Stephen V. Jones Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1587-1588 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	STEPHEN V. JONES, one of the honored pioneer members of the bar of 
Turner county, was born in the township of Union, Rock county, 
Wisconsin, and is a son of Ira and Sarah J. (Lemon) Jones, both of whom 
were born and reared in Ohio. The Jones family came originally from 
Wales, the progenitors in the new world locating in Pennsylvania prior 
to the war of the Revolution, in which representatives of the name were 
active participants, aiding in the securing of the independence of the 
colonies, while those of later generations showed their patriotism by 
taking part in the war of 1812, the Mexican war and that of the 
Rebellion, while members also served in connection with the early Indian 
wars in Ohio, being contemporaries and companions of Allen Poe and other 
noted Indian fighters. The Lemon family came from England to Virginia 
and became prominently identified with the early history of the 
patrician Old Dominion, where the name stood for loyalty and patriotism, 
members of the family taking part in the early French and Indian wars 
and also in the Revolution, one, at least, of the name having been a 
member of Harry Lee's famous light horse cavalry. The Lemons became 
numbered among the early pioneers of Ohio, and were associated with 
Simon Kenton and other celebrated Indian fighters. Representatives of 
this staunch old stock have been found in every war in which the nation 
has been involved, from the Revolution up to and including that with 
Spain. 

	Immediately after their marriage Ira and Sarah J. Jones removed 
from Ohio to central Illinois, where they located about 1835, thus 
becoming pioneers of the state. They later removed to the northern part 
of the state and then to Rock county, Wisconsin, where they settled upon 
a pioneer farmstead in 1840, there being but few white settlers in that 
section at the time, while the Indians were much in evidence. There the 
honored parents of the subject passed the remainder of their lives, 
being persons of sterling character and ever commanding the unqualified 
esteem of all who knew them. 

	The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of 
the home farm, and his early educational training was secured in the 
public schools and under the direction of private tutors. He early put 
his scholastic acquirements to practical use by engaging in teaching, 
through which means and through soliciting for insurance companies he 
obtained the funds which enabled him to further prosecute his studies. 
He was ever ready to turn himself to any honest labor which presented 
and has retained the most wholesome respect for the dignity of honest 
toil and endeavor. He studied surveying, and for a time followed work 
along this line, in 1870, 1871 and 1872. He was a member of what was 
known as the Colorado river exploring expedition, under command of Major 
J. W. Powell, and in this connection has the distinction of being one of 
the seven men who have ever gone through the magnificent canons of the 
Green and Colorado rivers. The trip was made in open boats and was 
attended with much peril. The party started at Green River Station, in 
southeastern Wyoming, and after a year and a half left the Colorado 
river near the southeastern line of Nevada. 

	Mr. Jones was admitted to the bar of the state of Illinois, 
after careful preliminary study, and he was for a short time engaged in 
practice in Wichita, Kansas, coming to the present state of South 
Dakota, arriving at his present home town of Parker, on the 19th of 
September, 1883, and having ever since been actively and successfully 
established in the practice of his profession here. He has served 
several terms as state's attorney of Turner county, and in 1896 was the 
Republican candidate for attorney general of the state, but met the 
defeat which attended the party ticket in general in the state election 
of that year. He has ever been an uncompromising and ardent advocate of 
the principles and policies for which the "grand old party" stands 
sponsor and has been an active worker in its cause. He has been for many 
years identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, while his two elder sons are likewise Freemasons, his 
wife a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and the Daughters of Rebekah, 
and his daughter is affiliated with the Royal Neighbors. Mrs. Jones is a 
communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and all the other members 
of the family incline toward the faith of the same. 

	On the 22d of January, 1883, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to 
Miss Jennie R. Boys, who was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, being a 
daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Andre) Boys, who removed to central 
Illinois when she was young, her educational training having been 
secured in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Illinois, including a 
course in the high school at Lacon, latter state, and in Quincy College, 
Illinois. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones we incorporate 
the following brief record: Claude L. was graduated in the Parker high 
school and the Iowa College of Law, at Des Moines. In October, 1897, he 
was admitted to practice in the supreme court of South Dakota and in 
May, 1899, to that of Iowa. Since June 1, 1899, he has been associated 
with his father in practice, under the firm name of Jones & Jones. In 
November, 1902, he was elected state's attorney of Turner county, just 
sixteen years after his father's first election to that office, and had 
the distinction of receiving the largest majority ever given any 
candidate in the county. Ethel, the only daughter of the subject, is a 
graduate of the Parker high school and the Northwestern University, at 
Evanston, Illinois. Carl R. is a graduate of the home high school and 
the Iowa College of Law, having been admitted to the bar in 1902, and is 
now engaged in the practice of his profession. Ira A. was graduated in 
the Parker high school as a member of the class of 1904.