Wilson N. Jones

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Wilson N. Jones — and friends, this one's got history, heartbreak, legal drama, and a man whose name outlasted just about everything that tried to erase it. Around 1827, somewhere in Mississippi, a boy was born into the Choctaw Nation.

His name was Wilson N. Jones. And before he was old enough to make many choices of his own, the world made a brutal one for him.

In the 1830s, Jones joined his family — joined the whole of the Choctaw people — on what would come to be known as the Trail of Tears. A forced migration. The removal of Native Americans to Indian Territory, out in what is now Oklahoma.

While that terrible journey unfolded, his father carried a responsibility: serving as an Indian captain, charged with distributing blankets, tools, and other necessities to his fellow Choctaws. That's a man trying to hold his people together while the ground shifts beneath them. Wilson Jones made it through.

And he built something on the other side. He spent most of his adult life in Oklahoma, and he built himself into a man of considerable standing — ranching, real estate, cotton, coal. By the late nineteenth century, he'd stepped into Choctaw politics, and not as a bystander.

He served several terms as Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. Several terms. Let that settle.

When he finished his final term in 1894, he didn't disappear quietly. He moved to Sherman, Texas, and kept right on managin' his financial interests. And when he died in 1901, it turned out Wilson N.

Jones had one more move left to make. His will revealed a bequest — funds set aside to establish a hospital in Sherman, one that would bear his name. Simple enough, you'd think.

Except nothing about it was simple. Legal efforts to break that will stretched on for nearly two decades. Almost twenty years of courtroom battles before a Texas district court finally ruled in favor of the executors.

Then in 1920, the Texas Court of Civil Appeals affirmed that decision, and at last — at last — the funds were freed up for a hospital. By that point, Sherman already had two hospitals. So in 1928, funds from the Jones estate were used to buy Sherman Hospital, and it was renamed Wilson N.

Jones Hospital. Today it's known as the Wilson N. Jones Medical Center — a regional facility serving southern Oklahoma and north Texas.

The boy who walked the Trail of Tears grew into a chief, a businessman, and a benefactor whose name now sits above the door of a place that heals people. Some legacies, it turns out, are harder to break than any will.

What the marker says

(c. 1827 - 1901) Born in Mississippi, Wilson N. Jones was a member of the Choctaw Nation. As a young boy, Jones joined his family and the rest of the Choctaws in what became known as the Trail of Tears, the removal of Native Americans to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in the 1830s. During the force migration, his father served as an Indian captain, charged with distributing blankets, tool and other necessities to his fellow Choctaws. Jones lived in Oklahoma most of his adult life. He was successful in ranching, real estate, cotton and coal interests. By the late 19th century, Jones also became active in Choctaw politics. He served several terms as Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation. After finishing hi final term in 1894, he moved to Sherman, Texas where he continued to administer his financial interests. Upon his death in 1901, Jones’ will revealed a bequest of funds to establish a hospital in Sherman which would bear his name. However, years would pass before the courts granted this action. Legal efforts to break the will lasted almost two decades before a Texas district court ruled in favor of the executors of the will. In 1920, the Texas Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the decision of the district court, and the funds were made available for a hospital. By that time two hospitals already existed in Sherman. In 1928, funds from the Jones estate were used to buy Sherman Hospital, which was renamed Wilson N. Jones Hospital. Now known as the Wilson N. Jones Medical Center, the hospital is an important regional facility serving southern Oklahoma and north Texas. (2006)