 Jones served as Binghamton's Police Commissioner, was a Regent of the University of the State of New York, served as President of the State Board of Equalization, and served on the boards of numerous colleges and charities.He was the Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1886 to 1891, elected on the Democratic ticket with Governor David B. Hill in 1885 and 1888.In 1905, he published the novel "Richard Baxter