Alfred D. Jones

Alfred D. Jones (January 13, 1814–1902) was a late 19th-century lawyer, surveyor and politician in the Midwestern United States. In 1846 he platted Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1854 he platted Omaha, Nebraska. He became the first settler in Omaha, as well as the first postmaster, a member of the first Omaha City Council and the first Omaha School Board, and was among the first legislators of the Nebraska Territory.

Jones was appointed to the clerkship of the district court in Polk County, Iowa in 1846, and in July he platted Fort Des Moines. In 1847, Jones married Sphronia Reeves, and in 1849 he opened a store in Madison County, Iowa where he became the postmaster.

In March 1853 Jones was instrumental in the foundation of Harrison County, Iowa as a county commissioner. He determined the location of the county seat of Magnolia and platted that town as well. In May 1853 he was employed as the surveyor of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In the fall of 1853 Jones crossed the Missouri River to stake a claim that he called "Park Wilde." He was accompanied by Thomas Allen and William Allen, and their claims were allowed to stand by the local Indian agent before a treaty was signed with the local tribes in possession of the land.

Early in 1854 Jones spoke with William D. Brown, suggesting that a city be built on the land he claimed in Nebraska Territory. In the June 1854, after the creation of the Nebraska Territory, the Council Bluffs and Omaha Ferry Company including Brown hired Jones to conduct the first survey of Omaha City. Omaha was founded on July 4, 1854. Immediately after that Jones became Omaha’s first postmaster, operating out of the city's first store, called the "Big 6", which was a general store/saloon located on the north side of Chicago Street west of 13th Street in present-day Downtown Omaha every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evening, shortly after the arrival of the stage. Jones used his stovepipe hat to deliver the mail from.

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