Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Jones, William H. May 28, 1841 - May 5, 1905
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 11:27 am

Author: 

Progressive Men of Western Colorado



     Born with a resolute and self-reliant spirit rather than to favoring

circumstances and opportunities, and reared through the hard school of stern and

relentless necessity to habits of industry and thrift, with but little chance to

get mental training and book learning in the schools provided for the purpose,

William H. Jones was essentially a self-made man, and by his inherent qualities

of manhood, progressiveness and general adaptability he rose to prominence in

his locality and found many ways of being useful to his community.  He was a

native of Washington county, Tennessee, whose life began on May 28, 1841, and

the son of John B. and Elizabeth (Martin) Jones, also natives of Tennessee, who

found their final earthly home in Iowa, where the mother died in 1846 and the

father in 1848.  They were devout and serviceable Methodists and passed their

lives in diligent farming. The father was a Republican in political alliance and

active in the service of his party.  Twelve children were born to them, six of

whom are living, William H., Virginia, Marguerite, Mary, James and Samuel. 

Owing to the early death of his parents William was thrown on his own resources

long before “manhood darkened on his downy cheek.”  He was taken in charge by

relatives at Agency, near Ottumwa, Iowa, and as soon as he was able was put to

work on their farm.  When he determined to start out in life for himself, he

went to Missouri, and after a short residence in that state moved to Illinois,

locating in McLean county in 1861.  There he passed five years in successful

farming, and in 1866 turned his attention to raising and dealing in stock

independently of other farming operations.  This line of enterprise he pursued

some time in Illinois, then changed his residence to near Hermitage, Hickory

county, Missouri, where he was engaged in tanning until 1878, and from then

until 1880 in various other occupations.  In the year last named he came to

Colorado, and during the next seven years followed mining for wages and on

leased properties at Lincoln City and Breckenridge.  In 1887 he became a

resident of Routt county, locating a portion of the present ranch on Trout creek

on a pre-emption claim, and afterward adding to its extent until it now

comprises three hundred and three acres, of which two hundred can be cultivated.

 The land was wholly uncultivated and unimproved when he located on it, given up

to its wild growth of sage brush and willows, and all that it shows in the way

of improvement and tillage is the result of his own continuous and judicious

industry.  Hay and cattle are the principal products, but there are also raised

good crops of grain and vegetables.  He was the second settler on the creek, and

while he was obliged to endure many of the privations incident to the life on

the distant frontier, he was never at a loss for food, as wild game was

plentiful and he became an unerring shot.  Politically he supported the

Democratic party.  On November 11, 1869, he united in marriage with Miss

Samantha McCoy, who died on November 21, 1903, leaving three of their four

children as her survivors, Russell, Harry and Nora E., the other one having died

in infancy.  Mr. Jones had the satisfaction of knowing that his success in life

was the result of his own powers and efforts, and that he had won it without the

aid of circumstances or other help of any kind.  He died on May 5, 1905, and was

buried May 6th at Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/jones420gbs.txt

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