J. H. Jones
c. 1907
13th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office
January 1896 – January 1900
GovernorAnselm J. McLaurin
Preceded byM. M. Evans
Succeeded byJames T. Harrison
Member of the Mississippi State Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 1890 – January 1896
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the Wilkinson County district
In office
January 1886 – January 1890
Personal details
Born(1840-10-09)October 9, 1840
Autauga County, Alabama, U.S.
DiedDecember 17, 1911(1911-12-17) (aged 71)
Woodville, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2

James Henry Jones (October 9, 1840 - December 17, 1911) was an American politician and lawyer. He served in both houses of the Mississippi Legislature and was the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1896 to 1900. He also was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Early life

James Henry Jones was born on October 9, 1840, in Autauga County, Alabama.[1] He was of French Huguenot ancestry.[1] He was the son of John Edmund Jones, a lawyer and circuit court judge in Alabama, and his wife Mary (Mellard) Jones.[1] Jones attended the University of Mississippi, graduating with a B. A. in 1858.[1] After studying law, Jones moved to Texas and was admitted to the bar in 1859.[1][2] After the American Civil War began in 1861, he returned to Mississippi and enlisted as a private in the Confederate States Army.[1][2] In the winter of 1861, Jones was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.[2][1] In April 1862, Jones returned to Wilkinson County, Mississippi, where he then raised what would become Company D of the 38th Mississippi Infantry.[2][1] While fighting in the war, Jones was seriously wounded at the Siege of Vicksburg and then captured at the Battle of Tupelo.[1] After returning from the war, Jones settled in Woodville, Mississippi, where he continued practicing law.[2][1]

Political career

Jones was elected to represent Wilkinson County as a Democrat in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and served in the 1886 and 1888 sessions.[1][3][4] In 1890, Jones represented the 37th District in the Mississippi State Senate.[1][5] He was also a delegate to the state's 1890 Constitutional Convention.[1][2] Jones was re-elected to the Senate and served in that term from 1892 to 1896.[1] In November 1895, Jones was elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi.[6][1][2] He served for one term that lasted from January 1896 to January 1900.[7] After his term ended, he retired from politics.[2]

Personal life

Jones was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[1] He was also a member of the Freemasons and of the United Confederate Veterans.[1] He married Helen M. Davis, a resident of Wilkinson County, in 1858.[1][2] They had two children: Mary A., who died aged 14; and William Edmund, who died aged 19.[1] Jones died on December 17, 1911, at his home in Woodville, Mississippi.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rowland, Dunbar (1907). Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. Southern Historical Publishing Association. pp. 415–416. ISBN 978-0-87152-221-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Obituary for J. H. Jones". Choctaw Plaindealer. 1911-12-22. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  3. ^ "1886 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  4. ^ "1888 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  5. ^ "MS Legislature 1890". The Clarion-Ledger. 1890-01-02. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  6. ^ "Democracy Wins!". The Sea Coast Echo. 1895-11-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  7. ^ Rowland, Dunbar (1917). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 169.
Categories