 |
| Roger Sherman Jones Central City, Nebraska |
On the 7th of October, 1875, in Merrick County, Nebraska, Sherman was 23 years old and applied for a license to marry Stella Brinkerhoff, age 16. The license was not issued. As the bride was under age, perhaps her father, Daniel W. Brinkerhoff, would not consent to the marriage? Or did something else happen to prevent it? Sadly, it seems likely that she is the Stella Brinkerhoff who married I. N. Deitrick and died of consumption (tuberculosis) at age 22 in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory in 1881. Her four month old son, Guy, died later the same year.
The 1880 census shows Roger S. Jones, single and a farmer, in Midland Precinct, Merrick County. He is the head of his household. His parents are living with him.
On the 14th of June, 1882, Roger S. Jones completed an affidavit for a homestead, sworn to before the Clerk of District Court of Merrick County. In his affidavit he testified that "I am an unmarried man, and a citizen of the United States, that I am residing on the within described land, that I make this application before the undersigned officer on account of distance from U.S. Land Office." The parcel of land he chose was the North West quarter of Section 24 in Township 14 North of Range 7 West. He paid a filing fee of $18.00.
Homestead application files provide a wealth of information and insight into the lives of those who filed under the Homestead Act. Roger S. Jones "named witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land".
 |
| The Central City Nonpareil 30 April 1885 |
Two of the witnesses, A.O. King, farmer and butcher residing in Central City, Nebraska and Charles Reynolds, farmer, Merrick County, Nebraska gave written testimony in support of this homestead application. They testified that Roger S. Jones was unmarried and his parents lived with him, that he had lived continuously on the land 7 or 8 years, his dwelling was a 1 1/2 story frame house, "14 x 24 and 14 x 18", and other improvements included a frame stable 14 x 32, a granary 12 x 16, corn crib 24 x 32, corral, trees, and fences valued at $2000.
Roger gave testimony on his own behalf stating on the 16th of June, 1885, he was age 32 and single, his address was Central City Post Office, his house was built "last year", his homestead had 10 acres of trees and 60 acres were fenced. He also stated "my father and mother live with me". He was granted a patent for his land 20 January 1886 by President Grover Cleveland. An image of the patent can be viewed here in the General Land Office Records of the Bureau of Land Management. The full application file can be viewed with an Ancestry.com subscription.
Also, in 1885, the Nebraska census shows Roger S. Jones living with his brother's family in adjacent Boone County where they are both in the general merchandise business. At that time the same census shows his parents living with Ida Andrews, still in Merrick County (Midland Township). I have wondered why Ida Andrews was listed as niece in Elias Jones' household. Perhaps Roger/Sherman was in the midst of moving to Boone County during June of 1885, or maybe he was splitting his time between two households, but spending the majority of his time with his brother getting their general merchandise business going. Did the census taker list Ida as niece of the owner of the house (Roger) rather than granddaughter of Elias? Or maybe Roger was present with Elias, Annis and Ida to answer the census questions.
Elias died about 1888. According to Ida's obituary and biography, Ida and Annis moved in the spring of 1888 to Box Butte County, Nebraska, where B. F. Jones had a store. They lived in rooms above the store. Ida married in 1889 and eventually Annis moved back to Central City to live with son, Roger.
A plat map of Township 14 N Range 7 W, Archer, Merrick County, Published in 1899 shows the land Roger S. Jones homesteaded was then owned by R. F. Jones.
In 1900 Sherman Jones is living in Central City and working as a carpenter. Annis is living with him.
The last record I have of Roger Sherman Jones is when he provided information for his mother's death certificate in May, 1906. What happened to him after that? Did he join his brother or stay in Nebraska? He has no descendants so no one to look for him.
One day soon I plan to make a stop in Central City to look for land and probate records for Elias and Roger. Did Elias buy land when he first moved to Merrick County? Is he buried next to his wife in the Prairie Creek Baptist Cemetery? Are their graves marked? Does a will or probate file exist that names Ida and her relationship to the family? So many questions. Maybe I can also find an obituary for Elias. I can hardly wait to get there!
