Jones, Charles Jesse, 1844-1919

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First warden of Yellowstone Park and western pioneer.

From the description of Charles Jesse Jones manuscript book, 1898. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70984531

"Buffalo" Jones, Kansas pioneer, adventurer, and buffalo hunter, writing to Wall Street banker of Edmund Seymour & Company.

From the description of Letter, 1917 April 1, San Antonio, to Edmund Seymour, New York City. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 18300282

Charles Jesse Jones, "Buffalo" Jones, born January 31, 1844 in Tazewell County, Illinois, lead the life of the quintessential pioneer cowboy. From his early childhood in Illinois to his experience as a buffalo hunter on the Great Plains in the 1870s, Jones' life story serves as an allegory for the experience of American expansionism on the western frontier. Jones' unique role in this westward movement was his effort to save the American Bison from extinction, and subsequently to hybridize them with domestic cattle. In the process of trying to save the bison from extinction Jones became famous for the live capture of wild animals. His reputation lead him on a series of adventures including the live capture African big game. The writer Zane Grey, who became friends with Jones acknowledged that Jones was the inspiration for many of his fictional characters, as well as the subject of two non fiction books, The Last of the Plainsmen, 1911 and Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon, 1924.

Jones married Martha J. Walton on January 20, 1869. They had four children, two boys died in childhood. Throughout his life Jones maintained close correspondence with his daughters, Jessie and Olive. Suffering from a chronic illness contracted in Africa, Jones died at his daughter Olive's house in Topeka, Kansas on March 18, 1919. He is buried along side his wife Martha and their two sons in the Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas.

From the description of Charles Jesse Jones Collection, 1872-1990 (bulk 1872-1936). (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 56550508

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hotel Cottage (Montezuma, Kan.). Hotel Cottage (Montezuma, Kan.) register, 1887-1890, and scrapbook, [ca. 1897]. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Camp-Fire Club of America. William T. Hornaday papers, 1903-1914. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Jones, Charles Jesse, 1844-1919. Charles Jesse Jones manuscript book, 1898. Library of Congress
referencedIn New York Zoological Park. Office of the Director and General Curator. Records 1895-1940. Wildlife Conservation Society Library, Bronx Zoo Library
creatorOf Jones, Charles Jesse, 1844-1919. Charles Jesse Jones Collection, 1872-1990 (bulk 1872-1936). University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn Goodnight, Charles, 1836-1929. Goodnight, Charles, papers, 1882-1939. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Beard, Daniel Carter, 1850-1941. Paper on death of Buffalo Jones, 1920 / by Dan Beard. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn American Bison Society. Office of the President. Records, 1905-1912. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Charles Goodnight Papers, 1882-1939 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn American Bison Society. Office of the President. Records, 1905-1912. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Jones, Charles Jesse, 1844-1919. Letter, 1917 April 1, San Antonio, to Edmund Seymour, New York City. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Easton, Robert Olney. Robert O. Easton's Lord of Beasts papers, 1961 University of Arizona Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Bison Society. corporateBody
associatedWith American Bison Society. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith American Bison Society. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Beard, Daniel Carter, 1850-1941. person
associatedWith Billy, the Kid. person
associatedWith Buffalo Jones Catalo Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Camp-Fire Club of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Easton, Robert Olney. person
associatedWith Goodnight, Charles person
associatedWith Goodnight, Charles, 1836-1929. person
associatedWith Hotel Cottage (Montezuma, Kan.) corporateBody
associatedWith New York Zoological Park. Office of the Director and General Curator. corporateBody
associatedWith Seymour, Edmund. person
associatedWith Whitmer, Olive Jones. person
associatedWith Wilson, James, 1835-1920. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Yukon
New Mexico
Subject
American bison
American bison
Bison farming
Brigands and robbers
Gold mines and mining
Occupation
Pioneers
Activity

Person

Birth 1844-01-31

Death 1919-10-01

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