The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-02-03
A GOOD MAN GONE.
Death of William j. Jones, Esq.
Sketch of his Life, NC.

home III Elkt0n on 0uuuay
twenty five minutes of ten O'Clock, alter
a brief illness of five day from pneu
monis, in the sixty fifth year Of his age
MIR. Jones was apparently III his usual
health until the Monday preceding ms
death. when he was attacked with
heavy cold, and on Tuesday evening SUI
fered a congestive chill, which rapialy
developed into typhoid pneumonia. His
attending physicians Drs. Ellis ana
Bratton at once regarded his CONDITION
as critical and despite every ehort no
gradually sank. DIR. William Pepper
of Philadelphia, was called into consul
tstion on Sunday but life was then a
question of q few hours.
The intelligence was everywhere re
oeived with profound regret, ana the
heartfelt sympathy of the community
went out to the bereaved family.
Mr.. Jones was indeed one of Cecils most
honored and representative men. 1he
senior partner of the prominent law firm
of Jones & Hsines, he held high posi-
ton in the legal profession and was a
| recognized leader at the Bar, of which
he was the senior member. His ABILITY
and fidelity as a lawyer acquired him
lucrative practice and throughout his
legal career he maintained the utmost
| confidence of his clientage, for whose
interests his best efforts were always put
forth. At the time of his death MIR.
Jones was the counsel of Hon. JACOB
Tome; attorney for the Philadelphia
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
Company, and the Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, of Cecil county.
His own experiences in acquiring an
education made him a staunch and
devoted friend of the school boy and
he was ever ready to proffer helping
hand to the cause of education. He was
trustee of the Eikton Academy aud
also a member of the Board OF Trustees
Of Dickinson College and which duties
were always source of much pleasure
to him in their faithful performance.
He early identified himself with che
Elkton Methodist Church, and through,
out his life continued an honored and
useful member, literally responding to
the demands of the church and to the
calls of charity. As trustee he was
ever solicitous for the welfare OF the
church and was d central figure in its
councils. He was an active worker in
the Sunday School.
William ]. Jones, the son of William
Jones, was born in Elkton on August 20,
1929. He received an ordinary common
school education 1T the Elkton Academy
which he left at the age of fourteen
years and entered a mechanics shop
where he remained until about his
twenty-Second year. He was boy
given to study aud research aud while
active with his hands his brain was not
neglected. During that time, unassisted,
ne improved his knowledge of Latin, the
rudiments of which he acquired at school
He also pursued au extensive, though
desultory, course OF English literature.
He read history, poetry, fiction, divinity,
whatever be could lay his hands upon,
without order or system o. any kind, and
came out of it all as he said, "@ithoat
mental dyspepsia, and with a taste for
good reading. and habit of thinking
and writing about his reading" 10 the
spring of 1852 he purchased half inter
est in the CECIL Wing, of which he took
the editorial management. The failure
of 4 newspaper enterprise in which Mr..
Ricketts, the original owner OF the
WING, had engaged brought that gentle
man again TO the WING. In the early
part of 1858 Mr.. Jones commenced read
ing law in the office of Colonel John g.
Groome. In 1866 he was admitted to
the bar. In politics he had been Wing
and he heartily advocated the Domi-
nation of General Scott for the Presi-
dency. When the Wing party became
organization of the American party.
Mr.. Jones, and half dozen others in
different parts Of the county, took the
management of the new party into their
own hands. In 1857 he was appointed
States Attorney for Cecil county, to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the removal
of the late Judge Grason from the county
Iu 1858 he married Miss Mary j. Smith
OF Connecticut. The next year he was
elected States Attorney for the full term
of four years.
On the breaking out of the war be
took the side of the Government in the
most uncompromising manner; and in
1868 acted With Henry Winter Davis in the
organization of the unconditional Union
| party, and with speech and pen urged
| the abolition of slavery. AS the advo-
cate OF this policy he was re nominated
aud elected to the Legislature of Mary
| land After this nomination he was also
| nominated as a candidate for Congies
against Honorable John W. Cristield,
but declined, when Mr.. Creswell was
nominated and elected.
| Mr. Jones took his seat in the House
of Delegates, January 1864, and was
made Chairman of the Ways and Means
| Committee. In 1865 he was appointed
by President Johnson, United State:
District Attorney for Mary land. but
refusing to indorss Mir. Johnson
views, he was relieved after holding
office about one year. Being TOLD
by friend that he would be removed
unless he pdbliciy iudorsed th'
Presidents views he said: 81 think i
would be wrong for me, occupying thi
office, to discuss, on the hustngs or i,
newspapers, questions which [ am cer-
tain to be called upon to treat officially
But | will not deceive you or the Presi
dent am utterly opposed to his policy
and am ready to take all the consequence
OF that avowal"
He resumed his home practice IN 1866
and six years later. January l, 1872
formed partnership with l.. Marshal
Haines, Esq which has since existed.
Beside his widow three children SUI
vive him: Allan D. Jones, an employ
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
residing at Ridley Park, Pa; Mrs. Mari
, Avery, wife of Rev. Walter E. Aver
now pastor os the NJ. +. Church, castor
Nd; Mrs. Fannie Bratton wife Of Dl
Howard Bratton, of Elkton.
S The funeral services were cenducte