BLACK HISTORY: FREDRICK JONES
Written by Andria on February 26, 2018
The inventor of refrigeration equipment used to transport food and blood.
Fredrick Jones was born in 1893 to a white father and a black mother. His mother deserted them when he was just a toddler so his father attempted to raise him on his own. This proved difficult for the father so at age 7 his father sent him to live with a priest at a hope for a better life. While Jones lived with the pastor, he had chores around the church, learned to cut the lawn, shovel, scrub floors, and had to learn how to prepare food. Then Jones’ father passed away. Distraught and alone he decided at only 11 years old to run away and fend for himself.
He found work as a janitor in a garage where he developed an interest in mechanics. He became so good that by his mid-teens he became the foreman. At 19 he moved to Hallock, Minnesota where he worked as a mechanic on a farm. By age 20 he earned his engineering license.
During WWI he was called to help with mechanical repairs to various machines which expanded his knowledge ever further.
Through the 1930s his interest in mechanics expanded into an interest in cooling mechanics. He designed and patented a portable air-cooling unit for trucks carrying perishable food. He then developed a company called US Thermo Control Company to sell his invention which made millions through WWII.
(suggestion by Daiquon)
