Jennison Paul Jones Jefferson County History of Montana, Sanders, 1913 The late Jennison Paul Jones, for twenty six years a resident of Montana and for more than a dozen years one of the most highly esteemed ranch owners of Jefferson County was a native of Michigan. His paternal ancestry was Welsh and his maternal ancestral line was of the Pennsylvania German division of early immigrants. Jeremiah R. Jones, his father, was a shoemaker who also conducted a small farm on which he and his wife, Ann (Rote) Jones settled in Michigan. There they lived until the close of their lives and there they reared their eight children, of whom Jennison was one. He was born near Mottvile Michigan on January 10, 1854. Reared to hard work, Jennison Paul Jones received limited educational advantages, his farm duties permitting him to attend the country school for only a few months each year. In the performance of the modest agricultural tasks of the parental homestead he remained in his native locality until he had passed his majority and had reach the age of twenty three. As an early settler n that country which was then new and comparatively unsettled, Jennison purchased a small farm in Cherokee County Kansas and soon afterward established his home upon it. After his marriage he continued his rural residence in that state for about ten years. In 1886 he sold his Cherokee County property and in March he arrived in Montana. Mr. Jones' first location in this state was near Burlington, Silver Bow County, where he was engaged in teaming and in supplying lumber by contract, for use in connection with the mining of that region. For about seven years he successfully followed this business. He and his family then removed to a new home near Virginia City where he again followed teaming activities for three years. At the end of that time another move was made, Whitehall being the objective point of this change. After two years of teaming here he purchased the tract of land which became his permanent home. This property which he secured from Samuel Wade is two miles from Whitehall and he became its possessor in July 1898. As a landholder and in the pursuit of agricultural and horticultural purposes in connection there with, Mr. Jones achieved a most substantial and reputable position in the county. While Jennison P. Jones was a self-made man, he was fortunate in the selection of a wife whose exceptional intelligence, thrift and wise counsel contributed much toward his success. Emma D. Gillespie Jones was a daughter of John S. and Esther B. (Moses) Gillespie who were formerly residents of Pennsylvania but who had before their marriage located in Illinois. During their residence near Bloomington in the latter state on December 6, 1856, the daughter was born whom they named Emma and who lived to become Mrs. Jones. Both in Illinois and in Kansas John S. Gillespie was prominent in the affairs of the localities in which he lived. The people of Cherokee County made him their representative to the State Legislature and in that capacity he served with ability and distinction. Mr. Gillespie now resides in White Tail Park, Montana. Mrs. Gillespie died when the latter was but four years old. The Gillespie-Jones marriage took place on December 31, 1882. The children who were born are three daughters and one son. Miss Anna Mabel Jones is the superintendent of the hospital department of the State Orphans Home at Twin Bridges Montana. John Richard has charge of the operations on the home ranch. Miss Grace and her small sister Esther Bertha are still in their mother's care. Mr. Jones passed from the visible earthly life of men to the existence of that unseen world in which he so fully believed on June 27, 1912, leaving behind him many wholesome and beneficent memories. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.