Jones and Brinker Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 208

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains information about the Jones and Brinker Farm in Traill County, North Dakota. It includes historical information, correspondence, mortgages, deeds, and abstracts of title.

Dates

1874-1954 (bulk 1874-1901)

Creator

Jones and Brinker. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives.

Biography

The Jones and Brinker Farm was a Bonanza farm located near Blanchard in Traill County, North Dakota. It was owned by Robert W. Jones and John M. Brinker of Buffalo, New York. John M. Brinker was born in Brinkerton, Clarion County, Pennsylvania in 1835. The town was named for his family. He married Clara Spice. He served in the Civil War with the 78th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was captain of his company. He refused a promotion to colonel because he wanted to stay with his men. He was a prominent businessman in Buffalo, New York. He was instrumental in bring the Pan-American Exposition to Buffalo. He died in Derby, New York in 1903. Brinker was survived by his wife and four children. Robert W. Jones was born in June 1831, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Lavina Allebach, and they had at least four children. Mr. Brinker and Mr. Jones appear as neighbors in Red Bank Township, Clarion County, in the 1870 Federal Census, and are both listed as whisky manufacturers; and in the 1880 Census, they are listed as merchants. Both families moved to Buffalo, New York in 1883. Mr. Jones was involved in the soft coal business, and also built the Niagara Gorge Railway. In the 1880s and 1890s, the two men owned as partners, the Jones and Brinker Farm. The 1900 Census lists Mr. Jones as a Grain Dealer. Mr. Jones died sometime in the 1910s.