The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-08-07
Cummings Jackson

owner of an extensive farm, was a large
Shareholder, says writer in the Eouis.
vile Courier /ournaI;, and also, Jack.
son-like, had a mill situated on the
West Fork river, only few steps in
front of his house, giving his place the
name of Jackson's Mill, a name it still
bears.
He was remarkable man, of power
full frame and lofty stature, of an un-
scrupulous character, and will that
bowed everything before it. He was
liberal to the poor and defiant to the
rich. Though of limited education,
he had a giant intellect, combined with
all the native ruggedness of his race.
His influence was great and he was in
dependent of law or man; in fact, he
treated the law as an individual, obey
ing its behest only when it suited him.
The following circumstances will well
illustrate his unlawful, independent ma
ture.
On one occasion he was summoned
to the court house, but he refused to
60. A posse of men headed by the
sheriff was sent after him. They found
him on his farm getting out sawlogs.
They made known their commission.
He deliberately walked out into the
open field, sat down on sawlog, with
a handspike across his lap, and said :
Gentleman, I am not going. Here ]
am; take me if you can They well
knew his nature. Not one of them
would lay hands on him. They enter
ed into useless parley with him, and
finally rode away without him.
History states that in 1849 he went
to California and died the autumn of
that year, but it does not state all-it
does not give the true reason of his 60
ing. l have said he had an open dis.
regard for the law; it was in defiance
of law that he went. Here is the cir
cumstance: In the bed of the West
Fork river, on his farm, he found Pc
culiar kind of ore, out of which he was
able to make some passable counterfeit
money. 1t is we'll known to this day
that it came from there, though the
precise place has never been found.
ence in this country, boarded up as
mementoes of its maker. The writer
remembers of seeing piece of it. He
was, therefore, arrested for counterfeit
ing money and presented before the
United States court at Clarksburg, in
Harrison county, the birthplace ofStone-
wall. He was released by giving bail.
On the day of his trial he presented
himself before the court, thus releasing
his bondsman. He sat close to the bar,
and paid marked attention to the pro
gress of his case. When the trial ended
and heard the decision against himself,
he rose up to his full stature, and gazing
upon the crowded court room with fash
ing eyes, cried out in loud voice:
Make way, gentlemen His case had
gained notoriety, and the room was
packed from bar to door; but at his
towering stature, flashing eyes command
ing voice, the crowd unconsciously part
ed road for him. While bewildered
aHaae s WMaae@d @fksa doan h hs m eenng
of the court room, threw himself on the
back of fleet nag he had in readiness
at the door, slapped his long spurs into
its sides, and at terrific speed, out
stripping all his pursuers, dashed head
long to his home in Lewis county, TWEEN
ty miles away.
He Immediately organized company
of gold hunters and started for Califor-
mia. This company was made up prin-
cipally of his relatives, one of whom
was his nephew, Ned J. Jackson. Soon
after arriving at their destination, Cum
minis Jackson was attacked with severe
case of fever, which proved fatal some
forty days afterward in the month o.
December, 1S4o. This last event was
told to the writer no more than yeal
ago by Ned J. Jackson, who nursed hi:
uncle during his last illness, and burleo
him in the wilds of California. Thus
died Cummins Jackson, whose wonder
full influence was felt by other men, bu
which had no effect in forming the
moral, courageous character of his more
wonderful nephew, Stonewall.