WI BIO - Dane Co - JONES, Burr W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 285-286 (Portrait p 285)

Burr W. JONES, a resident of Madison, Dane County, WI, was born at Union, 
Rock County, WI, 09 Mar 1846, a son of William and Sarah M. (PRENTICE) JONES, 
natives respectively of western PA and western NY. William JONES died in 
1855, and Sarah M. (PRENTICE) JONES afterward married Levi LEONARD, a pioneer 
of Rock County, WI. They now reside in Evansville, Rock County, WI. Our 
subject had one sister, who married J. A. PETTIGREW, but is now deceased.

Burr W. JONES spent his early life on a farm, and afterward attended the 
Evansville Seminary. He then entered the University of Wisconsin, at which 
he graduated in 1870, and the following year finished the law course of that 
university. Mr. JONES also taught school several winters to assist in 
defraying his expenses at school. After leaving the university he entered 
the office of Colonel VILAS; in the winter of 1871-1872 began the practice of 
his profession at Portage, Columbia County, WI, and a short time afterward 
formed a partnership with Alden S. SANBORN, of Madison, who was later elected 
County Judge. This partnership lasted a number of years, after which our 
subject practiced alone until 1874. Since that year he has been associated 
with General A. C. PARKINSON and F. J. LAMB, although he now has no partner.

In 1872 Burr W. JONES was elected District Attorney of Dane County on the 
Democratic ticket, which position he held four years; in 1882 he was elected 
a member of Congress for two years, from the old 3rd Congressional District, 
which was hopelessly Republican. In 1884 he was renominated, but was 
defeated, his party being in the minority; but he ran largely ahead of his 
ticket. Although he was in Congress but a single term, the record shows that 
he took an active part in the debates and public business, and part of the 
time he was the acting chairman of the important committee on War Claims. 
His Congressional career was cut short by the restoration of peace in the 
Republican ranks, and the election of Hon. R. M. LA FOLLETTE in 1884. For 
the past two years Burr W. JONES has served as City Attorney of Madison, and 
[p 286] for the past seven years has been one of the faculty of the law 
department in the WI University, and is lecturer on Domestic Relations and 
the Law of Evidence and Corporations.

Burr W. JONES was married in Dec 1873 to Olive L. HOYT, a daughter of L. W. 
HOYT, late of Madison, WI, and to this union has been born one child, Marian 
B. Except during the time Mr. JONES was in Congress, he has always devoted 
himself exclusively to his chosen profession, and has won the reputation of 
being one of the leading lawyers of his State. In every political campaign 
he has been in great demand as a public speaker, and has often delivered 
public addresses on other occasions.

Burr W. JONES was the chairman of the last Democratic State Convention, and 
his name has often been mentioned in connection with other public honors, 
which he has declined to accept. Although Mr. JONES has been drawn into 
considerable prominence in political affairs, he has never sought or asked a 
nomination for any public office, and his tastes are those of the lawyer and 
student. He has always been devoted to the interests of his city and 
community, and hardly any measure of improvement during the last twenty years 
can be mentioned with which he has not been identified. The "Madison Times" 
says: "His successes as a lawyer have already won for him a wide reputation, 
which extends beyond the borders of WI, and although pitted against the 
ablest counsel that money could employ, he has been eminently successful in 
his causes, many of which involved large amounts of money. He is universally 
like by all students because of his learning, clarity of exposition, and 
courteous, gentlemanly demeanor."

Submitted by Cathy Kubly