1925 Biography - William C. Jones

William Carruth Jones, who is one of the representative members of the bar of Baton Rouge and who is now presiding on the bench of the Nineteenth Judicial District of Louisiana, was born at Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, on the 25th of October, 1876, and he is a scion of the third generation of the family in this state. His paternal grandfather, William W. Jones, was born in South Carolina, and was residing near Jackson, Louisiana, at the time of his death, in the early '70s. William W. Jones was a planter by vocation and passed the greater part of his life in South Carolina and Alabama, he having established his residence near Jackson, Louisiana, a few years prior to his death, and there also occurred the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Edith Hilton and who likewise was born and reared in South Carolina. The Jones family was there founded in the Colonial period of our national history and the original representatives came from Wales.

John Welch Jones, M. D., father of Judge Jones of this review, was born in South Carolina, October 17, 1826, and died at Jackson, Louisiana, June 24, 1916, about five months prior to the ninetieth anniversary of his birth. Dr. Jones was reared in the State of Alabama, and in preparing himself for the profession of his choice he entered the medical department of Louisiana University (now Tulane University) at New Orleans, where he was in due course graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. As an able physician and surgeon Dr. Jones developed a large and representative general practice in the parishes of East Feliciana and East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and from 1874 until 1888 he was superintendent of the East Louisiana Insane Asylum at Jackson. After retiring from the work of his profession he directed his attention to agricultural industry and became the owner of several valuable plantations. He was a thoroughgoing democrat, was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife held membership in the Baptist Church. Doctor Jones was a soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, in which he served from 1861 to 1863, inclusive, and in which he was captain in the Plains Guards. His wife, whose maiden name was Amarintha Huff, was born in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, in 1833, and her death occurred at Jackson, Louisiana, on the 3d of May, 1889. Of the surviving children the eldest is Dr. Philip H., one of the prominent physicians and surgeons engaged in practice at Baton Rouge; Dr. George H. has likewise followed in the professional footsteps of his father, and he is engaged in the practice of medicine at Lutcher St. James Parish; Pearl is the wife of George G. Keller, a prosperous planter near Jackson, this state; Miss Lily resides in the home of her Sister. Pearl; and Judge Jones, of this sketch, is the youngest of the number. Five children died in infancy.

To well ordered private schools is Judge Jones indebted for his early education, which was advanced by his attending Centenary College at Jackson, this state, and the Louisiana State University. In the law department of Tulane University he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902, and his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws was followed in May, 1902, by his admission to the bar of his native state. He forthwith engaged in the practice of law at Baton Rouge, and here he made himself known for his ability as a resourceful trial lawyer and well fortified counselor, with the result that his law business showed a constantly cumulative tendency. He continued in active practice in the capital city until 1923, in July of which year he was elected judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge H. F. Brunot, who was advanced to the office of associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Judge Jones was in 1924 elected judge of the Nineteenth Judicial District, comprising the same territory as the first mentioned district. The Judge finds opportunity for loyal and effective service in behalf of the principles of the democratic party, and from 1916 until his elevation to his present judicial office he represented East Baton Rouge Parish in the Louisiana Legislature. He was a valued member of the Louisiana State Constitutional Convention of 1921, and was influential in the framing of much of the present Constitution of this historic old commonwealth. In 1912 he served as judge of the Municipal Court of Baton Rouge. In his home city the Masonic affiliations of Judge Jones are with St. James Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M.; Washington Chapter No. 57, R. A. M.; and Adib Ahmar Grotto No. 98, Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm. He is a past exalted ruler of Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490. B. P. 0. E., is a member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and the Baton Rouge Golf and Country Club. The Judge was a prominent and valued member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Bar Association, and has served as president of this organization. His is one of the fine residence properties of the city, situated at 2103 Government Street. He is the owner of other realty in the city and other parts of the parish.

November 19, 1908, recorded the marriage, at McComb, Mississippi, of Judge Jones and Miss Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, daughter of James Roger and Ida (Fly) Kirkpatrick, both now deceased. Mrs. Jones is a specially talented musician and is a graduate of the celebrated New England Conservatory of Music in the City of Boston, her special ability being as a pianist. Judge and Mrs. Jones have five children: Elizabeth Pearl, William Carruth, Jr., John Roger, Philip K. and George H.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 59.