Jesse Walter Jones was born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, on January 1, 1873. Jones moved to Wilkes County with his family by 1900, where he worked for most of his career as a farmer and grocery store clerk in North Wilkesboro. He also served as the town’s postmaster from 1904 to 1913. He died in North Wilkesboro on November 30, 1962.