Wiley Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter "Wiley" Jones
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Image of Jones from 1887
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| Born | April 15, 1852 Madison County, Georgia, USA
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| Died | December 7, 1904 (aged 52) |
| Resting place | Unnamed black cemetery in Pine Bluff which he owned |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Never married |
Walter "Wiley" Jones (July 14, 1841 – December 7, 1904) was a very successful businessman from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He became one of the richest African-American people in his state. Wiley Jones owned the first streetcar company in Pine Bluff. He also owned a large park in the city where fairgrounds were located. Because he loved horse racing, he had his own stables and a race track at the park. He was also very involved in community activities and worked hard to support civil rights for all people.
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Early Life of Wiley Jones
Walter "Wiley" Jones was born in Madison County, Georgia, on July 14, 1848. His parents were George Jones and Anne. Wiley was one of six children. He got his nickname "Wiley" because he was often playful and a bit mischievous.
When he was five years old, Wiley moved to Arkansas with his family and many other people who were enslaved. They settled on a large farm called the Governor Byrd plantation. After George Jones passed away in 1858, Wiley and his family were sold to James Yell. James Yell was a lawyer and farmer in Pine Bluff. Wiley worked as a houseboy and drove carriages for his new owner.
Later, when Wiley was ten, he was given to James Yell's son, Fountain Pitts Yell. Pitts Yell was a state representative. During the American Civil War, Wiley served Pitts Yell. After Pitts Yell died in 1864, Wiley joined James Yell's family in Waco, Texas. There, he worked for a year in a store. He then drove a wagon carrying cotton along the Brazos River to San Antonio.
Wiley Jones's Business Journey
After the Civil War, Wiley Jones returned to Arkansas. He first worked as a mule driver and then managed the Yell family's farm. In 1868, he started working as a barber with his brother-in-law, Ben Reed. He continued this work until 1881. After that, he began selling tobacco and cigars, among other things. His brother, James, helped him manage his businesses.
Pine Bluff's First Streetcar Company
In August 1886, Wiley Jones received permission to start the first streetcar line in Pine Bluff. He quickly built over a mile of track. The first streetcar began running on October 19, 1886. This was a special day because it was also the first day of the annual fair. Wiley Jones was the treasurer of the Colored Industrial and Fair Association, which organized the fair.
He owned the fairgrounds, which were part of a 55-acre park he owned called Wiley Jones Park. He loved horses and had many, including a famous stallion named "Executor." Later, his colt, "Trickster," also became well-known. In 1901, one of his racehorses, "Billy H," even broke a track record in Canada! In 1890, he bought a second streetcar line in Pine Bluff. He later sold his streetcar company in 1894. In 1901, Jones started the Southern Mercantile Company. He made his friend Fred Havis the president and his brother, James, the manager.
Community Involvement and Civil Rights
Wiley Jones was an active member of the Republican Party. He was chosen to represent his state at the 1880 Republican National Convention in Chicago. This convention chose James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur to run for president and vice president.
Around 1888, he opened a school called the Colored Industrial Institute of Pine Bluff. This school helped teach practical skills. He was very important in helping African Americans get elected to public office in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County. He also helped start the Arkansas Colored Men's Association. In 1893, he was a delegate at a national convention for the Colored Men's National Protective Association in Chicago.
Wiley Jones was also an active member of the Masons, a fraternal organization. He worked with professor J. C. Corbin to help build a Masonic Temple in Pine Bluff. Jones even sold land for the Masons to use for the building.
Personal Life and Legacy
Wiley Jones learned to read and write when he was an adult. He was a Christian but did not belong to any specific church. He never married.
Wiley Jones passed away in Pine Bluff on December 7, 1904, from a kidney disease. His funeral was held at the new black Masonic Temple. He was buried in a cemetery for African Americans that he himself had founded. His life showed how much a person could achieve through hard work and dedication, even in challenging times.
