Utah 1896

East coast to West coast came together here in 1896.  A Thomas Jones seems to have arrived before 1890, Salt Lake City, where his 9th child was born 17 May, 1890.  He is recorded as being the son of Thomas and Mary Jones of Cardiff, Wales where his prior 8 children were born starting 1876.  He died 11 October 1909 Salt Lake City, and is buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  Ten children total were born.  There must be a lot of descendants beginning here.  Any folks connected?

Taken from: Jones Journeys, Vol. 8, 1980, p. 309.

Wyoming 1890

 Among those other States joining the Union between 1889-1890 [North and South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho] Wyoming is the only one during this period not to have recorded one family with the JONES surname.  That is at least from the Jones Journeys reference that has been the source for all previous post.  It is unclear why this should be the case, but anyone with thoughts out there please commit.  Does anyone have a JONES family from Wyoming?

Idaho 1890

Very little seems to be recorded involving the JONES surname early in the history of Idaho.  In Jones Journeys, there appears to be only one family found relating to this state which was formed 1890.  A Stephen Jones who was born 16 January 1812 in Hickman, Tennessee.  It is stated that he and his second wife [Isabelle Jane Jones] came to Idaho from Arkansas and homesteaded north of Weiser on Manna Creek.  He died Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho 4 April 1895.  This Stephen and his 1st wife Jane are reported to have 11 children, and with his second wife Isabell, he had 9 children.  Can you imagine 20 children!  Wonder if this is where the "Idaho Potato" had its roots?

From: Jones Journeys, Vol. 14, 1986 - 1987, p. 1298.

South Dakota 1889

Formed a new state the same year as North Dakota, the expansion of the country  continued.  The Homestead Act of 1862 provided incentive for the the grants of land to railway companies, and laws providing for the quick sale of timber and mineral lands lead to rapid settlement.  Farmers, miners, prospectors, cattlemen and lumbermen, with or without families poured into the Western territories.

For the JONES surname, Thomas J. Jones of South Dakota was one of the early folks.  It is given that in 1850 he was born in Wales, but brought to the States by his parents when only two years of age.  He grew up in Wisconsin.  He married Mary Ellen Morris in 1879 and moved to Aurora County, S.D.  Farming became his occupation.  No date of death is recorded.  Any folks out there related?

Taken from: Jones Journeys, Vol. VII, p. 220.  It is stated that this information is from: Compendium of Local Biography - Central South Dakota.

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".