# Pete Jones — The Hoosier Schoolmaster character guide

> Pete Jones in The Hoosier Schoolmaster by Edward Eggleston.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Pete Jones, Mr. Jones, Pete, Jones, Peter Jones, the garrulous Jones

**First appearance:** 0008-vi-a-night-at-pete-jones-s

## Snapshot

A garrulous, scheming trustee who talks too much and watches too closely, Pete Jones turns neighborly sympathy into a cover for secrets he would rather keep buried.

## Who they are

Pete Jones holds local standing as a trustee and self-appointed authority on everyone's business, and he takes the robbed Dutchman under his wing with suspicious eagerness. His running commentary about Jinkins Run scoundrels and his readiness to 'bet a hoss' betray a man who knows more about the burglary than he lets on. For Ralph, Pete's watchful resentment is one more storm brewing on every side, making the schoolmaster's already precarious position in Flat Creek feel hunted.

## Relationships

### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook)

_rivalry_

Pete Jones, a local troublemaker, opposes Ralph's authority and schemes against him, creating ongoing conflict.

### [Bud Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/bud_means)

_rivalry_

Bud and Pete clash over local influence and loyalty, with Bud often opposing Pete's malicious schemes.

### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook)

_rivalry_

Pete Jones, a local troublemaker, opposes Ralph's authority and schemes against him, creating ongoing conflict.

### [Bud Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/bud_means)

_rivalry_

Bud and Pete clash over local influence and loyalty, with Bud often opposing Pete's malicious schemes.

### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook)

_rivalry_

Pete Jones, a local troublemaker, opposes Ralph's authority and schemes against him, creating ongoing conflict.

## In the story

### [A Spell Coming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/ii-a-spell-coming)

A community member who criticizes Ralph's lack of corporal punishment, believing that 'lickin' and l'arnin' go together.'

### [VII: Ominous Remarks of Mr. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/vii-ominous-remarks-of-mr-jones)

Pete Jones makes ominous remarks about the robbery, hinting that he suspects someone local, and Ralph fears being exposed.

### [VIII: The Struggle in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/viii-the-struggle-in-the-dark)

Ralph fears Pete might murder him in the night, though he reasons it would be folly.

### [The Hardshell Preacher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xii-the-hardshell-preacher)

Makes cryptic remarks about the 'wooden leg' being involved in something and calls out that they will 'tend to his case a Christmas.'

### [A Struggle for the Mastery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xiii-a-struggle-for-the-mastery)

Observes the scene and mistakes the sulphur for gunpowder, fleeing in fear.

### [XVI: The Church Militant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xvi-the-church-militant)

Attacks Shocky and fights Bud, but is defeated and retreats, feeling 'consid'able shuck up like.'

### [Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xviii-odds-and-ends)

Determined to bind out Shocky as a pauper, causing fear and urgency.

### [A Charitable Institution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxiii-a-charitable-institution)

County Commissioner, seen riding to the courthouse, implicated in the poorhouse corruption.

### [A Letter and Its Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxvi-a-letter-and-its-consequences)

Implied to be behind the threatening letter and takes revenge on Bud through the letter's consequences.

### [A Loss and a Gain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxvii-a-loss-and-a-gain)

Shows no outward revenge on Bud, but his resentment is ready to empty itself upon Ralph.

### [The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxviii-the-flight)

Part of the mob searching for Ralph at the Spring-in-rock.

### [The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxix-the-trial)

Swears falsely against Ralph, but quails when Ralph points at him.

### [XXXII: After the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxxii-after-the-battle)

Sent to prison along with Bill for his role in the conspiracy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/pete_jones
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters