jones attended the common schools in spencer. he moved to elizabeth, new jersey (then called elizabethtown) in 1855, where he was a member of the city council of elizabeth from 1856-1860. he moved to newark in 1860 and engaged in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits. he was vice president of the new jersey state agricultural society, and served as a member of the new jersey general assembly in 1873 and 1874.