1925 Biography - Edward R. Jones

Edward Roger Jones, whose well directed activities have gained him prestige as one of the successful representatives of the general insurance business in the City of Baton Rouge, was one of Louisiana's loyal young men who represented this commonwealth in the nation's military services in the World war period.

Mr. Jones was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi, on the home plantation of his father, and the date of his nativity was September 13, 1892. The Jones family of which he is a scion is of Welsh origin, and was founded in South Carolina in the Colonial period of American history. James Jones, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi, in the year 1824, the greatest part of his life having been passed in his native county, though he was a resident of Natchitoches, Louisiana, at the time of his death, in 1889. He owned and successfully operated a large plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi, and from that state went forth as a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, his service having continued until the close of the conflict between the states of the North and the South. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Coleman, was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi, in 1830, and there they continued to reside until their removal to Natchitoches, Louisiana, about the year 1886. Mrs. Jones survived her husband about six years, and there her death occurred in 1895.

Edward F. Jones, father of him whose name introduces this sketch, was born on the old homestead plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi, October 16, 1860, and was there reared to manhood. After his marriage he there continued his active alliance with plantation industry until 1893, when he removed to Amite County, that state, and established himself in business as a building Contractor. In 1903 he came to Baton Rouge, where he continued in the same line of enterprise until 1917, since which year he has resided on his well improved farm near this city, where he is now living virtually retired. He is a democrat, was formerly in active affiliation with the independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor, and he and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Mrs. Jones, whose maiden name was Lillian Josephus Jackson, was born and reared in Amite County, Mississippi. Of the children the eldest is Frank Pruitt Jones, who resides at Baton Rouge and who here holds the position of oil treater in the employ of the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana. He was in the nation's military service in the World war period and was stationed at various military camps, including Jackson Barracks in New Orleans; Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia; Camp Custer, at Battle Creek, Michigan; and Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He was in service from April, 1917, until March, 1919, and gained the rank of sergeant in a machine-gun battalion. Theo Annie, next younger of the children, is the wife of William H. Gates, who is at the head of the department of biology in the Louisiana State University; Amanda M. is the wife of Dr. Fred D. Wood, who is now (1924) in charge of the Veterinary Hospital in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Edward R., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Hazel and Hallie were twins and each died at the age of three years. Lillian died at the age of four years, and Albert and three other children died in infancy.

Edward R. Jones attended the public schools of Gloster, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in 1912 he was graduated from the Baton Rouge High School. In 1916 he was graduated from the Louisiana State University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and as a student in this institution he became affiliated with the Sigma Delta Chi and the Theta Theta fraternities. For one year after his graduation Mr. Jones was connected with the Louisiana State entomological department, in the capacity of nursery inspector, and thereafter he gave about one year service as acting state entomologist. In December, 1917, he volunteered for service in the World war, and at the Officers Training Camp at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, he received commission as a second lieutenant of field artillery. After six months at that camp he was transferred to Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, and four months later he went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was for two months in training at the Artillery School of Fire and where heh was stationed at the time of receiving his honorable discharge in December, 1918. Thereafter he for one year engaged in entomological work for the United States Department of Agriculture, with headquarters at Clarksville, Tennessee, and he then went to the City of Hartford, Connecticut, and completed an effective three months' course in a well ordered school of insurance. For the ensuing year he was special agent of the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford in the City of New Orleans, and since that time he has developed at Baton Rouge a substantial and representative general insurance business, with offices at 401 New Reymond Building.

Mr. Jones is aligned in the ranks of the democratic party. He and his wife hold membership in the First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, in which he is director of music. He is a loyal and progressive member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and of Nicholson Post No. 38, American Legion. He is affiliated with St. James Lodge No. 47, And Free and Accepted Masons, with Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Kiwanis Club.

July 8, 1919, recorded the marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Lillian May Roberts, daughter of Osce and Virginia (Rives) Roberts, of Birmingham, Alabama where Mr. Roberts owns and operates a leading printing establishment. Mrs. Jones attended a mal school in North Carolina, and prior to marriage she had been for three years a successful and popular teacher in the State School for Deaf, her service in this capacity having been in North Carolina, North Dakota and Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have twin sons, Edward Roger, Jr., and Osce Roberts, born November 4, 1920.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 80.