Merton W. Jones

Former Niobrara County Pioneer Dies in California

Merton W. Jones, pioneer of Niobrara County, died June 12 at Wilmar, California at the age of 76. 

He was born December 10, 1866 in Missouri. When 17 he moved to Nebraska where he was married to Lucy Foote at Springview. The couple moved west shortly later to Newcastle, Wyo., in the early nineties and took up ranching, living first on the Cheyenne River. They then moved over to what is known as the U.L.A. ranch.

The family next moved to a ranch on Lance Creek at Warren, about 40 miles north of Lusk and established the first postoffice there. He and Mrs. Jones hauled the lumber for their ranch home from Crawford with a string team, the trip taking about a week each way.

He sold the ranch, known as the M.W.J. ranch, and went to Colorado. After living there a couple of years he went to California where he has resided since.

Surviving are four daughters: May Meng, Hat Creek; Maude Glover, Porcupine, S.D.; Cerona Cover, Scenic, S.D.; and Dorothy Walker, San Francisco. One daughter, Verdi Jensen, previously died.

Also surviving are two brothers, Charles Jones, Lander, and James Jones, Iola, Kan., and one sister, Zadie Baker, Brooklyn, N.Y. There is one great granddaughter, Marie Evonne Freeman, and ten grandchildren.

Mrs. Meng, Mrs. Glover and Mrs. Cover, drove out to Wilmar June 13 upon learning of their father's death and returned last Sunday but none were present at the time of his death.

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