 Probate of John's will in 1904 determined that the estate was valued at $1,071,342.41 as community property with Carrie.Bequests were made to three nieces, Lizzie M. and Belle Jones and Laura Prentice and to a nephew, John L. Howes.The Jones real estate holdings at Fifth and Spring streets were in a "practically unimproved condition" until after 1905, when it was announced that a syndicate composed of A. C. Bilicke, R. A. Rowan, Jared Sidney Torrance, the Adams-Phillips Company, Maurice S. Hellman, J. S. Satori and others, had leased the "magnificent property" in preparation to develop it with "ten-story fire proof structures of the most modern, and substantial character."