Butte County
Biographies
ALBERT FOSTER JONES
ALBERT FOSTER JONES, a member of the bar of Butte county, was the son of George Foster Jones, an old resident of the county. Albert was born at Colby’s Landing, Colusa county, California, February 14, 1838. He lived with his parents at Colusa until 1867, and then removed to Chico, attending school at that place until thirteen years of age. He then worked in his father’s store as errand-boy and clerk until nearly seventeen. In 1873, Mr. Jones became a student at the Golden Gate Academy, Oakland, and later at the University Mound College, San Francisco, where he remained until 1875. For nine months he held a clerkship in a grocery-store at Chico. Being an earnest student, he returned in May, 1876, to the University Mound College, to prepare for a course at Yale. During the following year he went east, and entered the philosophical department of that renowned seat of learning. One year later, he entered the law department, and continuing his studies in both departments, graduated on the twenty-sixth of June, 1879, being the sixth in his class, and receiving the degree of L.L.B. On the following day he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the state of Connecticut. During his collegiate course he was an energetic student, and, at the same time, took a leading part in athletic sports, carrying off several prizes at running and rowing. Mr. Jones then returned to California, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of this state August 1, 1879. He located in Oroville, and almost immediately gained a lucrative and successful practice, by prompt attention to business. He was appointed, March 5, 1881, judge-advocate on the staff of the general commanding the fifth brigade, N.G.C., with the rank of major. He was nominated for the office of district-attorney, by the democrats, in 1880, but no election was held. During the presidential campaign of 1880, he stumped Butte county with Hon. Leon D. Freer. In December of that year, he entered into a law-partnership with John Gale, doing business under the firm name of Gale & Jones. He now holds the position of grand lecturer of the Grand Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, and is prominently spoken of as the coming grand-president of the order. On the twenty-first of December, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss May S. Evans, of Marysville.
History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882.
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
GEORGE F. JONES
GEORGE F. JONES was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, April 4, 1828. At the age of eighteen he left the parental home and went to Boston to earn a name and a future for himself. In the year 1849, he came to the Pacific coast, and hurried to the mines of Georgetown, El Dorado county, where he engaged in trading and mining. After two years he left for Sacramento, where he remained but a few months. From thence he went to Shasta county, where, in company with a Mr. Cady, he built and kept the Cañon house. On the first of June, 1853, he married Miss Sidney Ann McIntosh, the wife who survives him. In 1854, he removed to the Lone Tree ranch, in Colusa county, where he kept a public house and raised stock. In 1859, he was elected sheriff of Colusa county, and was re-elected in 1861 by the largest majority ever given a public officer in that county. In 1863, he purchased the mercantile establishment of James N. Suydam, in Colusa, where he did a flourishing business. In 1866, in company with Mr. Suydam, he came to Chico and bought the mercantile business until he associated with him Messrs. Harris and Sanderson. In 1871, Mr. Jones, in partnership with E.J. Reilly, went into the hardware business, remaining a partner in this branch of trade until his death, which occurred on the seventh of November, 1873. As a business man he was public-spirited, scrupulously honorable and honest in his dealings with his fellow-men, unfailing in his judgment of financial transactions and ventures, and liberal with his means when he heard the cry of distress. In all the walks of life he was a good man, a kind friend and a loving companion. Where he was known his name will be remembered for many years.
History of Butte County, California: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vol. II - Harry L. Wells & W. L. Chambers - 547 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal., 1882.
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson