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Robert Louis Jones
- West Virginia University Press
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138 history american negro where he rendered five years of faithful efficient service. The house of worship was repaired and the congregation strengthened. During two years of the time he was at Ridgeway he taught also. From there he went to Chattanooga, Tenn., and was for two years Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at that point. In 1909 he came into the coal fields of West Virginia,and located at Kimball,where he has since resided, at the same time building up a splendid work at the nearby town of Keystone. As a preacher, teacher and Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. he has sought to deal with and lead his people intelligently. He believes that the work of the scholar should be Christian and the work of the Christian intelligent. Since going to Kimball, a modern new house of worship and a parsonage have been erected. The name of the church is Ebenezer.At Keystone the Whittico Memorial Church has been erected at a cost of $15,000.00 Dr. Johnson has the principal Presbyterian work in the state. On May 7, 1903, he was married to Miss Leonora Leona Byers, of Greensboro, N.C. Mrs. Johnson was educated at Scotia Seminary, Concord, N. C., and is herself an accomplished teacher. In politics Dr. Johnson is a Republican. Among the secret orders he affiliates with the Masons, Pythians, Odd Fellows, St. Lukes and the Golden Rule Society. During the World War he went into“Y”work and was for ten months religious secretary at Camp Sherman. Next after the Bible and his theological readings, his favorite subjects are history and biography. He has been an intelligent observer of conditions and believes that his people need to develop “race consciousness .” Robert Louis Jones Dr. Robert Louis Jones, though still a young man, was one of the pioneer colored physicians of the capital city of West Virginia. He is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born at Lynchburg on June 17, 1875. His parents were Carter and Susan H. Jones. west virginia edition 139 Young Jones grew up in Lynchburg and there laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of the city. From Lynchburg he passed to Howard University for his preparatory and college work. When ready for his medical course, he matriculated at the School of Medicine of Howard University, where he won his M.D. degree in 1902. This simple narrative of his education by no means tells the whole story. After leaving the public school, he made his own way, first by hotel work, and later during vacations on the Fall River Line. His contact with a white friend of Lynchburg, who was a successful dentist, directed his attention to that profession, but later, medicine made a stronger appeal and he pursued the medical course as indicated above. After his graduation he located at Charleston, W. Va., where he has since resided and practiced. In the 20 years he has been at Charleston he has seen many changes, most of which have been in the line of progress. He has entered heartily into the business, social and professional life of his people at Charleston, and is one of the best known colored men of the city. He is identified with both the state and national medical associations. He was at one time president of the state association and has been secretary for fifteen years. In politics Dr. Jones is a Republican, in religion a Baptist. The year following his graduation, June 18, 1903, Dr. Jones was married to Miss Ottie M. Brooks, daughter of the distinguished Baptist divine of Washington, D. C., Rev. Walter H. Brooks, D.D. He has one daughter, Miss Helen E. Jones, now (1922) a student at Dunbar High School, Washington. Mrs. Jones passed to her reward on November 7, 1921. Dr. Jones was popular as a student and while at Howard was active in college athletics. In 1895 he was captain of the foot ball team. Among the secret and fraternal orders, Dr. Jones is identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows and the Pythians, for all of which he is local examiner. He is also medical examiner for the National Benefit Insurance Company of Washington and the Supreme Casualty Company. [54.82.20.97] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 06:09 GMT) harry eugene kingslow west virginia edition 141 As a physician, Dr. Jones has had the opportunity to study conditions in an intimate sort...