Francis G. Jaques
SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois," by J. O. Cunningham, 1905
FRANCIS G. JAQUES, attorney-at-law (deceased), was born in New York City January 5, 1839, and received his education at Madison (now Colgate) University, Hamilton, N. Y. He began reading law in the East, but in 1858, came to Illinois, and finished his law studies under the predeptorship of Col. W. N. Coler, one of the noted pioneer lawyers of Urbana. After his admission to the bar Mr. Jaques formed a partnership with Col. Coler, which continued until the latter entered the Union army during the Civil War. At the end of the war he practiced his profession in partnership with J. C. Sheldon, for several years, the firm being well known throughout this part of Illinois. In later years he practiced alone, and for more than twenty-five years occupied a position among the leaders of the bar of Champaign County. For some years prior to his death, which occurred November 14, 1896, the private business interests of Mr. Jaques occupied the larger share of his time and attention. With his father-in-law, William PARK, he was the owner and operator of the Urbana & Champaign Street Railway for many years. He also had land interests in Champaign County. He was for a long time an active member of the Masonic order, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Jaques was married, in 1860, to Eliza J. PARK, a daughter of William PARK, a sketch of whose life will be found elsewhere in these volumes. Mrs. Jaques survives her husband, and still lives in Urbana. Their living children are: William P., of Galveston, Tex.; Minnie, of Urbana, and Robert L., of Lafayete, In