In March 1853 Jones was instrumental in the foundation of Harrison County, Iowa as a county commissioner. He determined the location of the county seat of Magnolia and platted that town as well.[8] In May 1853 he was employed as the surveyor of Council Bluffs, Iowa.[9]
In the fall of 1853 Jones crossed the Missouri River to stake a claim that he called "Park Wilde". He was accompanied by Thomas Allen and William Allen, and their claims were allowed to stand by the local Indian agent before a treaty was signed with the local tribes in possession of the land.[10]
Early in 1854 Jones spoke with William D. Brown, suggesting that a city be built on the land he claimed in Nebraska Territory.[11] In the June 1854, after the creation of the Nebraska Territory, the Council Bluffs and Omaha Ferry Company including Brown hired Jones to conduct the first survey of Omaha City. Omaha was founded on July 4, 1854. Immediately after that Jones became Omaha's first postmaster, operating out of the city's first store, called the "Big 6", which was a general store/saloon located on the north side of Chicago Street west of 13th Street in present-day Downtown Omaha every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evening, shortly after the arrival of the stage. Jones used his stovepipe hat to deliver the mail from.[12]
Later in July 1854 Jones became instrumental in the establishment of the vigilante Omaha Claim Club. Two settlers argued in a dispute between two settlers who claimed the same land. When both parties agreed he was a fair judge, they allowed him to determine the outcome, and were satisfied with the outcome. Soon thereafter a meeting was held and the claim club was created and Jones was named the secretary of the club. Within a month he was the official judge of the club, and was called Judge Jones by many for the rest of his life.[13] Jones is also credited with writing the first "Pass-book Code", or rule book, which governed the actions of the Omaha Claim Club's posse throughout its existence.[2]
In 1859 Jones participated in the citizens' committee of Omaha that called upon the federal government to build the first transcontinental railroad across the Platte River Valley of Nebraska.[14] This effort eventually led to the establishment of the Union Pacific Railroad headquarters in Omaha.
In a speech to the territorial legislature in opposition to a territorial bank law, he said he would like to have on his gravestone the words "Here lies an honest man who voted against Wild Cat Banks in Nebraska."[15] Jones died in Omaha on August 30, 1902.[4][16]
Legacy
Aside from the success of the cities he platted, Jones Street in Omaha was named in tribute to him.[15]
^"Early Post Office"Archived October 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Early Omaha: Gateway to the West. Omaha Public Library. Retrieved September 17, 2007. – Includes historic photo of Jones.
