Ira B. Jones (1851-1927) of Lancaster was a man of many accomplishments. His highest honor was chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court but it was only one of many honors he received as a jurist, legislator, editor, publisher, "pillar of the ARP church" and philanthropist.

Ira, born in Newberry, S.C., was the son of Charles M. Jones, a carpenter, and Mary J. Neal, a dressmaker, both of Scots-Irish heritage. He attended the Lutheran College of Newberry as a freshman and sophomore and transferred to Erskine College, graduating with distinction at the age of 18.

Jones taught for about three years while also studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and, at the same time, accepted the position of associate editor of the Newberry Herald.

In the fall of 1875 her married Rebecca Wyse of Edgefield County and moved to Lancaster to practice law. He and his bride arrived with only $10 but soon established themselves as community leaders.

Ira Jones was very active in what was call the "Farmer's Movement" in the 1880s. He used all of his lawyer skills to win a suit against the railroads that had placed an onerous tax on all farm products shipped out of state by rail. While Governor Ben R. Tilman got most of the credit for the court victory over the railroads, those in the know always said that the credit should have been given to Ira B. Jones.

In 1890, Jones was elected to the S.C. House without opposition. In a short time he was chairing the Ways and Means Committee