FRANK JONES AND
ELIZABETH WILMOT (WORTH) JONES

Page 5 of 7

Lizzie's memory of how Frank came to Nebraska:

"Jim and Jennie Jacksons moved up to the sandhills of Nebraska and Frank followed them. Their mother died when they was young. Frank was little a bit older than Jennie. So that's one reason always seemed to want to be together."

I haven't been able to find Frank in the 1910 census. There may be several reasons why he hasn't been found, including a terribly misspelled name, visiting friends or family in another state, maybe the census taker stopped by, no one was home and he forgot to return later or the clerk who copied the information from the census taker's notes to the official form accidentally skipped his name. Whether it is a coincidence or not, I also have not been able to find his father, John Jones, in the 1910 census. Perhaps John and Frank were together and were missed. 

Jennie and Jim Jackson lived in the Weissert / Comstock area of Custer county Nebraska. When their father wrote to Frank and Jennie separately in December of 1911[1] and February of 1912[2], both letters were addressed to them at Weissert, Nebraska.  The letters told about his health and asked Frank to come see him or send money. On 4 June 1912 their father died at the soldiers home in Leavenworth, Kansas. A letter dated 5 June 1912[3] was sent to Jennie at Comstock, telling of his death and plans for his funeral. He was buried the next day. It is doubtful either Frank or Jennie were able to attend the funeral, given the short notice. His personal effects were sent to Frank on 29 July 1912[4], no address given.

In April of 1913, Frank purchased land in Custer county, Nebraska[5]. A 1904 atlas shows I. W. Waynick as the owner of the land Frank bought in 1913 from Waynick's daughter, Sue (Waynick) Valentine. The legal description of the land is: South West quarter of section 3, township 18 North, range 18 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian, containing 160 acres. This land is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Highway 183 and the road to Comstock, county road 21C. Frank paid $3,400 for the 160 acres, which was $21.25 an acre.

While he lived on the farm near Comstock, a tornado came through and destroyed his crops. Stories we've heard through the years differ, so we don't know if he lost the house or not. As Lizzie remembered hearing about it, "They had a tornado. He was so mad, had a chicken fried (on the stove) and didn't get to have that chicken."

On 12 September 1918, Frank registered for the World War I draft[6]. He was not drafted. According to the registration card, he was 40 years old and his address was Comstock, Nebraska. He listed his nearest relative as Jennie Jackson, whose address he gave as Harrop, Loup county, Nebraska. He was described as medium height and build, blue eyes and light colored hair. 

In about 1919 Frank moved to Loup county and bought the place his children and grandchildren knew as the Jones ranch. In the 1920[7] census, Frank's nearest neighbors were Perry Dye, John Strohl and George Worth. He was 42 years old and single. Frank lived two miles east of the Worth family. And at some point, he walked around the corner of a house, smoking a pipe, and saw equally single Lizzie Worth. Was it love at first sight? Well, we'll never know, unless another grandchild has "the rest of the story" and they'd like to share it.

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[1] John Jones (Leavenworth, Kansas) to "Dear Son Frank" [Frank Jones], letter, 1 page, 6 December 1911; Privately held by a descendant of Gerald Jones, 1980s.

[2] John Jones (Leavenworth, Kansas) to "Dear Daughter Jennie" [Jennie (Jones) Jackson], letter, 1 page, 20 February 1912; Privately held by a descendant of Gerald Jones, 1980s.

[3] Capt. E. A. Waterhouse, (National Military Home, Kansas) to Mrs. Jennie Jackson, letter, 1 page, 5 June 1912; Privately held by a descendant of Gerald Jones, 1980s.

[4] "U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers 1866-1938," online database with images, John Jones, p. 12257,  Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 June 2007); citing NARA Microfilm Pub. M1749, Dept Vet. Affairs, Record Group 15,Washington, D.C

[5] Custer County, Nebraska, "Deed Record No. 66," p, 384, Valentine to Jones, 7 April 1913; County Clerk's Office, Broken Bow.

[6] "U. S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed‎June ‎23, ‎2009), Frank Jones, order no. A-274, Draft board 9, Custer County, Nebraska; citing NARA M1509, roll 1711523.

[7] 1920 Census, Loup County, Nebraska, population schedule, Sawyer Precinct, ED 203, sheet 1A, dwelling 7, family 7, F. F. Jones; image, Ancestry.com(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 Jan 2006); NARA publication publication T625, Roll 997.