William Frank Jones

The McIntosh County Democrat

March 12, 1942 & June 30, 2005

TERRITORIAL OFFICER DIES HERE FRIDAY

William Frank Jones of Checotah, former territorial United States deputy marshal, died at his home here Friday after a brief illness.

Born in Washington County, Arkansas in 1872. Jones spent most of his early life in Belton, Texas , and had become a foreman over 40 or 50 cowboy at Bill Jackson reach in Texas by the time he was 21.

Before becoming deputy Marshall, Jones met many of the territory's early famed outlaws, among them members of the Crowell gang, generally knows as the Dalton's. While working for Jackson at the Turkey Track Ranch, Jones lost a cook to the Doolin gang.

As a cowpuncher after coming to the territory in 1893, he was present at the opening of the Cherokee Strip , staking a lot himself, only to discover later it had been reserved as a park.

It was in 1894 that Jones came to Checotah, where he served under his uncle, Jess Jones, a deputy Under State Marshall until 1897, getting the training that proved so valuable later when he became a deputy Marshall under Morton S. Rutherford.

Among Jones' most notable exploits was the rounding-up of the Buck gang, in 1895, which was terrorizing and looting in north-eastern Oklahoma.

The deputy Marshall later figured in the capture of the Turner gang in 1895, the Mose Miller gang in 1895, the capture of Lon Bristow in 1897.

Jones' most famous work probably was in connection with the Crazy Snake rebellion, in which he arrested the last of the marauding Creeks, Seminoles and Chickasaws.

He is survived by his wife Lillie, of Checotah, four sons, Leo, Roy, Clyde and Jack. Two daughters: Mrs Hazel Sneed, Mrs Marie Borchardt.

Submitted by: Shelley Lynch <leeshlynch@gmail.com>