Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-17
JOHN j. JARRETT.
The Leader of 10000 Sturdy
Iron WORKERS.
Cincinnati Penny Paper.

Jarrett was porn IN the village Of
Bbwvale, Monmouthsbire, England
January q, l843, and is, therefore, IS
just in the prime Of lite. Hi.
parents were respectable, well to dc
people, who gave him every advantage
in the way Of education possible until
be was eleven years old. At the age
of twelve he was left an orphan, and
being thrown upon his own resources,
he bravely sought and obtained work
in the iron mills Of his native village
Here he worked steadily until he be
came eighteen years of age, when he
turned his back on his native land and
arrived 10 New York oil the 9th day
OF May, 1861, just as the dark and
lowering war cloud was hangine
threateningly over the young republic.
Of the few personal effects with which
he landed In the country nothing was
deemed so valuable as the letters Of
his comrades aud employers, speaking
of him as an honest, upright and in
dustrioas boy" Soon after his arrival
he left New York for Duncansville,
Glare county, Pa, where he obtained
work in the mills. Remaining there
but a short time he went to Holidays
burg, same State, and then to Harris
burg. He worked at his trade in the
latter city until 1866, when he was
called back to the old country to at
tend a law suit. 1t seemed that some
relative had left to young Jarrett's
father some property, and the father
died interstate, an uncle of the boy
being appointed administrator. The
uncle took advantage of the boys
absence in America and sought to
possess himself the property, which
was quite valuable. Young Jar
rett, on learning of his u~ncle's
acts, Immediately returned to
England and instituted proceedings
against the unfaithful relative for the
recovery of the property which was
rightfully his. The lawsuit lasted
three years, and finally was carried to
the Court of Chancery, and young
Jarrett lost his all. Not discouraged
by this ill-luck, the young man again
sailed for America and started to work
at his trade in the mills at Wheatland,
Mercer county, Pa. From there he
went to Middlesex, and thence to
Sharon, where he has remained ever
since.
Early in his boyhood he was imbued
with the principles Of unionism, and
has always been an upright and con-
slstent member of an organization of
that kind. He believes that a work
ingman's capital is his labor, and that
be has a right to combine to protect
that capital. In 1873 be was elected a
delegate from his home lodge, Sons OF
Vulcan, to a convention held at Troy,
N. Y. The first executive Office he
ever held was that of Vice President
OF Districts 6, Sonsof Vulcan, to which
position he was elected in 1875. In
1876 the amalgamated associations of
iron and steel workers was organized,
and John Jarrett was elected n Of
its first Vice Presidents. He was
also at different times Trustee of the
National Lodge, being one Of its most
active and influential members. In
1879 President Bishop, of the amalga
mated association, resigned, and Jar
rett was elected by the Vice Presidents
Of the organization to fill the vacancy
So pleased was the National Lodge
With the executive ability displayed BY
barrett, that at the convention held
at Pittsburg the following year, he
was reelected to the Presidency. He
was reelected to the same position by
the convention held in Cleveland in
1881, and at the convention held at
Chicago last week.