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JAMES L. JONES (familiarly known as Lew Jones), county judge was born in Giles County, Tenn., October 28, 1824, son of Edward Dandridge and Elizabeth H. (Rainey) Jones, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. The former was born in 1788 and the latter in 1790. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Abram Jones, a native of Virginia, who died in that State some time about 1792. About 1818 the father of our subject immigrated to Giles County, Tenn., and for nineteen years was county court clerk. He died in 1855. Our subject's mother died in Tennessee in 1854. James L. Jones was a country boy, and received his education in the common schools. In 1847 he enlisted in Company C, Third Regiment, Tennessee Foot Volunteers of the Mexican war. He was a lieutenant, and served until the close of the war. From 1848 to 1855 he was deputy county court clerk. Then for a number of years he was engaged in trading. In 1865 he was elected magistrate and also assistant assessor of internal revenue, which position he held until 1869. In 1873 he was elected county judge, which office he has held continuously since. His official record is one of the best ever made in Giles County. In 1860 he wedded Julia E. Blair, of Maury County, Tenn., and this union was blessed by the birth of nine children, six of whom survive: Edward B, Llewellyn, Mattie R., Elizabeth H., William R., and Mary. Mr. Jones was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat. He is a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
From: Goodspeed's History of Giles County
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