James G. Jones attended local subscription schools in Vanderburgh County and eventually became a lawyer like his father, becoming one of the most prominent members of the Evansville bar association. He served as the Recorder and then the Surveyor for Vanderburgh County. He was the city attorney of Evansville in 1840 and also served once as a town trustee. He became the first mayor of Evansville and was re-elected to the position, serving from 1847 to 1853. He also wrote the first charter of the city. Jones supported Whig candidate George H. Proffit in his race against Robert Dale Owen for a U.S. House seat in the 1838 elections.[1][5][6]
Jones, a Protestant, defended Father Roman Weinzoepfel, a Catholic priest, in two widely publicized trials in Evansville. Weinzoepfel had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was at church for confession. The jury could reach no verdict in the first trial, but in the second, the jury found Weinzoepfel guilty. Later, in 1845, Weinzoepfel would receive a gubernatorial pardon from James Whitcomb on the recommendation of First LadySarah Childress Polk.[4]
In 1860, Jones wrote a letter to former U.S. Representative from Indiana, Richard W. Thompson, expressing his support for the creation of a "Union Party" while condemning both secessionists and abolitionists.[3]
Also in 1860, Jones (having become a Republican) was elected Indiana Attorney General, succeeding Joseph E. McDonald. He served briefly under GovernorsAbram A. Hammond (a Democrat) and Henry Smith Lane (a Republican) and served the bulk of his term under Oliver P. Morton (also a Republican). Jones authored a letter to Governor Morton, expressing his fears about the potentially secessionist views of southern Hoosier residents of Evansville and recommended the governor seize state arms from Evansville citizens and redistribute them among pro-Union Indiana Republicans.[1][5]
In 1861, after less than a year in office, Jones resigned and was succeeded to the position by John Palmer Usher. Jones resigned to enlist in the Union Army following the outbreak of the Civil War. Jones served as a colonel of the 42nd Indiana Infantry Regiment until poor health forced him to return to Evansville. He continued his military service, however, becoming provost marshal of Indiana and heading a recruitment bureau. [1][5]
After the end of the war, Jones returned to practicing law. In 1869, Governor Conrad Baker appointed Jones to be judge of the Fifteenth Circuit Court, though his failing health forced him to retire from the bench.[1][5]
Jones had four daughters and two sons. Jones was the father-in-law of Eccles G. Van Riper, Democratic Mayor of Evansville in 1871 and a prisoner of war in Arkansas during the Civil War.[5][7][8]
^ abcdefgMonks, Leander John (1916). Courts and lawyers of Indiana. Indianapolis: Federal Publishing Company.
^"Attorneys General of Indiana". Indiana State Library.
^ ab"Letter from James G. Jones to Richard W. Thompson". The Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection.
^ abMcMullen, John W. (2004). A History of Catholicism in Evansville and Vanderburgh County in the Nineteenth Century(PDF). Notre Dame: Holy Cross History Association.
^ abcdefgEsarey, Logan (1922). A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922. Dayton: Dayton Historical Publishing Company.
^Elliott, Joseph Peter (1897). A History of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana: A Complete and Concise Account from the Earliest Times to the Present, Embracing Reminiscences of the Pioneers and Biographical Sketches of the Men who Have Been Leaders in Commercial and Other Enterprises. Keller Printing Company. p. 361.
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For the Air Force general see James G Jones James Garrard Jones July 3 1814 April 5 1872 was an American politician lawyer soldier and judge who served as the first mayor of Evansville Indiana 1847 1853 and as the third Indiana Attorney General 1860 1861 1 2 3 James G Jones1st Mayor of Evansville IndianaIn office 1847 1853Succeeded byJohn S Hopkins3rd Indiana Attorney GeneralIn office December 31 1860 November 1 1861GovernorAbram A Hammond Henry Smith Lane Oliver P MortonPreceded byJoseph E McDonaldSucceeded byJohn Palmer UsherBiography EditJones was born in Paris Kentucky in 1814 His father was James W Jones and his mother was the daughter of Robert Trimble who later became a Justice of the United States Supreme Court When James G was very young James W moved the family to Princeton Indiana Territory where James W ran a successful general store In 1819 James W moved his family to Union Township Vanderburgh County James W was a prominent early resident of Evansville working at one of the town s leading law firms serving as the clerk of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court and being acquainted with Evansville founder Hugh McGary Jr The older brother of James G William T T Jones was also a lawyer and circuit court clerk and additionally served in the Indiana General Assembly 1 4 5 James G Jones attended local subscription schools in Vanderburgh County and eventually became a lawyer like his father becoming one of the most prominent members of the Evansville bar association He served as the Recorder and then the Surveyor for Vanderburgh County He was the city attorney of Evansville in 1840 and also served once as a town trustee He became the first mayor of Evansville and was re elected to the position serving from 1847 to 1853 He also wrote the first charter of the city Jones supported Whig candidate George H Proffit in his race against Robert Dale Owen for a U S House seat in the 1838 elections 1 5 6 Jones a Protestant defended Father Roman Weinzoepfel a Catholic priest in two widely publicized trials in Evansville Weinzoepfel had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was at church for confession The jury could reach no verdict in the first trial but in the second the jury found Weinzoepfel guilty Later in 1845 Weinzoepfel would receive a gubernatorial pardon from James Whitcomb on the recommendation of First Lady Sarah Childress Polk 4 In 1860 Jones wrote a letter to former U S Representative from Indiana Richard W Thompson expressing his support for the creation of a Union Party while condemning both secessionists and abolitionists 3 Also in 1860 Jones having become a Republican was elected Indiana Attorney General succeeding Joseph E McDonald He served briefly under Governors Abram A Hammond a Democrat and Henry Smith Lane a Republican and served the bulk of his term under Oliver P Morton also a Republican Jones authored a letter to Governor Morton expressing his fears about the potentially secessionist views of southern Hoosier residents of Evansville and recommended the governor seize state arms from Evansville citizens and redistribute them among pro Union Indiana Republicans 1 5 In 1861 after less than a year in office Jones resigned and was succeeded to the position by John Palmer Usher Jones resigned to enlist in the Union Army following the outbreak of the Civil War Jones served as a colonel of the 42nd Indiana Infantry Regiment until poor health forced him to return to Evansville He continued his military service however becoming provost marshal of Indiana and heading a recruitment bureau 1 5 After the end of the war Jones returned to practicing law In 1869 Governor Conrad Baker appointed Jones to be judge of the Fifteenth Circuit Court though his failing health forced him to retire from the bench 1 5 Jones had four daughters and two sons Jones was the father in law of Eccles G Van Riper Democratic Mayor of Evansville in 1871 and a prisoner of war in Arkansas during the Civil War 5 7 8 Jones died in 1872 1 5 References Edit a b c d e f g Monks Leander John 1916 Courts and lawyers of Indiana Indianapolis Federal Publishing Company Attorneys General of Indiana Indiana State Library a b Letter from James G Jones to Richard W Thompson The Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection a b McMullen John W 2004 A History of Catholicism in Evansville and Vanderburgh County in the Nineteenth Century PDF Notre Dame Holy Cross History Association a b c d e f g Esarey Logan 1922 A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 Dayton Dayton Historical Publishing Company Elliott Joseph Peter 1897 A History of Evansville and Vanderburgh County Indiana A Complete and Concise Account from the Earliest Times to the Present Embracing Reminiscences of the Pioneers and Biographical Sketches of the Men who Have Been Leaders in Commercial and Other Enterprises Keller Printing Company p 361 Jones J The Political Graveyard Vann to Vanvranken The Political Graveyard Political officesPreceded byJoseph E McDonald Indiana Attorney General1860 1861 Succeeded byJohn Palmer Usher This article about an Indiana politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James G Jones politician amp oldid 1141135505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
