Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/175

 JONES

JONES

speaker of the house, 1886-88: reporter of the decisions of the supreme court of Alabama, 1870- 80; and colonel of the 2d regiment of Alabama state troops, 1880-90, which he commanded at

Birmingham, Ala., in the Hawes and Po- sey riots in 1883 and 1888. He was gov- ernor of Alabama, 1890-94, distinguish- ing his administra- tion by suppressing lawlessness, increas- ing the state tax rate in order to preserve the credit of the state, and establish- ing a new plan for ameliorating the evils of the convict system. He also took per- sonal command of the state troops during the great mining and railroad strike of 1894, restor- ing order without bloodshed. He is the author of: Alabama Supreme Court Reports (\S -voXs., 1870-80); Code of Ethics of Alabama State Bar Association (18bG). He was appointed a U.S. district judge in October, 1901.

JONES, Virginia Smith, author, was born in New London, Conn., Sept. 9, 1827; daughter of Anson and Amy Crocker (Beckwith) Smith; granddaughter of Joseph and Sally (Smith) Smith and of Jason and Elizabeth (Crocker) Beckwith; and a descendant of Nehemiah Smith, an early Plymoutii pilgrim who settled in New Haven, Conn., in 1645; and of Mathew Beckwith, born at Pomfret, England, 1610, who came to New Eng- land in 163."), and settled in Lyme, Conn. She was educated in Cleveland, Ohio, and was married to Dr. Nelson E. Jones, June 9, 1846. She is the author of: The Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio. Of this work, which was begun in 1879 and completed in 1888, Dr. Elliot Coues said: " No illustrated work to compare with it has appeared in this country since the splendid Audu- bonian period closed; and it is not too much to say that it rivals in beauty and fidelity of illus- tration the productions of Audubon's pencil and brush."

JONES, Walter, representative, was born in Vngiuia in 174"). He was graduated from Wil- liam and Mary college, Williamsburg, Va., in 1760, and studied medicine in Edinburgh, Scot- land, receiving his M.D. degree in 1770. He re- turned to Virginia and settled in Northumber- land county, where he had an extensive medical practice. He was appointed by congress physi- cian-general in 1777, and was a Democratic rep- resentative from Virginia in the 5th, 8th, 9th,

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10th and 11th congresses, 1797-99 and 1803-11. He published a volume denouncing the theories of free-thinkers, to which cult he had at one time belonged. He died in Westmoreland county, Va., Dec. 31, 1815.

JONES, Wesley Livsey, representative, was born nt-ar Bethany, 111., Oct. 9. 1863; son of Wesley and Phuibe (McKay) Jones. His father, a soldier in the civil war, died Oct. 6, 1«63, from wounds received at Fort Donelson. Wesley was graduated from Southern Illinois college, Enfiehl, 111., in 1885; was admitted to the bar in 1886 and re- moved to Washington, where he began practice in Yakima in 1890. He was a Republican repre- sentative from the state at large in the 5Gth, 57th and 58th congresses, 1899-1905.

JONES, William, governor of Rhode Island, Mas born in Newport, R.I., Oct. 8, 1753; son of William and Elizabeth (Pearce) Jones, and a grandson of Thomas Jones, who emigrated from Wales. His father, who died in 1759, entered the privateer service in the war against France, l>ecoming first lieutenant of the Dake of Marlborough. William received a fair education, and in January, 1776, obtain- ed a commission as lieuten- ant in Lippitt's regiment. He was promoted captain, September, 1776, and on September 14 and 15 the regiment inarched from Rhode Island through Connecticut and joined Washington's army at Harlem Heights, New York. He served in the battle of White Plains and in all the opera- tions preceding the retreat into New Jersey. In February, 1777, the term of enlistment of his regiment expired, and he returned with it to Rhode Island. In February, 1778, he was com- missioned captain of marines on board the frigate Providence, which sailed on April 30, 1778, by order of congress, with despatches to the U.S. commissioners at Paris, arriving at the French port. May 30, 1778. In company with the Ranger and the Queen of France, the Providence siiiled from Boston on a privateering cruise, June 17, 1779, and captured nine British ships and one brig bound from Jamaica to England. On Nov. 24, 1779. the Providence again left Boston, with the Boston, Ranger and Queen of France, for Charleston, S.C., and the crews and guns of three of the ships were put on shore to strengtfien the batteries at Charleston. When on May 10, 1780, General Lincoln suri-endered the town and garri- son. Captain Jones was taken prisoner, but was released on parole, and returned to Rhode Island. He was married, Feb. 28, 1787, to Anne, daughter of Samuel Dunn, of Providence. R.I. He served as justice of the peace and was elected one of the