Daniel Webster Jones, Governor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Webster_Jones_(governor)

Daniel Webster Jones (December 15, 1839 – December 25, 1918) was the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.

Biography

Jones was born in Bowie County, Texas. His family moved to Washington, Arkansas when Jones was a year old. Jones attended Washington Academy there and later studied law.

During his childhood, James Black, creator of the famous Bowie knife, lived with the Jones family before moving to Washington, Arkansas. Black attempted to show Daniel his metallurgical secret in 1870, the only person known to have knowledge of Black's secret.

Career

When the American Civil War broke out, Jones enlisted in the Confederate States Army, was wounded in battle, and was captured and held as a prisoner of war. His highest rank was of Colonel of the 20th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

In 1874, Jones was elected as prosecuting attorney of the Ninth Judicial District. He served as a presidential elector in 1876 and 1880. He was elected to the post of Attorney General of Arkansas in 1884 and 1886. In 1890, he served a term in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Jones was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1896, and was reelected in 1898. During his term appropriations were made for the new state capitol building, and a law ordering uniform textbooks in schools was passed.

Jones resumed his law practice after leaving office. He was elected to the House of Representatives again in 1914.

Death

Jones dies from pneumonia, and is buried at the Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.