Jonas Jarvis was born at Mark, in Somersetshire, in 1860 and, ten years later, entered the stables of Clement Jarvis, his brother, to whom he became apprenticed the following year.
He made his debut in 1872, finishing unplaced on Little Turk at Streatham. Jonas had a few more rides that year without troubling the judge: it was a different story the next season, 1873.
His first mount that year was on Tommy Tyler at Lillie-bridge: he came second to Lady Steatite in the West Brompton Plate. Further outings at Bromley, Streatham, Eastbourne, Huntingdon and Croydon failed to produce that elusive first winner.
This eventually came at Reading in August 1873. Having come second on Schottische behind the brilliant Fred Archer on Tintern in the Portobello Plate, Jonas was asked, two days later, to ride the same mare again in the Prince of Wales's Plate. Fred Archer, this time aboard Decoration, was his main rival.
Jonas got his revenge, and his first win, beating the celebrated Archer by a head after a tremendous race. His riding skill caught the attention of Mr Fryer, who offered him the ride on Lindsay in the Innkeepers' Plate to be run later that afternoon. Jonas took the ride and finished third. What is significant about it is that hitherto Jonas had always ridden for his brother's stable. His ride on Lindsay was the first time he had ridden for a stranger.
He then had five rides at Bromley: he lost on the first four before winning the Bromley Plate on old friend Schottische. Jonas was to win twice more that season and on the same horse: riding the mare Good For Nothing in a match race at West Drayton, he easily defeated Crocodile, ridden by Baverstock. Next day he scored again as, this time, on Good For Nothing, he won the Selling Stakes.
To sum up his season, he had ridden in 68 races, winning seven. He had come second 12 times and third 12 times as well.
Jonas won his first race of the new season (1875) on Minnie Warren at Mansfield before receiving a severe shaking in the Castle Handicap at Windsor when Schottische, having become unmanageable, slipped up on bend and threw her tiny jockey.
This was the year in which Jonas was severely injured at Epsom on Tuesday, 20 April, when his mount, Josephine, on leaving the paddock prior to the start of the City & Suburban, reared up and fell backwards onto him. Incredibly, no doctor could be found on the course and Jonas lay in agony for quite some time before help arrived.
On Thursday evening, 12 July, 1888, Jonas - then a turf commission agent and trainer - was badly beaten up by Henry, Joseph & Frederick Scarborough of The Bell Inn. For the past three years Jonas had been training a horse, Mary Cadman, for them and had entered it into a race at the Harts Yeomanry Meeting. Jonas advised the Scarboroughs to have money on the horse as he thought it sure to win. They did so, but the horse ran badly and lost.
When Jonas returned to The Bell - where he rented a room - the Scarboroughs assaulted him. Jonas took them to court but the judge dismissed all charges.
On Thursday, October 28, 1897, Jonas Jarvis, aged 37, leapt in front of a city train as it approached King's Cross Station. Terribly injured, he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. A cheque-book was found in his pocket as was a telegram addressed to him. It was later discovered that he was the brother of trainer Jack Jarvis and had made a previous attempt to commit suicide since an incised wound extending right across the throat was discovered. It had apparently been inflicted some two days before his fatal leap at the station.
He was interred on Tuesday, November 2 in Finchley Cemetery. The funeral cortege left his home - 71, Euston Road - at 11 o'clock.
He rode his last winner in 1880.