Wikipedia

James R. Jones (Virginia politician)

James Richard Jones (commonly known as "Dick Jones") [1] was an African American who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly during the Reconstruction era, as well as the federal postmaster for Boydton (the Mecklenburg county seat). He was affiliated with the Readjuster Party and earlier with the Republican party. After losing his bid for re-election, Jones moved to Washington, D.C. where he served as a member of the U.S. Capitol Police.[2]

James Richard Jones
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Mecklenburg County district
In office
December 2, 1885 – 1887
Preceded byAmos Andre Dodson
Succeeded byBritton Baskerville Jr.
Member of the Virginia Senate from the Charlotte and Mecklenburg Counties
In office
December 7, 1881 – December 4, 1883
Preceded byC.L. Davis
Succeeded byWilliam Townes
In office
November 1876 – December 4, 1877
Preceded byAlbert P. Lathrop
Succeeded byE. B. Goode
Personal details
Borncirca 1847
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Diedafter 1902
Washington, D.C.
Political partyRepublican
Readjuster Party
Spouse(s)Mary E. Jones, Martha Jones
OccupationPostmaster, politician, policeman

Career

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Jones was a business partner of Ross Hamilton, who had been born a slave in Mecklenburg County, Virginia and after being freed as a result of the American Civil War, represented Mecklenburg County many times in the Virginia House of Delegates. Jones and Hamilton bought several pieces of real estate in Boydton, the Mecklenburg County seat. However, they eventually had a falling out, with Hamilton remaining a "straightout" Republican, and Jones affiliating with the Readjuster Party led by former Confederate general turned railroad executive William Mahone.

Jones first won election to the Virginia Senate by taking over mid-term to fill the vacated seat after the death of Albert P. Lathrop, who represented Mecklenburg and neighboring Charlotte County, Virginia.[2][3] In 1877, Jones ran for the next session as a Radical Republican but lost to a white conservative E. B. Goode by 373 votes.[4][2]

In August 1880 Jones received a Patronage appointment as postmaster for Boydton, and continued in that position until January 12, 1885.[2] This caused complications because Virginia law prohibited federal employees from serving as state legislators (although Virginia state legislators can hold other employment).

During this same period Jones ran again for that state senate seat (Goode having been succeeded by C.L. Davis), but this time as a member of the Readjuster Party and in 1881 won a four-year term.[2][5][6] Jones introduced two bills to abolish the whipping post and to remove that slavery legacy from the state.[2] However, Jones resigned on December 1, 1883 part way though his term.[7] He was one of four senators found to have flaunted the constitution and laws by being elected whilst holding a salaried office under the State Government.[8]

Jones then ran for delegate in 1885 and defeated Democrat Charles L. Finch.[2] Having resigned his federal job, he represented Mecklenburg County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1885 to 1887[5] as a Republican.[9][10] However, he failed to gain the Republican nomination for the next term in 1887, presumably at least in part because of legal troubles described below.[2]

In the same month as his legislative service resumed, December 1885, Jones was accused of stealing a registered letter two years earlier whilst he was the Boydton postmaster.[11] He was tried, April 13, 1886, at the federal court in Richmond on charges of mail tampering, but the jury could not agree on his guilt, and hung.[12] In October he was again tried on those charges and acquitted.[2]

By December 1888 Jones had moved to Washington, D.C. where he joined the Capitol police force.[2]

Family life

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Because of his common name and use of nickname, this man's date of birth is unclear. He may be the 33 year old Black farmer James Jones who lived with his wife, son and daughter in Boydton, the Mecklenburg County seat in 1880.[13] Complicating matters, two White men of the same name also lived in the county, merchant James R. Jones who operated a store in Boydton with his brother Silas,[14] and James T. Jones who lived in Clarksville with his wife and family.[15] While James B. Jones shows in the 1900 census of Washington D.C. as living at 1716 E. Street NW, that man born in Virginia in 1847 was a servant to John Keane, a New Yorker who worked as a driver.[16] and another James Jones who worked as a cart-driver and was born in Virginia circa 1854 lived with his wife and another Black couple in another ward.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Probably because Jones used a nickname, one historian believes his first name was "Joseph" See Luther Porter Jackson, Negro Office-Holder in Virginia 1865-1895 (Norfolk; Guide Quality Press 1945) p.23 at hathitrust.org or reprinted by UMI books on demand
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tarter, Brent. "James Richard Jones (died after 1902)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  3. ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) p. 524 and note
  4. ^ "The Elections". Richmond Dispatch. 12 November 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022. 
  5. ^ a b "Bill Tracking - 2012 session > Legislation". leg1.state.va.us. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. ^ Leonard p. 536
  7. ^ "Vacant Senate Seats". Richmond Dispatch. 11 December 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022. 
  8. ^ "The Senatorial Vacancies". The Norfolk Virginian. 12 December 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022. 
  9. ^ "The Legislature". Southwest Examiner. 14 November 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2022. 
  10. ^ Leonard p. 542
  11. ^ "Delegate J.R. Jones Charged". Richmond Dispatch. 3 December 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. ^ "James R. Jones Trial". Alexandria Gazette. 14 April 1886. p. 2. Retrieved 3 June 2022. 
  13. ^ 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Dist.141, Boydton, Mecklenburg County, Virginia p. 36 of 52
  14. ^ 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Dist.141, Boydton, Mecklenburg County, Virginia p. 7 of 52
  15. ^ 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Dist.146, Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia p. 39 of 59
  16. ^ 1900 U.S. Federal Census for District 23, Washington DC p. 1 of 48
  17. ^ 1900 U.S. Federal Census for District 32, Washington DC p. 10 of 30
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