James B. Jones
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=James B. Jones
|office=Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
|term_start=January 1, 1943
|term_end=January 1, 1947
|predecessor=Ceferino Quintana
|successor=Joseph Montoya
|governor=John J. Dempsey
|birth_date={{birth date|1886|9|24}}
|birth_place=Edgefield, South Carolina, United States
|death_date={{death date and age|1947|8|9|1886|9|24}}
|death_place=Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
|party=Democratic
|relatives=William B. Travis (grandfather)
|spouse={{marriage|Maud St. Vrain|1913}}
}}
James Brooks Jones (September 24, 1886 – August 9, 1947), nicknamed "Jawbone", was an American politician from the US state of New Mexico. He served as the lieutenant governor of New Mexico from January 1, 1943, to January 1, 1947.
Early life
Jones was born in Edgefield, South Carolina, United States, on September 23, 1886. His grandfather, William B. Travis, was the commander of the Texas Army at the battle of the Alamo. Jones lived in South Carolina until he was 18 years old, when he moved to Wyoming and worked on a sheep ranch.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115158340/former-columbian-seeks-office-in-new/ |title=Former Columbian Seeks Office in New Mexico |work=The State|page=14|via=Newspapers.com |date=August 22, 1940 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}} He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1912 and rose to the rank of corporal.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/156355535/ "James 'Jawbone' Jones Dies After Long Illness"], Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 67th year, volume 273, number 41, August 10, 1947, page 1. (obituary) {{subscription required}} He then served in the United States Army from April 1917 to April 1919 in the infantry and became a first lieutenant."U.S. Veterans Bureau Form 7202 Index Card", "United States Government, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917–1940" database, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, Missouri, available through FamilySearch. "Enl" is listed as "4/6/17" and "Dis" is listed as "4/25/19". He fought with the Army in World War I. After the war, he settled in Raton, New Mexico.
Jones moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1920, and worked as a traveling salesman for a soap company. He earned the nickname "Jawbone" from the Spanish word for soap, jabón.
Political career
In 1940, Jones was a candidate for lieutenant governor of New Mexico. He lost the Democratic Party nomination in the primary election to Ceferino Quintana. Jones ran again in 1942,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115177992/jawbone-jones-to-make-new-try/ |title=Jawbone Jones To Make New Try|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |date=June 30, 1942 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}} and won the nomination, defeating A. K. Montgomery and two other candidates in September.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115177951/jawbone-jones-is-winner/ |work=Clovis News-Journal |title='Jawbone' Jones Is Winner|page=1|via=Newspapers.com |date=September 14, 1942 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/156270705/?terms=%22john%20j%20dempsey%22%20%22james%20b%20jones%22&match=2 |title=Close Congress Race Takes Primary Spotlight|agency=Associated Press|work=Albuquerque Journal |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 14, 1942 |accessdate=December 26, 2022|url-access=subscription}} He then won the general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115170445/jb-jones-is-elected-in-new-mexico/ |title=J.B. Jones Is Elected in New Mexico |work=The State|page=13|via=Newspapers.com |date=October 6, 1942 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}} Jones served two terms as lieutenant governor to Governor John J. Dempsey. He served as acting governor for 268 days over 21 separate occasions when Dempsey was out of the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115181022/dempsey-absent-from-state-268-days/|title=Dempsey Absent from State 268 Days Which Gives 'Jawbone' Jones $9000|first=Gordon P.|last=Marin|page=1|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=November 9, 1946|accessdate=December 25, 2022}}
Jones ran for a seat from {{ushr|NM|AL}} in the United States House of Representatives in the 1946 elections. He lost the race.
Personal life
Jones married Maud St. Vrain, a grand-niece of Ceran St. Vrain, in 1913. They had four children. One son, Preston Jones, was a playwright.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115197824/regional-theater-has-new-hero/|title=Regional theater has new hero|work=The Morning Call|first=Don|last=Shirley|page=F-2|via=Newspapers.com |date=April 25, 1976 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}} His other son, James Jr., was taken prisoner during World War II.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115197950/jawbone-jones-son-is-prisoner/ |title=Jawbone' Jones Son Is Prisoner|work=Albuquerque Journal|page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |date=January 3, 1943 |accessdate=December 25, 2022}}
Falling ill after losing the 1946 election, Jones moved to Hot Springs. He died on August 9, 1947, at the Methodist Sanitarium in Albuquerque.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/48dc34fe4adb1d3055b4d1c3a28a3695/1|title=James Brooks Jones|publisher=New Mexico Historical Review|volume=23|issue=1|date=January 1, 1948|page=74|accessdate=December 25, 2022}} He was buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115125701/obituary-for-james-b-jones/ |title=Services Set For J.B. Jones on Wednesday|agency=United Press|page=1|work=Santa Fe New Mexican|via=Newspapers.com |date=August 11, 1947 |accessdate=December 26, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Lieutenant governors of New Mexico}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, James B}}
Category:Burials at Santa Fe National Cemetery
Category:Lieutenant governors of New Mexico
Category:Military personnel from South Carolina
Category:People from Edgefield, South Carolina
Category:United States Army officers
Category:United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers