Edwin Jones was a pioneer African-American barber of the Colorado mountains.
He was born about 1841 in Virginia. Sometime between 1850 and 1855 his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was a haven for free black citizens. Jones remained there until 1862, when he left for Colorado with "Commodore" Rodney French, the former mayor of New Bedford and a prominent abolitionist, who intended to start a mine in the hills above Boulder with about 20 men.
Leaving French's company that winter, Jones opened a barber shop with Thomas Townsend in the town of Black Hawk. They moved the shop to nearby Central City in 1867.
In 1875 Jones married Sarah Lee, eldest daughter of Jeremiah and Emily Lee. The couple moved to Leadville in 1879, and in that city Jones opened a new barber shop at the corner of West Fifth street and Harrison avenue.
In the winter of 1890, Edwin Jones developed pneumonia and died after only a few days. He and Sarah had no children. Jones was buried in the Lee family plot at Riverside Cemetery in Denver.
Jones's obituary in the Weekly Register-Call of Central City noted that he was a Master Mason and "a man of the utmost integrity, commanding the highest respect of all who knew him."
He was born about 1841 in Virginia. Sometime between 1850 and 1855 his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was a haven for free black citizens. Jones remained there until 1862, when he left for Colorado with "Commodore" Rodney French, the former mayor of New Bedford and a prominent abolitionist, who intended to start a mine in the hills above Boulder with about 20 men.
Leaving French's company that winter, Jones opened a barber shop with Thomas Townsend in the town of Black Hawk. They moved the shop to nearby Central City in 1867.
In 1875 Jones married Sarah Lee, eldest daughter of Jeremiah and Emily Lee. The couple moved to Leadville in 1879, and in that city Jones opened a new barber shop at the corner of West Fifth street and Harrison avenue.
In the winter of 1890, Edwin Jones developed pneumonia and died after only a few days. He and Sarah had no children. Jones was buried in the Lee family plot at Riverside Cemetery in Denver.
Jones's obituary in the Weekly Register-Call of Central City noted that he was a Master Mason and "a man of the utmost integrity, commanding the highest respect of all who knew him."
Edwin Jones was a pioneer African-American barber of the Colorado mountains.
He was born about 1841 in Virginia. Sometime between 1850 and 1855 his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was a haven for free black citizens. Jones remained there until 1862, when he left for Colorado with "Commodore" Rodney French, the former mayor of New Bedford and a prominent abolitionist, who intended to start a mine in the hills above Boulder with about 20 men.
Leaving French's company that winter, Jones opened a barber shop with Thomas Townsend in the town of Black Hawk. They moved the shop to nearby Central City in 1867.
In 1875 Jones married Sarah Lee, eldest daughter of Jeremiah and Emily Lee. The couple moved to Leadville in 1879, and in that city Jones opened a new barber shop at the corner of West Fifth street and Harrison avenue.
In the winter of 1890, Edwin Jones developed pneumonia and died after only a few days. He and Sarah had no children. Jones was buried in the Lee family plot at Riverside Cemetery in Denver.
Jones's obituary in the Weekly Register-Call of Central City noted that he was a Master Mason and "a man of the utmost integrity, commanding the highest respect of all who knew him."
He was born about 1841 in Virginia. Sometime between 1850 and 1855 his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was a haven for free black citizens. Jones remained there until 1862, when he left for Colorado with "Commodore" Rodney French, the former mayor of New Bedford and a prominent abolitionist, who intended to start a mine in the hills above Boulder with about 20 men.
Leaving French's company that winter, Jones opened a barber shop with Thomas Townsend in the town of Black Hawk. They moved the shop to nearby Central City in 1867.
In 1875 Jones married Sarah Lee, eldest daughter of Jeremiah and Emily Lee. The couple moved to Leadville in 1879, and in that city Jones opened a new barber shop at the corner of West Fifth street and Harrison avenue.
In the winter of 1890, Edwin Jones developed pneumonia and died after only a few days. He and Sarah had no children. Jones was buried in the Lee family plot at Riverside Cemetery in Denver.
Jones's obituary in the Weekly Register-Call of Central City noted that he was a Master Mason and "a man of the utmost integrity, commanding the highest respect of all who knew him."
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