Butte County
Biographies
RICHARD HENRY JONES
RICHARD HENRY JONES.--A widely
experienced cattleman, successful in a high degree because of his years of
hard, studious work and his well-executed responsibility as superintendent for Wendel J. Miller, together with his naturally good judgment
of stock and his fund of information as to what was going on in the stock
world, was Richard Henry Jones, whose accomplished widow, assisted by her son
Archie, has so ably administered his estate. He was born a native son at Cherokee,
on October 9, 1861, the son of Thomas R. Jones, who came from an ancient
family, in the historic and very beautiful Glamorganshire of South Wales. As
early as 1852, the father crossed the plains with ox teams and settled in
Reared in this vicinity and educated at the usual country schools, Richard Henry, while a lad, learned stock-raising and rode the range as fearlessly as if he had had ten years more upon his shoulders. When nineteen years of age he started in stock-raising for himself, forming a partnership with his brother, E. H., with whom he continued for several years. He was also in the employ of the extensive operator, Wendel J. Miller, and had charge of his cattle both on the mountains and in the valleys. At the end of seven years, Mr. Miller died; and then he became superintendent of stock for Mrs. Miller. Mr. Jones was a good judge of stock, and therefore an excellent cattleman; but she sold her herds, and so had no further need of his services. During this time he made his home on the old Miller Ranch at Pentz; and he also had cattle of his own, which he ran on the Pentz range.
When Mr. Jones left Mrs. Miller's service, he purchased, together with his son Archie, the old Beatson Hollow Ranch, then owned by her, and in April, 1917, located upon it; and he also engaged extensively in stock-raising, placing there a superior herd. The ranch comprised about eighteen hundred acres, and there was every prospect that the investment and efforts expended would afford him and his family more than the satisfaction of a handsome income; but after successfully inaugurating the venture, Mr. Jones died on February 24, 1918, widely honored, especially for his unselfish service to the community as school trustee of the Oregon City district. In national politics Mr. Jones was a Republican.
Mr.
Jones was married on November 20, 1884, to Miss Emma Grummet, who was born on
the old Grummet place in Oregon Gulch, and was the daughter of Albert and Elise
(Ebbeka) Grummet, both estimable pioneers who came
from the German Fatherland. Mr. Grummet had reached
Emma, who became the wife of Richard Jones, was educated in the Oregon City schools and there received such an excellent foundation in her training that, when her husband died, she proved able, with the assistance of her wide-awake and studious son Archie, to continue the stock business. They still use the old anchor brand brought across the plains in 1849. Six children afford her comfort and honor: Manla, who is Mrs. W. A. Swift, of Chico, has two children, Wendel Enlo and Zuletta M.; Myrtle, Mrs. W. H. Turner, has a daughter, Bethel Irene, and lives near Oroville; Archie L., the partner referred to, was married to Phebe Forbes, born at Bangor, the granddaughter of Jim Forbes, the founder of Forbestown, and daughter of Ira Forbes, of Thermalito, and who has one child, La Wayne Forbes; Elese, who is Mrs. George Graves, of Cool Canyon, has two sons, John Richard and Ira George; Irl R. and Stanley A., assisting their mother.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 746-749, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies