Born on February 26, 1882, in Valley View, Cooke County, Texas, Jones attended the common schools and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902 from John B. Denton College (now defunct), a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1905 from Southwestern University and a Bachelor of Laws in 1907 from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the bar the same year.

He was a member of the Texas Board of Legal Examiners for the Seventh Supreme Judicial District in 1913.

Jones was reassigned by operation of law to the newly created Chief Judge seat on the renamed United States Court of Claims on September 1, 1948, pursuant to 62 Stat.

[1] Jones was on leave from the United States Court of Claims beginning January 15, 1943, to serve as adviser and assistant to the Director of the Office of Economic Stabilization until June 29, 1943, when he was appointed Administrator of the War Food Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture, serving until July 1, 1945, when he resumed his duties on the United States Court of Claims.

[1] Jones served as a Special Master for the United States Supreme Court for Mississippi and Louisiana in 1965.