The daily union., 1852-07-07
pioneer IIistory Of Illinois.

going through the press and copy from its pages
day short sketch Of Judge Jones' the father and OF Rice
jones' tho brother, Of Hon. George w. jones' the dis
tinguished senator from Iowa. There were individuals
among the pioneers Of the West who added to indomi
table energy learning and refinement which would have
made them distinguished in the Oldest and most highly
civilized communities:
ain the year 1890. an enerprising and very conspcu
GUS character, John Rice JONES' arrived in kaskaskia
and located himself there. Mr. Jones was born Fcbu-
ary 10, 1859, in Meronthshe, in Wales lie received
classical education in the old country tie was regular
college graduate; he studied law 10 England He was
good linguis having become well acquainted with the
Greek, Latin, and French, well the English. The
soundness OF his mind enabled him also to become an
excellent mathematician, which he preferred 10 all other
science He was, in fact, an accomplished schoar and
with these advantages, became scientific and pro-
found lawyer, and through life he was sound and en-
"n lhe s1a year 7so Mr Jones emisra,ed to the United
States, and settled in Philadelphia. He opened law
Office in that city, and practised his profession there for
some time. During this time he became acquainted with
Dr. Franklin, DR. Rush, Myers Fisher, and other dstn-
guished characters.
He left Philadelphia and emgrael 10 Vincennes in
the year l7S7 when the Northwestern Territory was or
"Mr Jones the next year. 1888, assisted William Biggs
to return to his family in The New Design, IN Illinois,
from his captivity with the Indians.
n the year i7o0, he settled in Kaskaska, and there
prac,sed his profession. He the first practising
lawyer in Illinois, and would be conspicuous member
Of his profession in any country He possessed strong
and acve mind, rather restless and excessively ener
getc This energy OF character enabled hun TO practise
law in important at different times of his life
th roughou the Wes-LouisvIle, Kentucky; Vincennes
Indiana Kaskaska, Cahokia, Illinois, and many OF The
courts in Missouri, after The cesslon oil the county In
1903, from France TO the United States. Mr.. Jones
being excellent French scholar, enabled him TO do the
business of the French population 10 the advantage Of
both parties.
.sHe always employed his time in some honorable bus-
ness, and permitted himself TO be idle, or engaged
in light or frivolous amusements Like most Of his
1 fTftuU
although he possessed strong mind, his passions swept
over his reason like tornado His friendships
dent and sincere and his hatred and anger were exces
cessiyely scathing for the moment When his feelings
OF ire excited, his words burnt his victims like
drops OF molten lead on the naked skin lie was mIld
and amiable until injury insult he supposed
offered 10 him then he burst asunder all restraints,
and stood The fearless champion OF his rights. bidding
defiance TO all opposition. He possessed great degree
Ia the fore part OF the year iso2 he again moved
yncennes and appointed a United States judge OF
the Indiana Territory. He and Col johnson revised the
statute laws of Indiana IN 1907 and The legislature OF
/ that Stale enacted them with very little alteration The
substance OF these acts is still retained IN our statute
books Illinois, al that time, comprised part oi In
1 diana.
"In 1910, Judge Jones moved TO ST Louis, Missouri,
but did not reside there any great time, but settled in
Washington county, Missouri, al Poosi.
:" Here he found Moses Austin with whom he formed
partnership in the lead business They erected the first
cupao eyerbetug furnace ever made IN the United
States BY this furnace fifteen or twenty per cent more
lead be extracted from the ore than by the former FUR
naces, 49,
county Missouri to form the first constitution OF that
State Jones a wise and efficient member OF that
convention, which sat in ST. Louis 10 the year 1919 He
was candidate before the next General Assembly OF the
State for the United States Senate, but Colonel Benton
"Judge Jones was elected by the legislature one
OF the Judges OF the supreme court oil Missouri which
Office he retained during his life HIS decisions in the
supreme court were always much respected by the bar
and the public.
"He died in ST. Louis, while in office, in s24 and was
| nearly sixiy-hve years OF age On has death-bed he
said he did desire live any longer as he could be
source Of Trouble if be lived any onse He was per-
ecy resigned to his faie and died with that calm CON-
posure that always attends the exit OF the nobest work
The person of Judge Jones was SMALL but erect and
active His complexion dark, and his hair and eyes
very black, HIS eye, when excited, was severe and
| piercing
Judge Jones lived life OF great activity and con-
spcuous and prominent in all the important Transactions
OF the country In his youth, although not bred to the
i military profession, yet he engaged IN the wars
against the Indians, both in Indiana and Illinois The
death OF Judge Jones regretted by wide circle OF
friends and the public generally HIS integrity, honor,
and honesty were always above doubt suspicion. He
exemplary in his moral habits and lived temperate
and orderly man in all things de le large and re-
spectacle family. His have filled, with credit TO
them selves, many OF the most important offices in the
country, and one, this time-tbe Hon. G. w Jones'
is in the Senate OF the United Sates from the State OF
Iowa
Rice Jones' the eldest son OF Judge John Rice Jones,
born in Philadelphia in the year ISL When his age
permitted he placed in the institution in Kentucky,
and was classmae OF the late Colonel Richard NJ John
son. Of that State. Young Jones endowed with great
intellectual powers, and thereby made rapid advances in
his education He quilted the school in Kentucky with
reputation for talents and education inferior TO any
4 student that at the institution. .ssa,5a..
"Aer finishing his education, he studied medicine in
Philadelphia and graduated from the medical school with
4 a diploma, and, what is better, with much honor
\ AFTER practising medicine short time, and dsk ing
i that profession, he abandoned IT, and commenced, in
Lchhcld Connecticut the study OF the law After some
years o intense study he quilted the institution with in
creased honor. faM .
ale located hinselfn Kaskaskia in The year 1906 and
opened law Office No young at that day, and not
many since, commenced with prospects Of more bri-
liant career OF life than Rice Jones did. He possessed a
strong intellect but also endowed with excessive
ambition together with ardent aud impeuoos dspo-
sition. and showed the Welsh temper more than bis
father. lie pfacnsed his profession some time, and his
friends needed his talents and cnces in their political
II scrambles.
u "Party spirit ragged in and about Kaskaska with a
violence not equaed at any time since. Many OF the
prominent politicians almost crazy the subject.
Young Jones caught the sas and became excessively
jealous. Although he young, yet from hls taens
and energy he the head OF of the parties IN
That day He had been elected member Of the lcgisla
ure OF Indiana held at Vincennes. and becoming
ivery conspicuous character in the country The other