George W. Jones
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| George Wallace Jones | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 07, 1848 – March 03, 1859 Serving with [[]] |
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| Preceded by | None |
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| Succeeded by | James W. Grimes |
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| Born | April 12, 1804 Vincennes, Indiana, USA |
| Died | July 22, 1896 Dubuque, Iowa, USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
George Wallace Jones (April 12, 1804 - July 22, 1896), a Democrat, was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He was among the first two United States Senators to represent the state of Iowa after it was admitted to the Union 1846. He served two terms, from December 7, 1848 to March 3, 1859.
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[edit] Early life
Jones was born in Vincennes, Indiana and later moved to Kentucky where he attended Transylvania University in 1825, and studied law. Once he was admitted to the bar he moved to Sinsinawa Mound in Michigan Territory where he worked as a miner and a storekeeper.
In 1832, Jones fought the Sauk and Fox Indians in the Black Hawk War.
Jones was a judge in the local county court, and later represented the Michigan Territory as a delegate in Congress from 1835 until 1837. He then became the first Congressional delegate from the Territory of Wisconsin, which was formed from a portion of the Michigan Territory. He continued to represent the Territory of Wisconsin until 1839.
[edit] The Senate
Jones then served in the United States Senate from Iowa serving from December 7, 1848 to March 3, 1859. He was Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills, the Committee on Pensions, and the Committee on Enrolled Bills. He served two terms before failing to be renominated.
[edit] Later life
Jones was appointed as "Minister Resident" of the United States to New Granada in 1859. Upon returning to the United States in 1861, Jones was arrested by order of Secretary of State William Seward on the charge of disloyalty, based upon correspondence with his friend Jefferson Davis. Jones was held for 34 days, until he was released by order of President Abraham Lincoln
Jones then retired and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he died on July 22, 1896.
Jones County, Iowa was named in honor of George W. Jones. In 1912, the State Historical Society of Iowa published the biography George Wallace Jones, by John Carl Parish.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Lucius Lyon |
United States Representative 8th of 8 Delegates from Michigan Territory 1835– 1837 |
Succeeded by No one due to statehood |
| Preceded by None |
United States Representative 1st of 6 Delegates from Wisconsin Territory 1836– 1839 |
Succeeded by James Duane Doty |
| Preceded by None |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Iowa 1848–1859 Served alongside: Augustus C. Dodge, James Harlan |
Succeeded by James W. Grimes |
