Jacob K. Jones

JACOB K. JONES. Among the earlier settlers of Kansas, we find the name of Jacob K. Jones, a former well known citizen of Cherokee County. A native of Tennessee, he was born April 18, 1829. His death occurred August 15, 1899, on his farm at Badger mines where he had lived for many years.

Mr. Jones belonged to the good, old Southern family of Jones, so well known in Tennessee. His parents, William B. and Nancy Jones, were born and reared in the vicinity in which they passed their lives. The father was born August 5, 1790, and the mother, February 29, 1792. In the old home were born eight children as follows: Solomon H., born April 16, 1813; Mary B., born August 6, 1815; Henry D., born November 21, 1817; Margaret Ann, born November 29, 1819, who still lives in Tennessee; Catherine K., born February 22, 1822; John F., born April 1, 1824; Elizabeth E., born August 29, 1826; and Jacob K. The father died September 9, 1837, and the mother's death occurred on March 16, 1843.

Jacob K. Jones received an unusually good schooling for the time in which he lived. The death of his parents occurred when he was quite young, he became apprenticed to a brickmason. After learning the trade, he followed it as an occupation until he located in Missouri, shortly before the Civil War. In 1862 he gave up his home in Missouri, to find a better one in the West, and choosing Kansas as a good place to locate, he took up a homestead where the Badger mines were afterwards opened. After farming on this place for 10 years he moved to Brownville, Nebraska, where he spent another 10 years on a farm.

Mr. Jones was married September 1, 185O, to Sarah J. Bayless, who was born April 23, 1832. Her death occurred at Brownville, Nebraska, November 25, 1883. There were 10 children of this marriage, those who lived to maturity being as follows: William F., born July 7, 1851; John B., born January 7, 1853; Nancy E., born January 1, 1855; James R., born February 4, 1859; Wyatt B., born September 9, 1861; M. S. I., born November 20, 1864; Laura J., born November 17, 1866; and Jacob K., Jr., born July 24, 1870. Two died in childhood.

On July 3, 1884, the subject of this sketch married Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Meeks, a daughter of R. A. Robinson, of Independence, Missouri. She was born August 5, 1852, coming from the old Kentucky family of Robinson. Her children by a former marriage are,—Laura Belle, born February 15, 1874, now Mrs. Andrew Tolliver, of Pittsburg, Kansas; Charles W., born December 3, 1875, living at the Badger mines; and Nettie May, wife of David M. Haynes, of the Badger mines. The children of her marriage to Mr. Jones are: Solomon LeRoy, born May 15, 1885; Ethel B., born August 16, 1887; Fred B., born September 19, 1889; and Henry Arthur, born November 7, 1891.

Mr. Jones was a Democrat, and stood for the principles of the party at all times. Fraternally, he affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. In his church relations, he was a consistent Baptist. Of Southern birth, Mr. Jones possessed all the good qualities of a Southern gentleman, and his kindness of heart and uprightness of character made for him many friends. His generosity and open hospitality, natural traits of the Southerner, made all feel welcome who came within his gates.

On July 3, 1900, Mrs. Jones married George B. Rollins, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who was born January 7, 1865. His mother died when he was 13 years of age, and he went to Iowa, where he was employed on a farm for three years. Later, having learned the carpenter's trade, he worked at it in various places until his marriage.

Mrs. Rollins is a consistent member of the Christian Church. She still lives on the farm, and with her husband manages the work on the place. The land produces all the small grains, and large numbers of cattle and Poland China hogs are raised on it for the market.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, transcribed by Amanda Young, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 12-20-96.