Jones was the daughter of Nevada Senator John Percival Jones, co-founder of the town of Santa Monica, California, and Georgina Frances Sullivan.[3]
Marion Jones was the first Californian to reach the finals at the women's U.S. Tennis Championships in 1898 where she had a championship point against Juliette Atkinson but lost in five sets.[4] She won the U.S. women's tennis title in 1899 and 1902, and the U.S. mixed doubles title in 1901. At the 1900 Summer Olympics, she was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal.[5] Her sister, Georgina also competed in the 1900 Olympic tennis events.[6] In 1900, Jones was the first non-British woman to play at Wimbledon where she reached the quarterfinals in which she was eliminated by G.E. Evered in straight sets.[7]
She was mainly a baseline player who possessed a solid backhand and forehand and who had good accuracy in her shots.[8][9]
She married architect Robert D. Farquhar in New York City, in 1903. They had three children: David Farquhar (1904 – ), John Percival Farquhar (1912 – 2013) and Colin Farquhar (1913 – ). From 1920 until 1961, Marion Jones Farquhar lived in Greenwich Village, where she was well known as a violinist and voice coach. She also translated opera librettos and for a short time was head of the New York Chamber Opera.[10] In 1961, she moved back to Los Angeles, where she lived until her death.[1]
^"Wright & Ditson's Lawn Tennis Guide for 1899". Wright and Ditson's Official Lawn Tennis Guide1891-1940. Boston: Wright & Ditson: 88–89. 1899 – via HathiTrust. In the final set Miss Jones needed but one point to win the Championship, but her opponent's return struck a stray ball in the court and made matters even.
^"Wright & Ditson's Lawn Tennis Guide for 1899". Wright and Ditson's Official Lawn Tennis Guide1891-1940. Boston: Wright & Ditson: 88. 1899 – via HathiTrust. Her play is almost entirely from the back of the court and she works the corners on cross-court shots with wonderful accuracy.
