Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896

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George Wallace Jones (1804-1896), born in Vincennes, Indiana, was a prominent jurist and politician in the upper mid-west region of the United States. He graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky in 1825. After being admitted to the bar, Jones moved to Michigan Territory where he worked as a miner and storekeeper; served in the Black Hawk War; and was a judge of the county court. He served as congressman from Michigan (1835-1837) and as one of the state of Iowa's first U. S. senators (1848-1859) after it was admitted as a state. Due to his close friendship with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Jones was accused of disloyalty by Secretary of State William Seward and arrested in 1861. President Lincoln released him from jail after 34 days of captivity. He died and is buried in Dubuque, Iowa. Jones County, Iowa, is named in his honor.

From the description of Jones, George Wallace, papers, circa 1787-1840 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 298213612

One of the first senators from Iowa and served as such for twelve years.

From the description of Letters, 1844-1896. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 122504322

American senator and diplomat.

From the description of Letter signed : Washington, D. C., to President Buchanan, 1859 Mar. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270495248

Born in Vincennes, Ind. Apr 12,1804; grad. from Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., 1825; stu. law & was admit. to the bar; clerk of the U.S. courts, in Missouri, 1826; moved to Michigan; member of U.S. Congress, 1835-39; surveyor of public lands for Wisconsin & Iowa, 1840-41 & 1845-48; U.S. Senator, 1848-59; minister resident of U.S. to New Granada, 1859-61; retired from public and returned to Dubuque, Iowa, where he died,July 22, 1896. (from Biogr. Congr. direct.) (blue index cards)

From the description of George Wallace Jones correspondence, 1891 June 20 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 451134852

Jones was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He later moved to Kentucky where he studied law at Transylvania University. After being admitted to the bar he moved to Michigan where he served as a judge in the local county court, and later represented the Michigan Territory as a delegate in Congress from 1835 until 1837. He then became the first Congressional delegate from the Territory of Wisconsin and was one of the first two senators to represent Iowa in the United States Senate (1848-1859) after Iowa became a state in 1846. Jones was appointed to a diplomatic post in New Granada in 1859. When he returned to the United States in 1861 he was arrested on the charge of disloyalty, based upon correspondence with Jefferson Davis. After 34 days he was released by order of President Abraham Lincoln. Jones retired and moved to Dubuque, Iowa.

From the description of George Wallace Jones correspondence and miscellaneous papers [microform], 1810-1896. (State Historical Society of Iowa, Library). WorldCat record id: 184718135

George Wallace Jones (1804-1896), born in Vincennes, Indiana, was a prominent jurist and politician in the upper mid-west region of the United States. He graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky in 1825. After being admitted to the bar, Jones moved to Michigan Territory where he worked as a miner and storekeeper; served in the Black Hawk War; and was a judge of the county court. He served as congressman from Michigan (1835-1837) and as one of the state of Iowa’s first U. S. senators (1848-1859) after it was admitted as a state. Due to his close friendship with Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Jones was accused of disloyalty by Secretary of State William Seward and arrested in 1861. President Lincoln released him from jail after 34 days of captivity. He died and is buried in Dubuque, Iowa. Jones County, Iowa, is named in his honor.

Sources: Jones, George Wallace, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress [Online].

From the guide to the George Wallace Jones Papers 2008-310., circa 1787-1840, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. Jones, George Wallace, papers, circa 1787-1840 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Street, Joseph Montfort, 1782-1840. Street, Joseph Montfort correspondence, 1827-1840. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
referencedIn Dodge, Henry, 1782-1867. Miscellany, 1836-1846. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Plumbe, John, 1809-1857. Diary, 1838-1839. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn W. W. Corcoran Papers, 1791-1896, (bulk 1849-1888) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Alpheus Felch Papers, 1817-1896 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Mazzuchelli, Samuel, 1806-1864. Letters, 1831-1838. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Lucius Lyon papers (1770-1934, bulk 1833-1851) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Anderson Family papers, 1810-1848 The Huntington Library
creatorOf Colby, R. Ames. Fort Snelling (Minn.) maps, 1815-1965. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Henn, Bernhart, 1817-1865. Letter to James Campbell. Washington, DC. 1853 Apr. 14. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Letter, 1840 March 21, Washington, D.C., to George Wallce Jones. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Stuart, Alexander H. H. (Alexander Hugh Holmes), 1807-1891. Letter to George W. Jones. [Washington, DC] 1851 Feb. 27. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. George Wallace Jones correspondence, 1891 June 20 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn United States. General Land Office. Wisconsin letters, 1836-1848. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Thayer, George W. Lucius Lyon papers, 1770-1934, bulk 1833-1851. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Samuel Chester Reid Family Papers, 1807-1963, (bulk 1830-1897) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
creatorOf George Wallace Jones Papers 2008-310., circa 1787-1840 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Brisbois, Charles, d. 1847. Green Bay and Prairie du Chien papers, 1774-1895. Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. Letter signed : Washington, D. C., to President Buchanan, 1859 Mar. 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. George Wallace Jones correspondence and miscellaneous papers [microform], 1810-1896. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
referencedIn Cliff, J. W. Poem regarding Hon. George W. Jones. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. Papers [microform], 1810-1848. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Papers of Daniel Webster [manuscript], 1800 (1832-1850) 1853. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Breese, Sidney, 1800-1878. Papers re: election of 1858, 1849-1858. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
creatorOf Rice, Henry M. (Henry Mower), 1816-1894. Henry M. Rice and family papers, 1824-1966. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. Letters, 1844-1896. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Dodge, Augustus Caesar, 1812-1882. Letter : to President Pierce / by Augustus Caesar Dodge, 1854 May 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Jones, George Wallace, 1804-1896. Miscellaneous items, 1836-1843. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Dean, Henry Clay, 1822-1887. Henry Clay Dean papers and research files compiled by Edgar R. Harlan, 1846-1911. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson Family, 1810-1848 family
associatedWith Blackman, C. V. Mrs., person
associatedWith Brand, Hamitt W. Mrs., person
associatedWith Breese, Sidney, 1800-1878. person
associatedWith Bryan, Moses Austin, 1817-1895 person
associatedWith Buchanan, James, 1791-1868, person
associatedWith Campbell, B. H., person
associatedWith Campbell, James, 1812-1893, person
associatedWith Cliff, J. W. person
associatedWith Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868, person
correspondedWith Corcoran, W. W. (William Wilson), 1798-1888. person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889, person
associatedWith Davis, John M. person
associatedWith Dean, Henry Clay, 1822-1887. person
associatedWith Denver, James William, 1817-1892. person
associatedWith Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853, person
associatedWith Dickins, Asbury, 1780-1861, person
associatedWith Dodge, Augustus C. (Augustus Caesar), 1812-1883. person
associatedWith Dodge, Henry, 1782-1867. person
associatedWith Felch, Alpheus, 1804-1896 person
associatedWith Ferris, M.P. person
associatedWith Henn, Bernhart, 1817-1865. person
associatedWith Jones, John Rice. person
associatedWith Legate, Charles Thomas. person
associatedWith Lewis, Samuel L. person
associatedWith Mazzuchelli, Samuel, 1806-1864. person
associatedWith Murray, Charles Augustus, Sir, 1806-1895. person
associatedWith Plumbe, John, 1809-1857. person
correspondedWith Reid, Samuel Chester, 1783-1861. person
correspondedWith Reid, Samuel C. (Samuel Chester), 1818-1897 person
associatedWith Rice, Henry M. (Henry Mower), 1816-1894. person
associatedWith Ritchie, Thomas, 1778-1854, person
associatedWith Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872. person
correspondedWith Street, Joseph Montfort, 1782-1840. person
associatedWith Stuart, Alexander H. H. (Alexander Hugh Holmes), 1807-1891. person
associatedWith Thayer, George W. person
associatedWith Thayer, George W. person
associatedWith Toméy, J. S., person
associatedWith Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869, person
associatedWith Transylvania University corporateBody
associatedWith United States. General Land Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Wall, James W. (James Walter), 1820-1872, person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Wise, Henry A. (Henry Alexander), 1806-1876, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Wisconsin
Fever River (Ill.)
Iowa.
Northwest, Old
Iowa
Texas.
United States
Michigan
England
Iowa
Northwest, Old
Michigan
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Iowa
Michigan
Galena (Ill.)
Subject
United States
Frontier and pioneer life
Fur trade
Indians of North America
Lawyers
Lead mines and mining
Legislators
United States. Navy
Public land sales
Texas
Texas
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1804-04-12

Death 1896-07-22

Americans

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