John Jones (abolitionist)

John Jones (1817–1879) was an American abolitionist, civil rights leader, philanthropist, and business entrepreneur. During his lifetime, he became the first black man in the state of Illinois to serve on a grand jury in 1870,[1] a notary public in 1871,[2] and the first to be elected to public office in 1871.

John Jones by Aaron E. Darling

Arriving in Chicago with three dollars in assets in 1845, Jones rose to become Chicago's primary black leader of the 19th Century with his personal campaign to end the Black Codes of Illinois and as the first African-American to win public office in the state. He would also become Chicago's wealthiest and most influential African-American in the 19th Century.[3]

Early life

Jones was born in Green City, North Carolina, in 1816 to a free mulatto mother and German-American father.[4] For most of his early life, he was an indentured servant who trained as a tailor in Memphis, Tennessee. He married Mary Jane Richardson (1829-1910), the daughter of Elijah Richardson, a free Negro blacksmith. Mary would play a critical leadership role in abolitionist, civil rights, and women's suffrage movement.[5]

Arrival in Chicago

Jones and his wife arrived in Chicago in April 1845 with only two dollars. During his early years he would be befriended by abolitionists Lemuel Covell Paine (L.C.P) Freer and Dr. Charles V. Dyer, is are credited by Jones in teaching him to read and write as well as the fundamentals of business and real estate.[6] Beyond his tailoring business, Jones invested in land that would develop into the first working-class neighborhood for Chicago black families.[7]

Underground Railroad

Jones played a key role in Chicago’s Underground Railroad and opened a "General Intelligence Office" at 88 Dearborn Street in 1854. This was the major communications hub for African-Americans, both free and escaped slaves, from 1854 until the end of the Civil War.[8]

Illinois black codes

As early as 1847, Jones made it his primary objective to ban Illinois' racist black laws.[9] These Black laws or "codes" were adopted in 1819 and prohibited free blacks from having legal rights, including the right to sue, testify against whites, own property, or access public education. Jones' first attempt at repeal was writing a series of columns in the Western Citizen in 1847. It was also during this year that he began to work closely with his friend Frederick Douglass.[10] In December 1850, Jones circulated a petition—signed by black residents of the state—for Illinois legislators to repeal the Black Laws.[11] In 1864, the Chicago Tribune published Jones’ pamphlet, “The Black Laws of Illinois and a Few Reasons Why They Should Be Repealed.” It was not until 1865 that Illinois repealed the state’s provision of its Black Laws.

Later life

Although Jones lost part of his fortune to the great 1871 Chicago Fire, he remained one of the city's most prominent citizens until his death.

References
  1. "1870". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  2. "Jones, John | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  3. Wilson, Cynthia (2008-03-12). "John Jones (1817-1879) •". Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  4. Smith, Jessie (2017-11-27). Encyclopedia of African American Business: Updated and Revised Edition, 2nd Edition [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-4408-5028-8.
  5. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. The Society. 2001.
  6. Rather, Ernest R. (1972). Chicago Negro almanac and reference book. Chicago Negro Almanac Pub. Co.
  7. Reed, Christopher R. (2001). "African American Life in Antebellum Chicago, 1833-1860". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 94 (4): 356–382. ISSN 1522-1067. JSTOR 40193583.
  8. Calarco, Tom; Vogel, Cynthia (2011). Places of the Underground Railroad: A Geographical Guide. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-38146-1.
  9. Weiner, Dana Elizabeth (2013-01-15). Race and Rights: Fighting Slavery and Prejudice in the Old Northwest, 1830–1870 (in German). Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-60909-072-2.
  10. "John Jones to Frederick Douglass, February 4, 1848 (Unpublished) | Frederick Douglass Papers". frederickdouglass.infoset.io. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  11. Bridges, Roger D. (2015). "Antebellum Struggle for Citizenship". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 108 (3–4): 296–321. doi:10.5406/jillistathistsoc.108.3-4.0296. ISSN 1522-1067. JSTOR 10.5406/jillistathistsoc.108.3-4.0296.
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