The name of James C. Jones is familiar to the stock-raising men of Colorado and Texas, Mr. Jones having spent much of his life in the latter State. He was born in Cannon County, in Middle Tennessee, August 12, 1841, where he lived with his parents until he was ten years of age. He attended school in his native town, when it was in session, and his physical condition would allow; for, when a boy, Mr. Jones had the misfortune not to appear entirely engrossed in storing up useful knowledge, and the schoolmaster spared not the rod. His father's name was Erasmus Jones, born in Virginia in 1799. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Kiddie Bond, a native of North Carolina, and born in 1805. From this union thirteen children were born, and the subject of this sketch was the fifth son and eleventh child. While Mr. Erasmus Jones resided in Tennessee, his house was always a hospitable one, and many a poorly paid minister was filled to repletion at his table, while frequently the meatless backbone of the chicken found its to James' plate. In 1851, his parents moved to Red River County, Texas. He resided there six years, attending school and working on a farm, preparing himself for the hard but successful life he has since followed. From Red River County his family moved to Park County, on the frontier of Texas. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he joined the Confederate army, serving under Gen. Tom Green until the close of the war. At this time he was without a dollar, and none too many clothes. But the experience he had had in early life served him to a good advantage. He had become familiar with the stock-raising business. In company with three brothers, he commenced raising cattle on shares in Texas, where he remained until 1870, though, in 1869, they brought a portion of their herd, at this time numbering 4,200 head, into Nine Mile Bottom, on the Purgatoire Creek, where he has remained until the present time. With painstaking care and watchfulness, together with purchases, he has increased his stock, until they now number 15,000 head or more. His ranches comprise 8,000 acres of land. In 1875, he came to West Las Animas, where a brother had opened a store in company with Mr. Weil. In 1878, he traded a farm in Kansas for his brother's interest, and has since then continued a partner in the firm. In 1868, he married Miss Lizzie Ham, a daughter of B.L. Ham, a man well known throughout Texas, having taken an active part in the war with Mexico, under Col. Ford. Mr. Jones has four children – three boys and one girl – all living. For several years, it has been his aim to improve his stock by crossing it with thoroughbred short-horn cattle. His original stock came from Texas. He has every prospect of being successful in his undertaking, and is very decided in his opinion that the short-horn breed is the stock for this country. The experiments he carried on during the winter of 1880-81, in feeding different kinds of cattle, were highly satisfactory, convincing him that his opinion is correct. To accomplish this end, he bought, in 1877, four thoroughbred cows. In February, 1878, one of them dropped a bull calf that weighed, when thirteen months old, nearly 1,200 pounds; when two years old, 1,650 pounds; and when three years of age, he tipped the scales at 2,000 pounds. This animal is a favorite with Mr. Jones, and justly so, for through him he is rapidly improving his stock, getting larger frames, for which there is a demand among Kansas cattle feeders. Mr. Jones is a hard-working man, and has been eminently prosperous in his enterprises, and owes his success to the thorough apprenticeship he served before entering business for himself.
The name of James C. Jones is familiar to the stock-raising men of Colorado and Texas, Mr. Jones having spent much of his life in the latter State. He was born in Cannon County, in Middle Tennessee, August 12, 1841, where he lived with his parents until he was ten years of age. He attended school in his native town, when it was in session, and his physical condition would allow; for, when a boy, Mr. Jones had the misfortune not to appear entirely engrossed in storing up useful knowledge, and the schoolmaster spared not the rod. His father's name was Erasmus Jones, born in Virginia in 1799. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Kiddie Bond, a native of North Carolina, and born in 1805. From this union thirteen children were born, and the subject of this sketch was the fifth son and eleventh child. While Mr. Erasmus Jones resided in Tennessee, his house was always a hospitable one, and many a poorly paid minister was filled to repletion at his table, while frequently the meatless backbone of the chicken found its to James' plate. In 1851, his parents moved to Red River County, Texas. He resided there six years, attending school and working on a farm, preparing himself for the hard but successful life he has since followed. From Red River County his family moved to Park County, on the frontier of Texas. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he joined the Confederate army, serving under Gen. Tom Green until the close of the war. At this time he was without a dollar, and none too many clothes. But the experience he had had in early life served him to a good advantage. He had become familiar with the stock-raising business. In company with three brothers, he commenced raising cattle on shares in Texas, where he remained until 1870, though, in 1869, they brought a portion of their herd, at this time numbering 4,200 head, into Nine Mile Bottom, on the Purgatoire Creek, where he has remained until the present time. With painstaking care and watchfulness, together with purchases, he has increased his stock, until they now number 15,000 head or more. His ranches comprise 8,000 acres of land. In 1875, he came to West Las Animas, where a brother had opened a store in company with Mr. Weil. In 1878, he traded a farm in Kansas for his brother's interest, and has since then continued a partner in the firm. In 1868, he married Miss Lizzie Ham, a daughter of B.L. Ham, a man well known throughout Texas, having taken an active part in the war with Mexico, under Col. Ford. 
Mr. Jones has four children – three boys and one girl – all living. For several years, it has been his aim to improve his stock by crossing it with thoroughbred short-horn cattle. His original stock came from Texas. He has every prospect of being successful in his undertaking, and is very decided in his opinion that the short-horn breed is the stock for this country. The experiments he carried on during the winter of 1880-81, in feeding different kinds of cattle, were highly satisfactory, convincing him that his opinion is correct. To accomplish this end, he bought, in 1877, four thoroughbred cows. In February, 1878, one of them dropped a bull calf that weighed, when thirteen months old, nearly 1,200 pounds; when two years old, 1,650 pounds; and when three years of age, he tipped the scales at 2,000 pounds. This animal is a favorite with Mr. Jones, and justly so, for through him he is rapidly improving his stock, getting larger frames, for which there is a demand among Kansas cattle feeders. Mr. Jones is a hard-working man, and has been eminently prosperous in his enterprises, and owes his success to the thorough apprenticeship he served before entering business for himself.
