Persons I'm researching in Norton County are: 1. OLIVER LABAN JONES - b: March 1831 in Tippecanoe Co., IN d: 11 August 1909 in Norton Co., KS; married Sarah Margaret HEFNER b: 16 September 1832 in Tippecanoe Co., IN, 4 November 1855 in Tippecanoe Co. IN Children: William, Mary Rose Etta, Charles, Hattie, Frank, Anne 2. AMANDA JONES b: 8 February 1833 in Indiana d: 21 October 1883 in Norton Co., KS; married William HANDLIN m: 18 February 1855 in Clinton Co., IN One child: Ephraim Parents of Oliver and Amanda were Carmi Jones (b. 1806 Kanawha Co., Va., d. 1893 Cloud Co., Ks., went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., in 1824 at the age of 18. His parents were William Jones and Elizabeth Jarrett.) and Henrietta Trimmer. 3. Ann E. JONES b: Abt. 1845 in Indiana d: unknown in McCook, Red Willow Co., NE?; married Nathan H. BILLINGS b: Abt. 1848 in Illinois m: 24 July 1863 in Tippecanoe Co., IN d: unknown Children: Herbert, Emma Parents of Ann were Carmi Jones and Mahala Dougherty Notes on Ann and Nathan Billings: Lockard History of Norton County, Kansas Page 15: Miss Anna or Nana Jones, a sister of Mrs. Billings and a half-sister to Oliver and W. B. Jones. February 1872 N. H. Billings came from Cloud County and built a dugout on Island, Norton. Page 79: "He (Billings) came to Leota and opened a law office in 1878, but only stayed there a short time. He lived in Ness county for a time. While there he and his wife separated, she afterward got a divorce. Some years after she was again married and now lives in McCook, Nebraska. The following story came from the book "Seventy Years in Norton County, Kansas" chapter titled "Pioneer Tales and Times." This book is located at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN. "THE PASSING OF N. H. BILLINGS The settlers of Norton County were uniformly persons of character, yet occasionally an undesirable was found. Among the latter class was N. H. Billings, a man so thoroughly out of harmony with the best interests of society as to become a menace to the community in and around Norton. His lack of character in the organization and as the first member of the legislature has been so thoroughly shown up in Senator Lockard's History that no further mention need be made here. The purpose of this incident is to give some of the unpublished story relating to the passing of Billings. Every settler of the county was a booster, the idea being to occupy the government lands as rapidly as possible. Billings was a "locater" and it was soon evident that many who put their land office business in his hands Were not only robbed of their entries, but the Money left with him appropriated to his own use. The settlers were indignant and a preliminary meeting was held in the store of Case & Williams to discuss the best method of dealing with the matter. A committee was appointed to gather all the facts obtainable and to meet on the following evening at Jim Kenyon's dugout north of town. At the hour appointed the dugout was filled with Settlers and the damaging reports read, showing conclusively that Billings was not giving the prospective settlers "a square deal." Some present advocated immediate violence, but the fact was plain that the relative of Billings' wife were highly respected settlers and for their sakes milder measures should be employed. It was finally decided to adjourn the meeting, repair at once to the home of Billings, order him to quit the county at once and for good. About the time a furious storm was gathering in the heavens, the play of lightning was incessant and drops were beginning to fall. The committee of information went to the door and called for Billings. His wife informed them that her husband had left the city and, almost at the same instant, a settler appeared and said that by the lightning's flash he had seen a man whom he thought to be Billings, coatless and hatless, headed south at a furious pace. Some one had evidently attended the meeting and being of a peaceful nature had hurried ahead and given the "Colonel" the tip. At any rate the fleeing fugitive must have been Billings for he was never more seen in this part of the country. J. H. Simmons, Topeka, Kansas January 19, 1914." Adina Dyer Tippecanoe Co., IN