Hi Bethany
All the John Rees Jones's were born from 1848 onwards. There are no John Reece Jones's as far as I can see.
I have checked the 1910 US Census and it gives John's birthplace as "S. Wails Welch" (I can spell - this is the actual transcript!!). So we have a possible clue.
Per Genuki, in 1910 South Wales was reckoned to comprise Brecon, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Pembroke and Radnor (although I suspect that it may have been a somewhat loosely defined area).
But in theory , at least, John was born in one of these counties.
Not what you'd call rapid progress, I know!
Regards
Ivan
PS
The 1910 gives John’s “age last birthday” as 65, married 39 years, emigrated 1867