I’ve been working on the railroad
all the live-long day.
I’ve been working on the railroad
just to pass the time away…
A recent finding from a 1900 Census document of Quincy, Illinois, dispels the claim that Jones earned a law degree from Chaddock College in Quincy in 1899. The 1900 Census reveals that Melvin was listed as ‘Melvin Reed’ and a “boarder” of Mrs. Isabella Reed who we learned earlier served as a mother figure for Melvin since he was 12 years of age. The 1900 census has him being 21 years of age and employed by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as a “trackman.” Mrs. Reed’s late husband and two sons were employed with the “Burlington Route.”
The history of Melvin Jones’ early life is virtually unknown to the vast majority of Lions membership. Unfortunately, those that opt to learn from the official LCI and Lions University websites are no better off. Those sources have seen fit to create manufactured versions of a biography that elevate Jones to a level of credibility through accomplishments that never took place.
The image below is from the 1900 census information on Isabella Reed and her boarder. The image splices together the end of one page with Isabella Reed listed and continues on to the next page with her son, daughter-in-law and Melvin.
All this material is a true account, with one slight disclaimer: the photo on this page shows a middle-aged Melvin Jones’ face photoshopped onto the body of a railroad worker.