River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-16
An American Baron.

Strange as it may seem to an ultra re-
publican, it is fact that several Ameri-
can emigrants have become European
noblemen The late Lord Lyndhurst,
Chancellor of England, was Boston
bow, whose father, Copely the artist,
took him to the mother country when
he was two years old. Benjamin
Thompson, better known to the scienti-
&c world as Count Rumford, was ma
tive of Woburn, Mass, and taught
school for several years at Rumford, now
Concord, n II. He was so serviceable
to the electo, of Bavaria that that mon
arch rewarded him with wealth and
rank. The latest romance of this sort Is
that associated with an ONO boy, whose
father was tanner near Steubenvllle.
The son, Richard NJ. Jackson, was
formerly United States vice-consul at
Stuttgart, Germany. He Is now prlvy
councillor to the king of Wurtemberg.
The narrative of this romance, which
we condense from Mr.. Ruggles' Ger
many Seen Without Spectacles," reads
like story from the arabian Nights"
Young Jackson having passion for
music, left an Ohio college for the IA
nous conscrvatoire of music at Stutt-
CART, Wurtemberg. He became an eX-
cellent pianist and good German schol-
ar. But constant practcing on the pi-
ano so paralyzed the nerves of his hands
tn he was obliged to abandon his an
ticipated profession. Subsequently he
was employed by the United States
consul at Stuttgart, as clerk. His et-
ficiency caused him to be promoted to
the position of vice-consul,
Occasionally Mr.. jackson met the
King of Wurtemburg in the streets or
Parks. He would politely raise his hat
and the king would as politely. return
the salute. In April 1881, the ylce-Con-
sui was surprised to receive letter from
the king inviting him to become mem
Der of the royal court.
After several personal interviews, Mr..
jackson accepted the kings invitation.
He resigned his position as Vice-Consul,
renowned his nationality, swore allie
glance to the King of Wurtemburg and
the Emperor of Germany and was APP
pointe "reader to his majesty" with
handsome annual stipend guaranteed TO
him for life.
One pleasant morning, a royal coach,
with coachman and footman IN livery,
stood in front of Mr. Jackson's modest
clearinghouse. A large crowd gath
cred to see for whom it was waiting. In
few moments Mr. Jackson made his
appearance. A lootman opened the
coach door The young man seated
himself, and the iootman closed the
door.
The coachman cracked his whip,
and the "court-reader" was carried TO
the royal palace, where q luxuriously
furnished suite of FIVE rooms, with foot
man, valet, and servants, had been as
signed to him.
He had not been long installed in his
new position, before the King of Hol-
land presented him with the knights
Cross of the Golden Lion of Nassau the
King of Saxony bestowed upon MIN the
'Knight's Cross of the Albert's Order"
the Emperor of Austria invested him
with the ancient "Order of the Iron
Crown of Austrian, the Queen of Wur-
temberg, Olga, sister of the late Gar
gave him the knights Cross of the
Crown fWurtemberg;" the Pope also an
honorable title. The King of Wurtem-
berg, subsequently. made him baron
and a privy He dinei with
the royal family, accompanies the King
as his companion, and-the romance
ends here for the present.