John Walter Jones was born 14 April 1878 at Pownall, Prince Edward Island, son of James Benjamin Jones and Maria Isobel Stewart. He received his education at Prince of Wales College, Acadia University, University of Toronto, Chicago, Cornell, Columbia and Clark Universities and he held M.A. and B.Sc.A. degrees. Jones was Principal of MacDonald Consolidated School 1905-1907, and worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1909-1912, as well as the Commission of Conservation, Ottawa, 1912-1913. He wrote Fur farming in Canada which was published in 1914. Returning to the Island in 1913, he became a successful farmer and his Abegweit herd of Holstein cattle won several national awards. In 1931 Jones was named a "Master Breeder" by the Holstein-Friesen Association.

Jones first became involved in politics in 1921, standing as a candidate for the Farmer's Progressive Party but was defeated. He was elected as a Liberal to the PEI Assembly in 1935 and re-elected in 1939, 1943, 1947 and 1951. He was chosen by the party to succeed Thane A. Campbell when the latter was named to the Supreme Court. In addition to being Premier, Jones also held cabinet portfolios including Minister of Public Works and Highways, Minister of Education and President of the Executive Council. Jones resigned as Premier in 1953 and was shortly thereafter appointed to the Senate. He died the following year.

As Jones became Premier during the war period, much of the activity of his early administration deals with reconstruction and post-war planning. Jones was active in promoting trade and commerce, especially with Newfoundland, and improvements in the car ferry service to the mainland was also a priority.