John Rice Jones
Encyclopedia
John Rice Jones was an American
politician, jurist, and pioneer.
, Wales
, the eldest of fourteen children to John Jones, an excise officer. According to family tradition Jones was educated in Oxford, but this is unconfirmed. In January of 1781 he was married in Brecon
to Eliza, the daughter of Richard and Mary Powell, both from the town. He remained in Brecon setting up as a solicitor, with chambers at Thanet Place in London.
settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
He returned to Wales within the year to bring his wife and son, John Rice, back to America, though leaving behind his infant daughter, Maria. In 1786 he moved to Louisville, Kentucky
and then to Vincennes
. He fought in the Indian Wars under General George Rogers Clark
, ending as commissary-general at Vincennes.
Jones was awarded a grant of land from Congress, and made his fortune as the first English speaking lawyer in the area, as large numbers of people began settling in the area. After the death of his first wife in 1790, he remarried to an American lady with whom he had a large family. Jones helped founded Vincennes University
. In 1805, Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison
appointed Jones attorney general
of Indiana Territory
, helping to frame its first code of laws in 1807. Jones also served in the Indiana Territorial Legislature in the Territorial Council.
Jones moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois
to help established the Illinois Territory
. Finally, Jones moved to Missouri Territory
to practice law and open a smelt furnace. Jones served in the Missouri Territorial Legislature in the Territorial Council in 1814. In 1820, Jones was elected to the first Missouri Constitution Convention and in 1821 was elected to the Missouri Supreme Court dying in office in 1824. One of his sons was George W. Jones
who served in the United States Senate from Iowa.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, jurist, and pioneer.
Early history
Jones was born in MallwydMallwyd
Mallwyd is a small village at the most southern end of the county of Gwynedd in North Wales in the valley of the River Dyfi. It lies on the A470 approximately half-way between Dolgellau and Machynlleth, and forms the junction of the A458 towards Welshpool. The nearest village is Dinas Mawddwy, two...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the eldest of fourteen children to John Jones, an excise officer. According to family tradition Jones was educated in Oxford, but this is unconfirmed. In January of 1781 he was married in Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
to Eliza, the daughter of Richard and Mary Powell, both from the town. He remained in Brecon setting up as a solicitor, with chambers at Thanet Place in London.
Life in America
In 1784 he sailed to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
He returned to Wales within the year to bring his wife and son, John Rice, back to America, though leaving behind his infant daughter, Maria. In 1786 he moved to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and then to Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
. He fought in the Indian Wars under General George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
, ending as commissary-general at Vincennes.
Jones was awarded a grant of land from Congress, and made his fortune as the first English speaking lawyer in the area, as large numbers of people began settling in the area. After the death of his first wife in 1790, he remarried to an American lady with whom he had a large family. Jones helped founded Vincennes University
Vincennes University
Vincennes University is a public university in Vincennes, Indiana, in the United States. Founded in 1801 as Jefferson Academy, VU is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Indiana. Since 1889, VU has been a two-year university, although baccalaureate degrees in seven select areas are...
. In 1805, Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
appointed Jones attorney general
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
of Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
, helping to frame its first code of laws in 1807. Jones also served in the Indiana Territorial Legislature in the Territorial Council.
Jones moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
to help established the Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
. Finally, Jones moved to Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
to practice law and open a smelt furnace. Jones served in the Missouri Territorial Legislature in the Territorial Council in 1814. In 1820, Jones was elected to the first Missouri Constitution Convention and in 1821 was elected to the Missouri Supreme Court dying in office in 1824. One of his sons was George W. Jones
George W. Jones
George Wallace Jones , a frontiersman, entrepreneur, attorney, and judge, was among the first two United States Senators to represent the state of Iowa after it was admitted to the Union in 1846...
who served in the United States Senate from Iowa.