Editing Scipio Africanus Jones (section)

==Business life==
Jones was a successful and powerful businessman. He was the founder and owner of People's Ice & Fuel Company, which had the distinction of being both the only black-owned and black-operated [[ice]] manufacturing company and the only black-owned and black-operated fuel company in the U.S. He extended his relationship with Eddie Wood, Sr, and Jon Bush, when they supported his formation of the Arkansas Negro Business League, an affiliate of [[Booker T. Washington]]'s National [[Negro Business League]] (NNBL). Additionally, he joined the [[Prince Hall Freemasonry|Prince Hall Masons]], with their sponsorship.

During the administration of [[Mayor]] [[Ben D. Brickhouse]], the Little Rock Clearing House, composed of representatives from the ten banks of Little Rock, had declined to make a loan to the city. When Brickhouse mentioned this fact to Jones, Jones asked the mayor how much money the city needed. The mayor replied that he needed $75,000;  Jones said, "My clients have $120,000 on deposit in the banks of Little Rock and if the Clearing House will not let you have the money, my clients will."  After hearing about the conversation, the Clearing House agreed to lend the city the $75,000.