S. C. Jones

On April 28, 1906, the village of Grandview Heights held its first municipal elections - Samuel C. Jones, a lawyer and politican, was voted to the post of mayor.  Born in 1854 in West Milton, OH, Jones attended Antioch College and the University of Michigan before being admitted to the bar in 1879.

Under a new state law taking effect in January 1903, residents of the districts of Arlington, Grandview, and Chester Heights were given the option to detatch themselves.  Although annexation by Columbus was discussed, after a utilities dispute a vote to incorporate the village succeeded on Feburary 3, 1906.

Image of Samuel Coates Jones.

Before moving to Columbus in 1891, Jones had already served two terms as president of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys' Assocation.  In the same year, The Ohio State University founded its law school, whose first classes met downtown in the Franklin County Courthouse. Jones maintained a private practice while taking on a two-year term as Chairman and Professor of Law at OSU. In 1894, Jones won a seat on the Columbus City Council.

Dispatch article announcing winners of the first Grandview elections in 1906.  (The Columbus Dispatch Archives)

Jones moved to Grandview Heights in 1904 and lived at the southeast corner of Elmwood and First Avenues - what is now 1735 West First Avenue. Newspaper articles from era suggest that he was a vocal supporter for the incorporation. The first village council included Julius Stone, another stop on this tour. Unfortunately, Jones was unable to complete his first term as mayor. He succumbed to pneumonia on April 24, 1909 at the age of 55. The entire Franklin County Bar Association attended his funeral.  

Current photo Jones' former house at 1735 West First Ave.