Colonel Samuel P. Jones Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Among those who lived in Dona Ana County in the '50s, Colonel Samuel P. Jones was one of the most striking of the many picturesque frontier characters of those days. Colonel Jones was the last collector of United States customs to be located at Las Cruces, occupying the office in 1863, when it was removed to El Paso. He had served as sheriff in Kansas during the border troubles, and was an eye-witness to the burning of Lawrence. In fact, he was one of the class of men known by the people of Kansas as a 'border ruffian," and was a Confederate sympathizer. He was one of the early United States marshals for New Mexico, his first location being at Mesilla. He also practiced law, and United States Senator Stephen B. Elkins was at one time a student in his office. Colonel Jones was a man of excellent education, fine personal appearance, and unusually courageous. He finally removed to Silver City, where he lived in retirement until his death.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.