My Genealogy Hound

Wiley Jones, Pine Bluff, Ark. It is not often that the biographer of today, in referring to the lives of those whom it is his privilege to meet, is permitted to enter upon the record of a man more deserving of honorable mention than Wiley Jones, of Pine Bluff, Ark., one whose name is almost a household word in Central Arkansas, and to whom the citizens of this section, especially, owe a very great debt of gratitude. His career has been a remarkable one, and as noted in this brief sketch, cannot fail of interest, even to the most indifferent reader. Mr. Jones was born in Madison County, Ga., July 14, 1848. His father was George Jones, a Georgia planter; his mother's name was Ann, one of George Jones' slaves, a woman far above mediocrity of women of her race in point of general intelligence, form and features. She was the mother of six children, by George Jones: Mathew (the eldest, a man of fine constructive ability, whose services as superintendent of the construction of the Wiley Jones Street Car Line, at Pine Bluff, Ark., are well remembered), Thomas (who died several years ago), Julia (wife of Mr. Ben Reed, one of the most prominent colored men in Pine Bluff), Wiley (the subject of this sketch), Taylor (who was murdered in Johnson County, Ark., for the money on his person, some years ago), and James (who is manager of Wiley's mercantile business, a shrewd business man, enjoying the confidence of his fellow citizens, both white and colored). Wiley was named by his mother, for the family physician, Walter. Being somewhat mischievous and wild, but never vicious, he was nicknamed Wiley, which name he retained, although, as he grew to man's estate, he proved to be rather sedate and thoughtful. When five years of age, his father moved by wagons from Georgia to Jefferson County, Ark., taking with him over forty slaves, and his slave wife and her children, settling on the Gov. Byrd plantation, twelve miles above Pine Bluff, on the Arkansas River, where he died in 1858. When on his death-bed he told his wife that he had made provision for the freedom of herself and children. This intention of her husband to free his loved ones she maintained to the hour of her death, but no manumission papers could be found, and if such were prepared, they were destroyed, and the expected freedom was denied. The family were sold by the administrator of the estate, to one Peter Finerty, who held them a short time and sold them to Gen. James Yell, a distinguished lawyer and planter of Pine Bluff. Wiley was sent to the plantation, and drove the gin mules during the cotton-ginning season. When only ten years of age, on the marriage of Pitts, Gen. Yell's only son, Wiley was a marriage gift to the young benedict, who made him his body servant, and treated him kindly. At twelve years of age he drove his mistress' carriage horses, and was the special trusted servant of Col Yell and his wife. While in this service he improved himself in every way possible, and laid the foundation of that self-reliance and sound judgment which stamp him now a remarkable man. On the inauguration of the Civil War he attended his master as his camp servant. At the death of Gen. Yell, who fell while leading a charge on a Federal battery, at the battle of Mansfield, La., Wiley at once joined the Yell family, who were refugees at Waco, Texas. There he served as porter in a mercantile house one year. On the expiration of his term as porter, he was hired to drive wagons, loaded with cotton, to San Antonio, Texas. At the close of the war he returned with Mrs. Yell to her home at Monticello, Ark. Set at liberty by the emancipation act, he was free to take such steps as seemed to him best. Leaving Monticello, he debated in his mind whether he would locate in Pine Bluff or Fort Smith, Ark. Visiting the latter place, but not being pleased with the outlook, he returned to Pine Bluff, resolving to cast his lot in that city. Being now seventeen years of age, and capable of any manual labor, he hired, at $20 per month, to a mule driver, with whom he worked several months. He then contracted with his old master's son, Col. Yell, to work on his plantation, at $20 per month. In a short time, his superior intelligence and administrative ability, warranted Col. Yell in placing Wiley at the head of his planting interest, giving him full control, in which capacity he remained until the crops were marketed. Tiring of plantation work, and believing a higher destiny awaited him, Wiley moved to Pine Bluff and hired at a saloon, remaining one year. Having made some proficiency as a barber at odd times, he decided to work at that trade, and took a barber's chair in the shop of his brother-in-law, Ben Reed, where he labored ten years. During that time he laid the foundation of his fortune, saving every cent of his earnings, paying his board by waiting on the guests at a hotel nearby at meal hours. He found a ready market for the loan of his money at the office of a well-known broker of Pine Bluff, to whom he loaned the principal and interest, as it accrued, realizing the largest interest the laws allowed. Mr. Jones is now considered a wealthy man, and, with unbroken success, will amass one of the largest fortunes in the South. He is owner of some of the most valuable real estate in the city; is sole owner of the Wiley Jones Street Car Line, now nearly six miles long. This street railway is laid with twenty-pound steel rails, manufactured by Paddock Hawley Iron Company, of St. Louis, expressly for the Wiley Jones railway. His cars are all new, and are the very best built by the John Stephenson Company, of New York City, and the St. Louis Car Company, of St. Louis. He renders his road wonderfully attractive by securing the best equipment. His car stables and barns are fine and admirably suited to the service, and are located on the periphery of his belt-line, at his beautiful park of fifty-five acres, south of the city, in which is a half-mile racing track, said to be second to none in the South. Adjoining this park are the Colored People's Fair Grounds, where is a handsome floral pavilion of octagon shape, and a large and well-constructed amphitheatre, stock-stables and stalls, all the property of Mr. Jones, and not a cent of debt is owing on anything. Mr. Jones is very fond of fine stock, and owns some of the finest in the South, among which are noted trotters. He is truly a benefactor to the deserving of his race, aiding with his ample means those who are disposed to help themselves. His example and advice are eagerly sought, and, when followed, have resulted favorably to the party interested. No man is more liberal with his means, where the advancement of his race is the object. There are few men of either race who stand higher with his fellow-citizens, both white and colored. He so deports himself toward the white race as to command respect from all classes; he is as polite and courteous to the poor white laborer as he is to the man of wealth. While decided in his political views, he is no politician; he is a Republican in principle, and an earnest worker in any cause that he deems just. He is a believer in the Christian faith, but is not attached to any church as a member; he years ago adopted for his guide through life two words, ''Do right.'' He has been so engrossed in his business, that he has never given thought to contracting marriage. He has always been an early riser; 5 o'clock finds him in the saddle, looking after his many and varied interests, and he never permits himself to rest until he sees that every branch of his business is moving on properly. One has said of him: "Who will say the Africo American is not capable of becoming a worthy citizen? Looking back to 1864, and tracing him step by step from an ignorant slave to the position that thousands now occupy, we see almost every avocation in life respectably filled by men of a race who, twenty years ago, could not boast of even the simplest rudiments of an education. With no means with which to begin his new life, but fair intelligence and bone and muscle, the subject of this sketch is a bright example of what may be accomplished by a proper use of even that limited capital." Wiley Jones is a man of great energy and foresight. With a thorough business mind and almost unparalleled industry, he has amassed a handsome fortune in a few years, and bids fair to become one of the wealthiest men in his State. Few men of either race have succeeded so well in the South. Having no partner in any of his ventures, what he possesses is truly his own; he does not owe a dollar that has matured for payment, his motto being, ''Owe no man.'' His portrait herewith presented is an excellent representation of this esteemed citizen.