Hi Melinda, My Joseph P. Jones was born in AR where his father moved from Oregon Co., MO. My direct Jones line is from John A. Jones (b. Jan. 28, 1848 MO; d. July 31, 1889 Oregon Co., MO) & Mary Elizabeth Dean (b. abt. 1842 TN; d. aft. 1894 Oregon Co., MO). In 1870 & 1880 they were in Birch Tree, Shannon Co., MO. Must have moved to Oregon Co. shortly after 1880 census. Both are buried at Cave Springs Cemetery just outside Alton, Oregon Co., MO. I'm thinking we probably have a connection here somewhere. I just can't figure it out at this point. We've never found anything on John A. Jones prior to 1870. Family lore is that he was full/part Osage Indian. This would certainly account for our not finding more on him prior to this date. Oral family history also holds that one of his daughters, Sarah L., lived on a reservation in OK in her later years. I've not yet had time to delve into this for possible records. If any of this sounds like we might have a connection, perhaps together we could find some answers. Carlene Missouri Ozarks