Joseph Endom Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Endom Jones
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| Born | October 15, 1852 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | October 14, 1922 (aged 69) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
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| Occupation | Professor, minister |
| Religion | Baptist |
Joseph Endom Jones (born October 15, 1852 – died October 14, 1922) was an important Baptist minister and a professor. He taught at the Richmond Theological Seminary and Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, for many years, from 1876 to 1922. He was a very influential leader in the Baptist Church for African Americans in Virginia. His son, Eugene Kinckle Jones, also became a well-known leader in an organization called the National Urban League.
Contents
Joseph Jones's Early Life
Joseph E. Jones was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, on October 15, 1852. At that time, he was born into slavery. When he was six years old, he started working in a tobacco factory.
Learning to Read and Write
Joseph's mother strongly believed that slavery would soon end. She wanted her son to learn how to read and write. She convinced another enslaved person, Robert A. Perkins, to teach Joseph. Perkins would come to their home several nights each week to give lessons.
Around 1864, Joseph started going to Perkins's cabin for lessons on Sunday mornings. However, near the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865), their enslaver found out that Perkins could read and write. Because of this, Perkins was sold away.
Joseph's mother then found a sick Confederate soldier. She convinced him to teach Joseph in exchange for food. These lessons stopped when the war ended. But then, Perkins opened a private school, and Joseph enrolled there. Joseph had not been a very good student before, but after this, he started to do very well.
Joining the Church
He also went to another private school. This school was taught by James Monroe Gregory, who later became a professor at Howard University. In the spring of 1868, Joseph was baptized. He became a member of the Court Street Baptist Church in Lynchburg.
Joseph Jones's Career
In October 1868, Joseph entered the Richmond Institute. This school later became known as the Richmond Theological Seminary. He studied there for three years. In April 1871, he moved to Hamilton, New York. There, he started a special school to prepare for Madison University (now called Colgate University).
Becoming a Professor
He finished his preparatory studies in 1872 and began his university studies at Madison. He graduated from Madison University in June 1876. After graduating, he was chosen to be a professor at the Richmond Institute. He taught Greek and Church History. He also taught classes in language and philosophy.
He was appointed by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York City. In 1877, he became an ordained minister. In 1879, he earned a Master of Arts degree from Madison University.
Leadership in the Church
In November 1883, Joseph Jones was elected as the corresponding secretary. This was for the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention of the United States. He held this important position until September 1893. In 1885, he became the head of Homiletics (the art of preaching) and Greek at Richmond Theological Seminary. When he passed away, he was a professor of Church Polity (church rules) and Homiletics.
He wrote for many newspapers. He also edited the Baptist Companion, which was a Virginia journal. Later, he edited the Virginia Baptist Reporter with other leaders. He was a member of the Educational Board of the Virginia Baptist State convention. Selma University gave him the special degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was also the pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church near Petersburg, Virginia. He was a very important leader in the Virginia Baptist Church. People said he helped more pastors start their churches than any other African American man in America.
Personal Life and Passing
On June 21, 1882, Joseph Jones married Rosa D. Kinckle. She was from Lynchburg and worked as a public school teacher. Soon after their marriage, she became in charge of music at Hartshorn Memorial College. They had two sons. One of their sons, Eugene Kinckle Jones, became the executive secretary of the National Urban League.
Joseph Jones passed away on the morning of October 14, 1922. His funeral was held at First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.
