John Marvin Jones
Encyclopedia
Judge John Marvin Jones (February 26, 1886 – March 4, 1976) was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Texas
and Chief Judge of the federal Court of Claims.
farm in Cooke County, Texas
near the town of Valley View, Texas
. His sister Metze was married briefly to the legendary Sam Rayburn
.
By the age of 17, he was a teacher in a one-room school
, and worked his way through Southwestern University
, earning himself a Ph.B. He earned an LL.B. from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1907.
He moved to Amarillo, Texas
to practice law and after an energetic campaign was elected as a member of the Democratic Party
to the 65th United States Congress
, handily defeating a 20 year incumbent, John H. Stephens. Jones served Texas's 13th congressional district
for 24 years. His vote for the declaration of war against Germany
was his first vote as a freshman congressman
. He thereupon enlisted as a private
in the United States Army
in 1918, but hostilities ceased before he was sent overseas.
He became chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture
in 1931, and as such promoted legislative efforts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to create a "New Deal
" for American agriculture. He introduced, sponsored or supported the Agricultural Adjustment Act
, the Farm Credit Administration
Act, and several other laws in support of farmers.
Jones was nominated by President Roosevelt to be an associate judge of the United States Court of Claims
on April 9, 1940. Jones was given a leave of absence from the court during World War II
to serve on various boards and committees at the request of the President. Following the war and Jones's return to the court, President Harry S. Truman
nominated him to be Chief Justice of the Court of Claims in 1947. The use of the title of Chief Justice was ended by Congress for all federal courts other than the Supreme Court, so Jones continued as Chief Judge
until his retirement in 1964. He was replaced in that role by his friend and fellow Texan, Judge Wilson Cowen
. Jones continued to serve as a senior judge. He died and is buried in Amarillo.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter
signed a bill naming Amarillo's federal court building, J. Marvin Jones Federal Building.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Chief Judge of the federal Court of Claims.
Biography
Marvin Jones was born to Horace King and Theodicia Jones on a cottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
farm in Cooke County, Texas
Cooke County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,363 people, 13,643 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 15,061 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
near the town of Valley View, Texas
Valley View, Texas
Valley View is a city in Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 737 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was first settled in 1870 by the Lee family. L. W. Lee plotted a town on his land in 1872, naming it Valley View, presumably for the view offered at the site of Spring Creek valley...
. His sister Metze was married briefly to the legendary Sam Rayburn
Sam Rayburn
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn , often called "Mr. Sam," or "Mr. Democrat," was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.- Background :Rayburn was born in Roane County, Tennessee, and...
.
By the age of 17, he was a teacher in a one-room school
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
, and worked his way through Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
, earning himself a Ph.B. He earned an LL.B. from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1907.
He moved to Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
to practice law and after an energetic campaign was elected as a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 65th United States Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
, handily defeating a 20 year incumbent, John H. Stephens. Jones served Texas's 13th congressional district
Texas's 13th congressional district
-References:*...
for 24 years. His vote for the declaration of war against Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
was his first vote as a freshman congressman
Congressperson
A Member of Congress is a term used for a politician who has become qualified, appointed or elected, and inducted into some official body , typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature...
. He thereupon enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1918, but hostilities ceased before he was sent overseas.
He became chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
in 1931, and as such promoted legislative efforts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to create a "New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
" for American agriculture. He introduced, sponsored or supported the Agricultural Adjustment Act
Agricultural Adjustment Act
The Agricultural Adjustment Act was a United States federal law of the New Deal era which restricted agricultural production by paying farmers subsidies not to plant part of their land and to kill off excess livestock...
, the Farm Credit Administration
Farm Credit Administration
The Farm Credit Administration is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the United States Government. It regulates and examines the banks, associations, and related entities of the Farm Credit System, a network of borrower-owned financial institutions that provide credit to farmers,...
Act, and several other laws in support of farmers.
Jones was nominated by President Roosevelt to be an associate judge of the United States Court of Claims
United States Court of Claims
The Court of Claims was a federal court that heard claims against the United States government. It was established in 1855 as the Court of Claims, renamed in 1948 to the United States Court of Claims , and abolished in 1982....
on April 9, 1940. Jones was given a leave of absence from the court during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to serve on various boards and committees at the request of the President. Following the war and Jones's return to the court, President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
nominated him to be Chief Justice of the Court of Claims in 1947. The use of the title of Chief Justice was ended by Congress for all federal courts other than the Supreme Court, so Jones continued as Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
until his retirement in 1964. He was replaced in that role by his friend and fellow Texan, Judge Wilson Cowen
Arnold Wilson Cowen
Arnold Wilson Cowen , also known as Wilson Cowen, was successively a trial commissioner, a trial judge, and the chief judge of the appellate division of the United States Court of Claims...
. Jones continued to serve as a senior judge. He died and is buried in Amarillo.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
signed a bill naming Amarillo's federal court building, J. Marvin Jones Federal Building.
External links
- Under the Shade Tree: John Marvin Jones biography (Written by a resident of Jones' hometown, Valley View, Texas.)