melting pot indeed.  A real set of brick walls for those tree climbers.

The earliest Jones I could find in the Marriages of Sonoma Co., dated 10 Oct 1847.  It shows a William J. Reynolds marriage to Isabella Jones.  Isabella is a name appearing in my own family tree.  At any rate, you can begin to understand the web of branches that this state provides.

Source: Jones Journeys, Vol. 10, p. 639, under "Sonoma County, California, Marriages 1844 - 1860".  The 1850 census is given in  Jones Journeys, Vol. 6, pp 40-41 and p. 65 , and also found in Vol. 16, pp. 1548 - 1551.

Wisconsin 1848

The French were the first to settle this area in 1717.  After the French and Indian War, it became part of the British Empire until after the American Revolution when it became part of the Northwest Territory.  In 1800 it became part of the Indiana Territory, and a stream of northern European immigrants began to arrive from the 1830s.  It was April 4, 1832 that a Miles Jones married a Sally Crane at Jefferson, Ft. Atkinson.  You would know that a Jones would have to be among the early folks to arrive.  In 1841 Milwaukee, Julie B. Jones married Samuel I. Brooks [27 Sept] and Martha Jones married David Griffin [20 Jul].  The Wisconsin Territory was organized in 1836, and a state was formed 1848.  New places to land and settle, those Jones were.  Any folks out there related?

References taken from: Jones Journeys, Vol. 13, 1985 - 1986,  pp.1059 - 1061 titled "Wisconsin Records".

Iowa 1846

Before Iowa became a State of the Union 1846, there is recorded a marriage between William S. Jones and Mary Legerd, 3 May, 1841.  This was located in Davis County, Iowa as recorded by Benton County, Iowa; Western Hist. Co., Chicago 1878.  This reference is taken from a submission to Jones Journeys, Vol. 12, Nov. 1984, p. 926 by Trudy Belcher.  Under "Davis County, Iowa, Marriages" it is listed. [Not sure when Davis Co. Iowa was officially formed?]  This is the earliest date that I have been able to discover for a Jones family.  In the 1850 census of Iowa, there are 20 Jones families listed among the counties that had been established.  There was even a "Jones County" with 4 Jones families recorded. [Isaac Jones (age 40) being born in TN is the oldest.]  Does anyone know the history of this "Jones County, Iowa".  Please post!

Texas 1845

The Mexican municipality it was called prior to 1836.  It is recorded that Eli Jones came to Texas in the fall of 1836, settling in Montgomery county.  Montgomery Co. is said to be created 1837 from Washington Co., that was formed from the Mexican municipality in 1836/37.  At any rate, Eli was a member of the "minute company" which was involved in early Texas military activity. [Remember the Alamo 1836!]

Marriage records show that a Sarah Jones m. Albert Gallatin 23 Oct. 1837 [Washington Co.], and that a Allen Jones m. Morias Stone 3 Jul. 1838 [Montgomery Co.]  Many other Jones marriages appear between 1838 - 1842.  All these are before Texas becomes a state in 1845.  Any JONES families related out there?  Bet there are lots of stories here.

References:

Jones Journeys, Vol. I, August 1973, p. 31-32.
Jones Journeys, Vol. 13, August 1985, p.1036.

Florida 1845

On March 3, 1845, Florida was the twenty-seventh State to be admitted to the Union.  The Spanish word "florida" means "blooming" and was named by those early Spanish explorers Ponce de Leon, De Narvaez, and De Soto. 

The first JONES to be recorded appear in the 1840 census of Florida.  Not sure why it is recorded as the 1840 census, but Washington Co., Jackson Co., and Columbia Co., Florida are listed with the JONES surname.

They are as follows:     Washington Co., FL  Jonah Jones , Jonathan Jones, Wiley Jones

                                      Jackson Co., FL  Samuel Jones, J.S. Jones, Kindred Jones, Jonathan Jones,
                                                                  William Jones

                                      Columbia Co., FL   Keziah Jones, Heary Jones, Thomas Jones

There is no indication which Jones was actually the first to settle the area.  The reference is found in Jones Journeys, Vol. 2, 1974, p. 10 and p. 78.

Anyone out there who knows the story of this 1840 census of Florida?  Please post...:-).

                                     

Michigan 1837

The village and township of Warren was settled at the earliest day of the Michigan Territory.  The first town meeting was April 3, 1837, and low and behold, one of the "Commissioners of Highways" was Northrup Jones.  [This would be part of Detroit now a days?]

The 1830 census of the Michigan Territory list a "Thomas Johns", "Barney Jones", "John Jones", "Avery Jones", as well as "Northrup Jones".  It may be that one of these folks were in the settlement area first? 

Northrup is a fairly unusual first name, but does appear as a surname.  Suspect that Northrup is a material surname family group.  Any relatives out there.