From:  Fariss and Smith's History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, 1882

William Jones was one of the early settlers of Plumas County , CA .  He was the oldest of a family of three children of Dr. Hiram and Harriet Jones, of Accomac County , VA , where he was born February 15, 1830.  When a lad of 14, he went to Philadelphia and learned the plastering trade which he followed until January 1849, when he started for California , going by way of New Orleans to Galveston and thence across Texas , New Mexico and Arizona .  His party was the first to go the southern route.  They arrived at Mariposa mines on September 15, 1849.  Some time after, he leased a ranch near Sacramento , but was driven away by the floods and then went to Sutter's fort.  He mined at Hangtown and at God Run in Nevada County .  From there, a company of 75 persons, headed by Stoddard, started in search of Gold Lake .  The company disbanded in Sierra Valley , many going to Downieville.  William Jones went into Plumas County .  He was at Honey Lake Valley where there was not a house, and in Indian Valley when Peter Lassen was hauling timber for his cabin.  When he, with his friends, got to American valley (where Quincy now stands), they found a Spaniard there with a number of horses.  Mr. Tate also had a cabin at the spot.  Next, William went to Rich Bar in June, 1851, and mined until 1856.  On September 2, 1855, he married Nancy A. Said, from Iowa .  This was the first wedding on the river, and a royal good time was had.  His associates each carried in some useful present.  F.B. Whiting contributed a wash-tub, a wash-board, and a bar of soap.  In 1862, William moved to Long Valley , and engaged in farming.  In 1867, he bought the Junction House, until eventually removing to Summit House.

First settled at Rich Bar , north fork, East branch of the Feather River ; listed in the 1860 census as a liquor dealer

From Plumas County Deeds, May 15, 1862:  "W.E. Jones, a resident of Rich Bar, Plumas County, sold one building situated in Rich Bar, known as Paul Jones Saloon to John S. Sims of Smith Bar, for $1,200."

William was the first post-master of the Junction House post office established July 26, 1869, and closed January 22, 1874.

May 27, 1857, "William E. Jones of the County of Plumas and State of California to William S. Byrd for the consideration of $400 dollars two Negro slaves named Shadrack and Maria and future increase. Being the legacy from his mother lately deceased. Recorded in Accomack on July 10, 1857."

Obituary:  JONES - At his residence in Sierraville, Sierra county, California . October 11, 1888, of pneumonia, William Edward Jones, a native of Accomac county, Virginia, in the 59th year of his age.

Mr. Jones, familiarly called "Paul," was one of the earliest explorers of this part of the State, having with hundreds of others in the early Spring of 1850, followed the crank, Stoddard, in search of the myth, "Gold Lake."

Paul came to California early in 1849, among the first emigrants through Mexico .  Settled down to mining first in the Southern mines, and in 1851 on Rich Bar, East Branch of Feather River, where in September 1855 he married Miss Nancy A. Said, who bore him six children, all now grown and living.  Subsequently, he removed to Summit , where he opened a hotel, and in a few years death removed his wife.  In September 1881, he married Miss Lizzie Sharkey of Sierra City , who, with her babe, survives him.

Paul Jones was one of the most generous and liberal-hearted of men.  He made many friends and always retained their friendship. He cherished the sentiment through life:  "The friends thou hast, and their adoption proved, grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel."  He was one of the best known among the pioneers of California , and those who knew him best will cherish the memories of his good deeds through life, hold his memory dear, and many a silent tear will be shed by those of his old comrades now living, when they learn of his death.  The terrible disease was rapid in its work, and barely allowed his children time to gather around his death-bed. [ Submitted by Mike Little of Orange, CA.]