Source:
Evansville and its Men of Mark
Edward White, Editor. Evansville, Ind.
Historical Publishing Company, 1873.
Pages 44-45

      No work on Evansville would be complete without mention of Col. Jas. G. Jones. He grew up with the city and was ever identified with its interests. One of the earliest settlers in this section, his personal reminiscences went back to the time when Evansville was a mere village, and the surrounding country a wilderness.

      Col. Jones was born at Paris, Kentucky, July 3d, 1814. He came, with his parents, to Vanderburgh County in 1819, and settled in Union Township. His youthful education consisted in the sports and labors of pioneer life - proficient in the use of gun and oar - able to read and write - he even then gave promise of the larger fame and fortune which he was destined to experience.

      It is only owing to his indomitable pluck and the aid of a hickory fire that his mind became familiar with the abstruse sciences of mathematics, which he diligently studied in his father's cabin. By dint of hard work he became a lawyer, and was recognized as among the most brilliant of the State. His logical mind made his services as a counselor invaluable, and ranked him above the eloquent advocate, for he came out from all legal encounters with victory on his Bide, where it was possible of attainment. One of his first public positions was that of County Recorder, and he has made the county records upon which most of the titles to the real estate depend. He was, also, a good surveyor, and his work in this capacity is the recognized guide for the present surveys of the city.

      In 1840, he was Attorney of the city under the corporation also, a town trustee. In the latter capacity he drew, in his own beautiful chirography, the draft of the city charter, under which the city government was formed. His efforts secured the many special privileges which Evansville today enjoys, and which were put into practical operation in 1847. He was the first Mayor of the city, receiving a salary of five hundred dollars; and in 1850 he was re-elected to a second term. His election involved the Temperance question, or that of "license" and "no license," and his majority as the license candidate, against Conrad Baker, his no-license competitor, was sixty-three votes. In 1853, he was defeated for this office, on local issues, by Hon. Jno. S. Hopkins; and in 1856, by the late John Henson, on political questions - Col. Jones being the Republican nominee. He was afterward twice defeated for the City Council.

      In 1860, Col. Jones was elected by the Republican party for the office of Attorney-General of Indiana, an office which he gave up in 1861, to accept the colonelcy of the Forty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. His patriotism was manifested by distinguished services in the cause of the Union. Sickness, from which he never really recovered, took him from the field of battle; but he was, without doubt, of as great service to the country as Provost Marshal General of the State, and subsequently as the head of the recruiting bureau.

      At the close of the war he resumed his practice of the law, but his tremendous labors in the army had told on his constitution; and in 1869 he held his last official position, by appointment of Governor Baker, as Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, caused by the resignation of Hon. Wm. F. Parrett.

      In February, 1838, he was married to Miss Rose Ann Rappelye, the daughter of one of our oldest citizens; and four sons and four daughters were born to them.

      Colonel Jones died April 5th, 1872, and his loss was deeply mourned. His genial temperament rendered him a good companion and a deservedly popular man in all circles, His gifts of heart and mind held all in his friendship and bound them still closer to him. The loving husband and kind father - there is, also, the broad circle of the community which recognized his worth; the State which honored him in its trying moments; and the loving recollections in which his memory is enshrined.