In the last half-century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national importance. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole people, and is a recognized power in all the avenues of life. He stands as the protector of the rights and liberties of his fellow men, and is the representative of a profession whose followers, if they would gain honor, fame and success, must be men of merit and ability. Such a one is Walter D. Jones, of Piqua, Ohio, judge of the common pleas court.

He was born in that city, June 21, 1857, and is a son of Hon. M. H. and Jane (Wood) Jones. The father is a prominent lawyer of Miami county, who has been successfully engaged in practice for a period of fifty-two years. He was born in the District of Columbia, in 1825, and his wife was born in New Hampshire, in 1828, a daughter of Timothy Davis Wood, an old resident of Miami county.

Judge Jones was reared and educated in Piqua, graduating at the high school of that city in 1872. He then learned the printer's trade, and subsequently entered the office of the Miami Helmet, of Piqua, and he continued his connection with newspaper work in various capacities for several years. He read law in the meantime under his father's direction, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar before the supreme court of the state, at Columbus, Ohio. He commenced practice at Piqua in partnership with his father under the firm name of M. H. & W. D. Jones, a connection which continued until he was appointed by Governor Bushnell common pleas judge of the second judicial district of Ohio, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the election of Judge Theodore Sullivan as circuit court judge. Judge Jones was elected by the people, in the November election, 1899, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Sullivan. As a lawyer Judge Jones was careful, methodical and industrious. He always came into court with his cases well prepared, both on the law and the evidence, and was very successful as a practitioner. He and his father had for years enjoyed the leading practice in the city of Piqua. He was elected for six terms city solicitor of Piqua, and served for twelve years in that office to the satisfaction of the people, he establishing the reputation of being an able and excellent municipal lawyer.

In politics Judge Jones is an uncompromising Republican, but not an active worker. He was never an office seeker and cared but little for the honor of office, but was devoted to his chosen profession. Upright, honest and honorable, he has the confidence of the people, and is winning on the bench the character of an able, impartial jurist. He is a man of good literary taste and an able writer, but apparently has no ambition for literary honors. He is a prominent Mason, having served as worshipful master of Warren Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., and high priest of Piqua Chapter, No. 31.

In 1879 Judge Jones was married to Miss Laura Harlow, of Piqua, who was born in Tennessee, and was in her eighteenth year when she came to Ohio with her parents, Rev. William D. and Kate (Tuttle) Harlow, locating in Miami county. To this union was born a daughter, Laura C. Judge Jones resided in the city of Piqua, where he was born and where he has lived to the present time, and from the above record of his life it will be observed that he is an exception to the rule that a young man cannot rise to fame in his own city and among his own kin.