Lecompton in Douglas County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Sheriff Samuel J. Jones
1827-1885
| | Historic Lecompton | |
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 21, 2018
1. Sheriff Samuel J. Jones Marker
Samuel Jones was an entrepreneur. He constructed Constitution Hall in 1856 and it is now a National Landmark. He was appointed Sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas, in 1856 by Territorial Governor Daniel Woodson. Sheriff Jones enforced the laws of the Kansas Territorial Legislature which caused much hardship and anguish on Free-State settlers. He was shot in the back in Lawrence by Free State/Abolition forces and as a result of this action, he retaliated by sacking many buildings in Lawrence in 1856. After a disagreement with Governor Geary in 1857 over treatment of Free State prisoners, he resigned the position and moved La Mesilla, New Mexico.
Following his death in La Mesilla in 1885 he was buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Las Cruses. In 1935 his body was moved to the Masonic Cemetery and a new tombstone was installed. The original tombstone was left in the abandoned cemetery. The Lecompton Historical Society made arrangements with the City of Las Cruses, New Mexico, to preserve the original tombstone on this site.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.
Location. 39° 2.733′ N, 95° 23.678′ W. Marker is in Lecompton, Kansas, in Douglas
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas and specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Southern Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Lecompton Constitution Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Lane University (approx. 0.2 miles away); Resilience (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Lecompton (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Battle of Fort Titus (approx. 0.2 miles away); Democratic Headquarters (approx. Ό mile away); Kansa Indians (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lecompton.
Also see . . .
1. Samuel J. Jones. Kansapedia website entry (Submitted on May 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Samuel J. Jones on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 31, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 21, 2018
2. Sheriff Samuel J. Jones Marker
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 21, 2018
3. Sheriff Samuel J. Jones Tombstone
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 29, 2025
4. Sheriff Samuel J. Jones Marker
The old city jail (built in 1892), behind the marker. It was placed there in 2012 (from private property) and is usually open to the public.
Kansas Historical Society
5. Sheriff Samuel J. Jones
circa 1850
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2018, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 599 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2018, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on October 31, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
