William Heiskell Jones and his wife Barbara arrived in New Mexico in 1866, after moving west from Virginia. Initially, they stopped in Iowa, but it proved to be too cold and uncomfortable for them. Heiskell noted that it was “a place to cold for humans.”
They then moved to Denver, Colorado, but were dissatisfied with the place and eventually settled in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in 1866 despite warnings of danger from rustlers, fugitives, and Apaches. During their journey, they were accompanied by Mr. Ashmun Upson. The couple had a large family of ten children, nine of whom were boys, born between 1859 and 1878. Their son Tom Edmond Jones, was the first Anglo child recorded as born in the Pecos Valley. In 1875, the Jones family owned and managed a small ranch and trading post near Dowlin’s Mill, where Heiskell also worked as a butcher at Fort Stanton.

In 1877, Mr. Heiskell and Mrs. Barbara Jones acquired Reed’s ranch and trading post located near Seven Rivers, which was between present day Artesia and Carlsbad about 600 yards up from the Pecos river.
Mr. Heiskell managed the trading post with great proficiency, resulting in a thriving business and aiding in the growth and development of the Seven Rivers region. The trading post was adequately stocked, providing an efficient resource for its customers.

Barbara Culp Jones was a force to be reckoned with along the Pecos. Her hospitality was unmatchable, and her reputation as “Angel of the Pecos” was well-deserved. Ma’am Jones’ nurturing persona radiated like no other, making her known to many as a mother figure. She not only provided a warm home to visitors, but she also served as a doctor in times of need. Jones’ willingness to go above and beyond for those around her was her greatest strength, making her a prominent figure in the Pecos community. It’s safe to say that Ma’am Jones left a lasting impression on all those who crossed her path, including the legendary Billy the Kid.

In October of 1877, Mrs. Jones awoke just before dawn to a noise outside her Seven Rivers ranch home. She responded quickly, retrieving her rifle and carefully surveying the porch before discovering a boy in distress. Mrs. Jones quickly abandoned any defensive posture and took the boy into her home, tending to his injuries and providing warmth by the fire. Despite the circumstance, she approached the situation calmly and professionally. Observing that his boots were too small and his feet blistered, Mrs. Jones realized his perilous condition and likely proximity to death. Her quick thinking and immediate action helped to save the boy’s life.
Mrs. Jones kindly provided the boy with a tub of hot water to soak his feet in and inquired about his most recent meal. The boy mentioned that it had been a few days, to which Mrs. Jones proceeded to warm up some milk for him. Despite his dislike for milk, Mrs. Jones encouraged him to drink it and also made arrangements for him to sleep comfortably.

On the morning following the incident, the Jones family were eager in learning more about the individual who had sought their assistance. The individual, who introduced himself as Billy Bonney, recounted his story, sharing that he had been marooned atop the Guadalupe Mountains and had encountered hostile members of the Apache tribe who robbed him of his horse and forced him to flee for his safety. He spent his days hiding and traversed the terrain at night while navigating a treacherous 30-mile journey to the Jones residence. Mrs. Jones took Billy in and he stayed for awhile, he may have stayed off and on between a couple weeks to 3 months.
It is noteworthy that during Billy’s tenure with the Jones family, an amicable bond developed between John and Billy. They spent most of their time practicing their aim at designated targets, and Billy excelled at the sport. From the Jones family Billy may have became acquainted with “The Boys”, a gang led by Jessie Evans, whom Billy may have met before when he was in Arizona. Billy began a new venture camping and committing crimes with “The Boys”. 
Although Billy later began riding with The Tunstall faction, he stayed loyal to his pals The Joneses. In fact it is a thought that while John Jones was on the opposing side of a gunfight when The McSween’s home burned down, he would never pull the trigger on his pal, The Kid.  John Jones and Marion Turner were later charged and acquitted for the murder of Alexander McSween.