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COL. H. GARR JONES, a prominent criminal lawyer of Mt. Vernon,who has attained a foremost place at the Jefferson County Bar through skill, ability and earnest effort, was born in Hendricks County, Ind., February 17, 1854. The paternal grandfather, Zadock Jones, was born in Maryland in 1756, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Kentucky in 1856, at the age of one hundred years. John F. Jones, an uncle of our subject, kept the Jones House at Greencastle, Ind., for more than half a century, and there died at the age of ninety years. The father of our subject, Soverin Jones, was a native of Kentucky, and was born March 1, 1789, He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, was a farmer by occupation, and was quite a prominent local politician. His death occurred at the age of seventy-three. He married Anna Barlow Garr, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Simon Garr, the founder of the Garr-Scott Foundry, of Richmond, Ind. She passed away in 1878, at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject is the youngest of three brothers and the only one now living. S. F. served with the boys in blue in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and died in Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. B. M. was a professor in the Emporia (Kan.) Normal School, and there died March 14, 1893. The subject of this sketch spent his early life upon the home farm in the county of his nativity, and there acquired a good academic education. Looking about him for a pursuit or profession which he wished to make his life work, he chose that of law, and at the age of seventeen began studying with Peterson & Lockhart, leading attorneys of Lebanon, Ind. In 1874 he was admitted to the Bar, and at once began practice in Lebanon Ind., where he remained until 1878. Then going west, he accepted a position as teacher in the Government school for Indians, near Pierre, S. Dak., and later joined a surveying party in Bismarck, N. Dak., which was employed on the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1884 he located in Eureka, Kan., where he successfully engaged in the practice of law for several years. He became one of the leading and influential citizens of the place, and filled a number of responsible positions, including those of Mayor and State's Attorney. He was tendered the unanimous nomination for District Judge, but declined the honor. While living in Eureka, Colonel Jones was united in marriage, June 8, 1886, with Miss Cora E. Crane, of Madison, Wis., daughter of Dr. Crane, of this city, and a cousin of Adjutant-General Chapman, of Wisconsin. Leaving Eureka, Kan., in June, 1893, Mr. Jones came to Mt. Vernon, where he has since made his home. His great success has been achieved as a criminal lawyer, and to this branch of practice, he gives his entire attention. When he came to Mt. Vernon, he formed a partnership with W. C. Blair, a prominent young attorney and the present Police Judge of this city. He has built up a profitable practice and a wide reputation in the profession. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to several other civic societies, in all of which he is prominent. He is now (1894) the nominee of the Populist party for Congress from the Twentieth District of Illinois, and it is the wish of his hosts of friends that success may be his.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, IL |
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