Dan Jones' family life

From the time he ran the Red Fork Ranch on the Chisholm Trail, Dan made it clear he was looking forward to finding a companion. He took possession of the ranch in 1875 at age 30. After two years there and regular correspondence with Caldwell, Wellington, and Arkansas City, his loneliness showed, as one newspaper article reveals.

D.W. Jones, of Red Fork Ranche, I.T., has sent us a fine view of his ranche which shows that Dan has got his things fixed up in fine style, and from the number of teams and groups of men standing around, and the Pan Handle stage leaving the ranche with horses on the keen run, shows it to be a place of considerable importance and [we] would think Dan would never get lonesome…. Dan tells us to show the view of the ranche to the girls and if any one wishes the position of Mrs. D.W. & C., to send her along. He proposes to pay all charges. (Sumner County Press, December 6, 1877)


A year later, Dan faced his greatst challenge when he broke his ankle and crawled back to his ranch in blizzard-like conditions. He remained partially disabled, hobbling on his good leg, well into April after the accident.
+ During his months of recuperation, he had a hired hand find a cook for him in Caldwell. The cook turned out to be Jennie M. (McDonald) Barney, born September 24, 1849 in New Orleans, Louisiana (see right). She was a few years younger than Dan, who was born May 6, 1845, near Winchester, Indiana. They got along well, so well they got married on August 15, 1879, at Polecat Creek ranch just south of the Kansas state line. Caldwell Methodist minister Rev. W.M. Neal married them.

When and where was Dan and Jennie's son, Endsley D., born? Endsley claimed he was born in Indian Territory in 1880. Red Fork Ranch historian John L. Lillibridge found cemetary records and later newspaper articles listing his birthday as May 27, 1880. (See his book, The Red Fork Ranch and Its People, 1990). Evidence contemporary with Endsley's birth show his birth to have been at least six weeks earlier.

+ "Dan Jones is as happy and contented as a clam at high water - he has got an addition to his family, and it is a boy." (Caldwell Post, April 8, 1880.

+ This corresponds with the 1880 U.S. Census conducted on June 5 in Caldwell. The entry for Dan Jones and family lists Endsley's age as 2/12 (two months).



+ These two sources contemporary with Endsley's birth tell me he was born no later than April 5, 1880 in Caldwell, Kansas.