Education
Born near Greenville, Illinois, Jett attended the common schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana, for two years. He studied law.
United States representative lawyer politician
Born near Greenville, Illinois, Jett attended the common schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana, for two years. He studied law.
He taught school in Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois. He was admitted to the bar in 1887 and commenced practice in Nokomis, Illinois. He moved to Hillsboro, Illinois, and served as prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County 1889-1896.
Jett was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, and Fifty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1903).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1902. He resumed the practice of law in Hillsboro, Illinois.
He was also interested in agricultural pursuits. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1900 and 1908.
He was elected as a judge of the circuit court, fourth judicial district of Illinois, in 1909.
He was reelected in 1915, 1921, 1927, and 1935 and served until his death. He died in Litchfield, Illinois, January 10, 1939. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsboro, Illinois.
He was a member of the appellate court of the second district of Illinois 1922-1936.