Lloyd Kenyon Jones

Lloyd Kenyon Jones was an American journalist, editor, lecturer, publisher, and author. He began his career in newspaper publishing in Wisconsin before becoming an early student and associate of physician Herbert A. Parkyn at the Chicago School of Psychology, where he lectured on hypnotism and Suggestion during the late 1890s. He later served as the founding editor of The Journal of Magnetism, founded the Chicago School of Psychic Attainment, worked as a mining journalist and associate editor of the Mining Record, wrote extensively on professional wrestling, and became known as an author and publisher of works on Spiritualism, psychic research, and Christianity.

Early life and newspaper career

Born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, he received most of his education in Marshfield and entered the newspaper profession as a printer’s apprentice at The Marshfield Times under publisher John H. White. While working in the newspaper office he developed interests in journalism, illustration, and writing.

Chicago School of Psychology

Also interested in mental science, Jones moved to Chicago in 1896 and enrolled as one of the earliest students at Herbert A. Parkyn’s newly established Chicago School of Psychology. He remained closely associated with Parkyn during the school’s formative years and became one of its public lecturers and demonstrators.

By 1897 Jones was touring Wisconsin and neighboring states presenting lectures and public demonstrations on hypnotism based upon the teachings of Parkyn and the Chicago School of Psychology. His lectures emphasized the scientific study of Suggestion while also demonstrating many of the well-known feats of touring stage mentalists, including performing the blindfolded stagecoach drive.

Jones also contributed articles to The Hypnotic Magazine and assisted with the instructional work of the Chicago School. In 1900 he prepared several correspondence courses for the Psychic Research Company, including lessons on psychometry, clairvoyance, and phrenology.

The Journal of Magnetism and publishing

Following the discontinuation of Suggestive Therapeutics at the end of 1900, Jones became the founding editor of The Journal of Magnetism, a new publication established to continue much of the magazine’s readership and publishing operations. The magazine focused on mental science, magnetic healing, psychology, and related subjects.

Jones remained editor until April 1901, when he left the publication to establish the Chicago School of Psychic Attainment, and Sydney B. Flower took over as editor. The Journal of Magnetism would become New Thought magazine in January 1902, one of the most influential magazines in the New Thought movement.

Journalism

After leaving Chicago, Jones entered mining journalism during the western mining boom. By 1905 he had become associate editor of the Mining Record in Denver, Colorado, where he wrote on mining economics, investment, and western development. His articles appeared in newspapers throughout the United States and examined topics including gold production, mining methods, and mineral conservation.

During the following decade Jones also became a sports writer specializing in professional wrestling. His newspaper columns chronicled many of the leading wrestlers of the era and reflected his personal involvement in the sport. He served for a time as manager of world champion wrestler Fred Beell and later wrote extensively about Beell’s career following his death.

Spiritualism and later career

During the 1910s, he worked with Mrs. Cecil M. Cook, Pastor and Medium of the William T. Stead Memorial Center in Chicago, Illinois, acting as a shorthand scribe during her seances, and editing the results of her spirit contacts into book form. Together with his wife Lydia Marie Jones, he operated a publishing business devoted to Spiritualist literature. Lydia served as editor of Communication magazine and collaborated with Jones in the publication of many of his books.

Jones devoted much of his attention to Spiritualism, psychical research, yoga and Buddhism. He established offices in Chicago and published numerous books and pamphlets exploring communication with the dead, Christianity, Biblical interpretation, dreams, psychic phenomena, and the afterlife.

Among his best-known works were God’s World, The World Next Door, Master Key of the Scriptures, Ciphers of the Apocalypse, and The Eighteen Absent Years of Jesus Christ, the latter becoming one of his most widely circulated books. Several of Jones’ books remain in print in the 21st century. In particular, The Eighteen Absent Years of Jesus Christ, which he had completed at the time of his death, and which was published posthumously. It has continued to find an audience with mainstream Christians as well as Spiritualists.

Personal life

Jones married Lydia Marie Schwartz in 1901. She worked closely with him throughout their publishing careers, assisting in editing, publishing, and managing their Spiritualist publications. Following her death, Jones wrote that she had shared his religious beliefs and had collaborated with him in nearly every phase of his literary work.

Jones died in Chicago, Illinois, on June 28, 1941, at the age of 63. He was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

Sources & Citations

1. Newspaper. "Missing years of Christ book ad" . The Michigan Chronicle. 1944-08-26. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
2. Newspaper. "Lloyd Kenyon Jones Bio" . Marshfield News-Herald. 1941-07-03. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
3. Newspaper. "Obituary of Lloyd kenyon Jones" . Marshfield News-Herald. 1941-07-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
4. Newspaper. "Lloyd Kenyon Jones' wife's death. Talks about life. New Thought magazine etc" . Marshfield News-Herald. 1940-11-28. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
5. Newspaper. "Wife dies. One time manager of world champion wrestler" . Marshfield News-Herald. 1940-11-25. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
6. Newspaper. "Tribute to wrestling champion Lloyd Jones managed" . Marshfield News-Herald. 1937-08-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
7. Newspaper. "Lloyd Jones was a Graduate of Parkyn's Chicago School of Psychology" . The La Crosse Tribune. 1917-06-25. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
8. Newspaper. "Wrote for Goldfield with Flower" . Baker City Herald. 1907-02-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
9. Newspaper. "Eau Claire Leader newspaper in Marshfield Wisconsin" . The Marshfield News and Wisconsin Hub. 1893-01-05. p. 7. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
10. Newspaper. "Lloyd Kenyon Jones gives a hypnotism display" . The Marshfield News and Wisconsin Hub. 1897-02-04. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
11. Newspaper. "on debate team" . The Marshfield News and Wisconsin Hub. 1894-10-11. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
12. Newspaper. "Lloyd Kenyon Jones studied at Parkyn's Chicago School of Psychology" . The Marshfield News and Wisconsin Hub. 1897-02-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
13. Newspaper. "Lloyd Kenyon Jones writes for Hypnotic magazine" . The Jersey Journal. 1897-07-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
14. Newspaper. "Lloyd Jones does a tour giving Hypnotic exhibitions" . The Marshfield News and Wisconsin Hub. 1897-10-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
15. Newspaper. "Journal of Magnetism magazine" . The Daily Nonpareil. 1901-02-19. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
16. Newspaper. "Psychometry" . Chicago Tribune. 1901-05-19. p. 27. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
17. Newspaper. "Journal of Magnetism investigates spirit photography" . The Kingston Whig-Standard. 1901-10-24. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
18. Newspaper. "Journal of Magnetism investigates spirit photography" . The Kingston Whig-Standard. 1901-10-24. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
19. Newspaper. "Director of oil company" . The Bakersfield Californian. 1909-06-01. p. 6.