Jones was born in Obion County, Tennessee, near Union City on May 16, 1862, a son of Rev.

[1][2] He was educated in the local schools, attended Bethel College in McKenzie, and graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1884,[1] and a Bachelor of Arts in 1885.

[3] In 1908, Jones became New Mexico's member of the Democratic National Committee, and he served until 1922.

[3][5] Jones ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1912;[5] from 1913 to 1916 he served as the first Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[3] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress