William G. JONES, b. 1861
William G. Jones, a prominent member of the Oskaloosa bar and state senator
from this district entered upon the practice of law in February, 1885. His
rise has been rapid since he entered upon his novitiate, for his position
today is that of a recognized leader in the ranks of the legal fraternity
in this part of the state. He was born in what is now Garfield township,
Mahaska county, on the 22d of October,
1861.
His father, John G. Jones, was born in
Wales and came to the United States about
1850, at which time he settled in Pennsylvania.
He was a poor boy and eagerly embraced
every opportunity to earn an honest living. In 1852 he went to
California and for a short time was employed in gold mines. He
then came to Mahaska county and with the money he had saved in
the west he made a partial payment on a tract of land of one
hundred acres in Garfield township, which he cultivated and
improved. He retained the ownership of this farm for about
forty years but spent fifteen years of that time in a mercantile business
in Beacon. Eventually he sold his store in 1875, and removed to Colorado,
where he superintended a coal mine for about eight years. On the expiration
of that period he returned to Beacon, where he lived for a time, and also
resided for a while in Oskaloosa, making his home in the latter city from
1887 until 1894, during a part of which period he was president of the old
Farmers & Traders Bank. His activity and ability made him a prominent factor
in commercial and financial circles and he also became recognized as a
local leader in the ranks of the republican party. He served at one time
as a member of the board of supervisors. Fraternally he was connected
with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, and he held membership in the Welsh
Congregational church. He occupied a prominent position in the regard of
neighbors and friends and his life was at all times characterized by
fidelity to duty and to high principles. In his business affairs he
prospered and in connection with a syndicate became the owner of
several thousand acres of land in Colorado. He married Margaret G.
Jones, a native of Wales, who came to the United States in her maidenhood
and located in Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Baptist church and is
now living in San Jose, California, at the age of seventy-two years, but
Mr. Jones passed away in 1897, at the age of sixty-nine years. In their
family were the following children: Sarah A., who is the wife of Thomas
Ingels, a ranchman of California; Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Joseph Bevan, a
physician, who was prominent in his profession
and died in Oskaloosa several years ago;
William G., of this review; Enmia, the wife of John
Parry, fire commissioner of San Francisco;
Winifred, the wife of Frank Perry, a grocer
of Spokane, Washington; John T., a clothier
of Kansas City, Missouri; and one who died in
infancy.
William G. Jones was reared upon his
father's farm. His birth occurred in a double
log cabin upon the old homestead, which had
been purchased by his father when he located
in Garfield township. The son attended the
district schools and continued his studies in the
school of Beacon, being graduated from the
high school there and also from Oskaloosa
College in the class of 1882. Determining upon
the practice of law as a life work, he entered the
law department of the Iowa State University
in 1883 and completed the course by
graduation in 1884. He entered upon the practice of
his profession in February, 1885, and has since
been an able member of the Oskaloosa bar. His
equipment was unusually good and his success
therefore came soon. He possesses those
qualities, natural and acquired, which are
indispensable to the lawyer. His mind is analytical,
logical and inductive, and he has, moreover, a
ready capacity for hard work. He brought to
the starting point of his career an excellent
presence, an earnest, dignified manner and
marked strength of character, combined with a
thorough grasp of the law and ability to apply
its principles accurately.
In December, 1890, Mr. Jones was married
to Miss Jennie L. Wood, who was born in
Delaware county, Iowa, in 1863, and is a daughter
of Hiram D. Wood. Her father was a pioneer
farmer of Delaware county and is now engaged
in merchandising. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one
child, Byril M., born in 1895. Mr. Jones is a
member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity
and of the Order of Foresters. In politics he is
a republican and for one term served as city
solicitor of Oskaloosa.
He has made a close
and earnest study of the political issues and
questions of the day and his fitness for
leadership has led to his selection to positions of
honor and responsibility. He represented the
county in the twenty-eight and twenty-ninth
general assemblies, and in the fall of 1903 was
elected state senator, in which capacity he is
now serving. He has been interested in much
constructive legislation and has furthered many
measures introduced into the house and senate
for the welfare of his constituents and of the
state at large. His practice has not been
restricted to any one branch of the profession and
his experience in the trial of difficult law cases
and the brilliant record of results attained leave
no room for questions of his ability. He
actively interests himself in public affairs and
participates earnestly in any effort to
propagate a spirit of patriotism and of loyalty to
American institutions and wherever there is a
public-spirited attempt to drive corruption or
other unworthiness out of public office he is
to be found working with the leaders of the
movement.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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