Joel Jones (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Joel Jones was an American lawyer, jurist
, and mayor of Philadelphia.
He was born in Coventry, Connecticut
, the oldest of nine children. At age fifteen he went to Hebron, Connecticut
, and engaged in business with his uncle. After graduating at Yale University
with high honor in 1817, he commenced the study of law with Judge William Bristol
of New Haven, Connecticut
, and afterward finished at the Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut
. After completion of his studies, he resided for a short time in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
, whence he removed, in 1822, to Easton, Pennsylvania
, where he practiced law for many years. In 1830 he was appointed by Governor George Wolf
one of three commissioners to revise the civil code of Pennsylvania
.
In 1834 he removed to Philadelphia, where he became associate judge in 1835, and afterward presiding judge of the Philadelphia district court. He was the first president of Girard College
in 1847-1849. In 1849 he was elected mayor of Philadelphia. He took an active interest in theological speculations and inquiries, and was an earnest advocate of a literal interpretation of those scriptures which predict the second coming of Christ. He also edited several English works on prophecy.
On June 14, 1831, he married Eliza P. Sparhawk in Philadelphia, with whom he had six children. In 1860, he died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, and mayor of Philadelphia.
He was born in Coventry, Connecticut
Coventry, Connecticut
Coventry is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,504 at the 2000 census. The birthplace of Captain Nathan Hale, Coventry is home to the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is now a museum open to the public....
, the oldest of nine children. At age fifteen he went to Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
, and engaged in business with his uncle. After graduating at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
with high honor in 1817, he commenced the study of law with Judge William Bristol
William Bristol
William Bristol was a Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and United States federal judge.Born in Hamden, Connecticut, Bristol graduated from Yale University in 1798 and read law to enter the bar in 1800. He entered private practice in New Haven, Connecticut in 1800, and became U.S. Attorney for the...
of New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, and afterward finished at the Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
. After completion of his studies, he resided for a short time in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, whence he removed, in 1822, to Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, where he practiced law for many years. In 1830 he was appointed by Governor George Wolf
George Wolf
George Wolf was the seventh Governor of Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1835.Wolf was born in Allen Township, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1799 and commenced practice in Easton, Pennsylvania. He served as postmaster of Easton in 1802 and 1803...
one of three commissioners to revise the civil code of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
In 1834 he removed to Philadelphia, where he became associate judge in 1835, and afterward presiding judge of the Philadelphia district court. He was the first president of Girard College
Girard College
Girard College is an independent boarding school on a 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Girard is for academically capable students, grades one through 12, and awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $42,000 to every child admitted to the...
in 1847-1849. In 1849 he was elected mayor of Philadelphia. He took an active interest in theological speculations and inquiries, and was an earnest advocate of a literal interpretation of those scriptures which predict the second coming of Christ. He also edited several English works on prophecy.
On June 14, 1831, he married Eliza P. Sparhawk in Philadelphia, with whom he had six children. In 1860, he died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Works
- Reports of a Commission to Revise the Civil Code of Pennsylvania
- A Manual of Pennsylvania Land Law
- Notes on Scripture, or Jesus and the Coming Glory (Philadelphia, 1860; new ed., 1865)http://books.google.com/books?id=zcIqAAAAYAAJ
- Outlines of a History of the Court of Rome, and of the Temporal Power of the Popes, translated from the French, with original notes
External links
- Obituary in the New York Times, February 9, 1860.