Shields Landon Jones (b. 1901 / d. 1997)

Shields Landon Jones, also know as S.L. Jones, was born in Franklin County, Virginia as one of thirteen children. As a child, his family bought a small farm in West Virginia. At the age of seventeen, Jones left the farm to work on the railroad. Despite the hard, often dangerous, work Jones enjoyed the hunting and music that came along with the railroad business. Jones starting carving small figures to pass the time getting most of his inspiration from the woods. With music everywhere, he learned to be an accomplished fiddler and banjo player.

Using hardwoods like maple or walnut, Jones became known for his portrait heads. In the early 1970's Jones beg...