by Charles W. Bowman
Biographies
PEYTON SMITH JONESMr. Jones is one of the largest cattle raisers in Bent County. At present, his herd numbers 15,000 head or more of cattle, and 250 head of horses. His ranches are on the Purgatoire Creek, and composed of many thousands of acres of land. He was born in Cannon County, Middle Tennessee, October 28, 1829, and resided in his native State until he was twenty-one years of age, attending school and working on a farm. In 1850, he removed with his parents to Red River County, Texas. In 1852, he was employed as an overseer on a large plantation, which occupation he followed for five years. At the expiration of this time, he bought a bunch of cattle and removed to Palo Pinto County, Texas, where he remained until the civil war broke out, when he entered the Confederate service in 1862, and continued in it until the close of the war. In 1865, in company with three brothers, he engaged in stock-raising at Fort Chadbourne, Texas, and remained there until 1869, when he removed to Bent County, camping, the first night, December 12, near where the Higbee Post Office now stands. Since coming to Colorado, Mr. Jones has at times been associated with his brothers in the cattle business. At present he is alone. During his early settlement here, he farmed some, but discontinued it, believing his grain was costing as much as he could obtain for it, though he was raising twenty bushel of wheat to the acre. He has some fine-blooded stock, and is endeavoring to improve his herds by the best of crosses.
