I began this research out of curiosity about the man behind the mission to build a school for negroes in Demopolis.  I was really interested in how Ulysses S. Jones came to live in Demopolis.  Although I still cannot answer this question, I made several fascinating discoveries.  One was personal--Mr. Jones’ great nephew, Willie Carson, Jr., was in the same grade school class as my mom, Pearl A. Norman!!  Mom told us often that several boys started school with her but only one Willie Carson, Jr., stayed.  I now understand why he stayed the course.

 

Sandra Norman-Eady

U.S. Jones School National Alumni Association Board of Director

 

 

 HISTORY of ULYSSES S. JONES

 

Ulysses Simpson Jones was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in about 1872 to Ausborn and Lucy Jones. He was the oldest of four children. His parents migrated to Alabama from Virginia.  Ausborn Jones was a blacksmith and Lucy did not appear to work outside of the home.  Ausborn listed his race on the 1880 census as “mulatto.” Ausborn stated that Ulysses was away at school.

 

By the 1900 census, Ausborn had died and Lucy was the head of the household that included two (Margaret and Council) of her four children.  Lucy could not read or write.  It is believed she worked as a cook to support her family when the census was taken.  Ulysses was not found in a 1900 census. Lucy Jones died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on December 3, 1919.  Her age was listed at 80 years.

 

Talladega College published a Catalogue of Officers and Students at Talladega beginning in the late 1880s that listed its students and tracked its graduates.  A review of the 1886-87 catalogue shows Ulysses S. Jones in Eighth Grade.  The catalogue in 1887-1888 lists him among the class of 10th graders, 11th graders in 1888-89, and 12th graders in 1889-90.

 

After graduating 12th grade, Jones got a job teaching in Camp Hill, Alabama (1890-91).  After a year in Camp Hill, he secured a teaching job in Tuscaloosa (1892-93).  After a year in Tuscaloosa, he taught for a year in Demopolis (1893-94).  From 1894-96, he taught in Tuscaloosa.  It appears that he moved permanently to Demopolis after 1896.  He taught at what was then called the “Public School” from 1897-98.  In 1898, he became the principal of that school.  He remained principal for several decades as the school changed names from the Academy (1907-1908) to the Black Belt Normal Institute.

 

In the 1910 census, Jones was listed as the head of a household that included his wife of 11 years, Sarah E. Jones.  He listed teaching as his occupation and his race as “mulatto.”  He stated that he owned his home on Arcola Road.

 

On March 21, 1916, Jones purchased property that contained a hall or lodge building from Jennie Morris Ely, a widow, for $700 (see Deed Book TT, p. 479). 

 

By the 1920 census, Jones was living on Ashe Street with his wife and a 14-year-old servant, Vina Williams. He listed his race as “Black.” He may have purchased the property on Ashe Street from J. W. and Mary Phillips for $350 dollars on January 13, 1911 (see Deed Book QQ, p. 150).

 

It was in 1920 that Jones together with L.D. Collins, Ed Davis, and others paid $800 to purchase property for “the negro public schools” from Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Knox and Mr. and Mrs. John C. Webb (see Deed Book QQ, page 5). 

 

After his successful tenure in Demopolis, Jones left in 1925 to become Director of Negro Education of Montgomery County, Alabama.  He held this position until he became ill in 1930 and returned to Demopolis.

 

In the 1930 census, Jones and his wife were living on Cherry Street with his nephew, Willie Carson.  Also included in the household were Carson’s wife, Edna, and their four children, Estelle, Willie, Sara, and Milton.  Jones’ occupation was listed as superintendent of public schools.

 

Ulysses S. Jones died in Demopolis on April 11, 1930 at about 53 years of age. He was buried in Birmingham, Alabama on April 19, 1930.

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* All researched documents referenced such as County Deed Records are shown below. Census Bureau Data can be found by accessing U. S. Census Bureau Data for the time periods cited, and Talledega Catalogues can be at accessed at talladega.brinkster.net>academics

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Webmaster’s note: We’d like to thank Sandra Norman-Eady for her hours of painstaking research to find out more about the history of Ulysses Simpson Jones. She took the time to visit several repositories of historical data, accessed online archives at Talladega College, searched volumes of census data, and reported facts unaltered. Sandra is currently a Ulysses Simpson Jones School National Alumni Association Board of Director. She is an attorney who was employed by the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) for over 26 years. Sandra ended her career as the first African-American director of the CGA’s Office of Legislative Research, more Black History. We hope that you will understand that this is only a part of the unique history that the Ulysses Simpson Jones National Alumni Association is working diligently to preserve. We know there is a lot more still to be discovered and we hope you will join us in that pursuit by becoming a member and supporting our mission.

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