Charleston Gazette
J. M'Henry Jones Educator And Great Negro Dead
President of West Virginia Institute Succumbs To Brights Disease
Prominent Odd Fellow
Was Fifty Years of Age and Leaves Widow and Four Children
September 23, 1909
J. McHenry Jones, president of the West Virginia Colored Institute, died at the Institute at 11:22 o'clock last night after three weeks illness from Brights disease.
President Jones was a man of national reputation as one of the foremost educators of his race and, since coming to the institute in 1899 the college has prospered and developed wonderfully under his supervision. President Jones found the school with 90 students and three buildings. He made it of so much value that is [sic] now has 250 students in attendance, has 7 large buildings and 20 acres has been added for agricultural purposes.
The deceased educator was ex-Grand Master of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, a colored fraternity and was also in high standing in the Knights of Pythias. He was honored a few years ago by being sent to England as fraternal delegate of the Odd Fellows and prior to his last sickness went to Seattle as delegate to the Epworth League convention there.
When he first became ill it was not thought his sickness would prove dangerous but his condition grew worse and Doctors Moore, Tompkins, Whipper and R. L. Jones were called but could give him no hope.
President Jones was born at Pomeroy, Ohio, and after graduating from the high school in that city, took the degree of A. M. at Wilberforce, Ohio, and L. L. D. at Rusk University in Mississippi. Later he was made principal of the colored schools in Wheeling, and then came to Institute.
The deceased colored educator was 50 years of age, and leaves a widow and four brothers. One of the brothers is Alex Jones, a barber in this city, while another Charles Jones is teacher of sciences at Institute, another lives in the west, and one at Rendsville, Ohio, where he is postmaster.
Arrangements for the funeral will be made today. The remains will probably be taken to Pomeroy for interment.