The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-30
D. B. JACKSON IS DEAD
Progressive Pioneer Among
Steamboat Men.
LOYAL CITIZEN or SEATTLE,
His Long and Energetic Career
Founder OF the Largest steamboat
I.Ines-His last Illness.

Capt. b. y. Jackson. who has been
leading figure among steamboat men 90
tire sound for nearly thirty years. ase2 ~
diabetes al his home AZ Eighth and Fine
streets a. 7.85 O'Clock last night, AZ TIE
age OF s. years. ffe had been III Tor tao
months. bat tvo weeks ago was EnHeh pet
ter and went 90 bis Office He caught a
cold. and th.s brought about relapse
from which he did not recover.
Cant Jackson was born IN Danford, y
y. July =. fs@3. When "a boz he remover
with his parents - Bangor. Ste. "nere
his father. William q. Jackson. wno was
a substantial millwright. hranchea our
into the lumber business. This the young
man followed necessarily until nis re-
movzl "a the Sound In 1ses.
Ills Coming 10 the sound.
Cant jackson was a very young man
when he came here from Bangor. Ne,
TO settle lie first worked Al Seabeck.
then az Port Ludlow. and later - Port
Gamble where ne may be said 70 nave
laid the foundations OF his fgrfune Al
Port Gamble be had charge II tue large
timber tracts OF the Puget NH Company,
bought logs. ia all the selling and gener-
ally managed that part Of the company 2
business. lie left there - go into the
steamboat business. IN which he has since
been one OF the foremost and most enter
prising men in the business. II Il IN this
connection that he became 50 widely
known and SO generally respected aud es-
feeme4.
In iss2. in connection with George s
Jacobs. Can't Olney, stephen Hovev and
one or two others, he organized the Wash
ington Steamboat & Transportation Com
pany. This company started with the
steamer Daisy. but soon after bought the
City OF Quincy on the Columbia river
and had her brought here. II also pur-
chased the Washington from that river.
the W. X. Merwin. then A new boat, a.
this port: the steamer Edith was bought
in San francisco and brought here, and
the Eliza Anderson was added 70 the fleet
In 1856 the company had the contract for
carrying the mails between Tacoma and
Port Townsend. and made a daily service
between those points. IL also practically
controlled the Whatcom route. the Skaglt
river and the SnOhomsh routes.
His Big Steamship Venture.
Capt Jackson was president OF the
company until 1850. when. finding himself
hampered for capital TO carry out his en-
ferprises on the scope he desired. he went
Fast and organized the Puget Sound &
Alaska Steamship Company, which bought
the steamboats, and business or the Wash
ington Steamboat & Transportation Com
pany. The new company was largely
owned BY the Northern Pacific. which
guaranteed a dividend. and Capt. Jackson
became the manager OF the new COM
pany. He went to New York and bought
the City OF Kingston. the finest boat yet
on the Sound. and had the sister steamer
City OF Seattle built Both steamers were
brought around the Horn. and the arrival
of the Seattle was the occasion OF great
celebration. The construction OF railroads.
however was already beginning TO tell on
the steamboat business. the guaranteed
dividends were never earned, and the
Northern Pacific bought the stock to stop
their payment The company was then
consolidated with the Northern Pacific as
the Puget Sound & Alaska division. and
SO remained until the railroad passed into
"A receivers hands. when IL was again
severed, and has since been run as sep
crate property.
After a short period Of inactlon Capt.
Jackson purchased the steamer George T..
starr In the spring OF 1873. from the ore
Tsu Railway Il Navigation Company, and
ran this single boat until the spring fol-
lowing Then. under an arrangement with
the Great Northern. he organized the
y arthWcstern Steamship Company. as the
water line Of the Great Northern railroad
on Puget sound. The Idaho was first pur-
chased. and later the Resale. and the
latter'has been kept on the Victoria route
ever since, despite the strenuous Opposi-
ton OF the company Capt. Jackson him
self founded and for time managed
His Personal Appearance.
Capt. Jackson was a man of handsome
presence, with no suggestion about him Of
the man who had risen from the ranks u
toilers. He was tan. Well-proport.oned.
weighing about 90 pounds. with a flow
ing beard and heavy mustache. yet shaver
checks. Untn but "A short time ago this
beard was glossy black but latterly time
had tinged It's edges with white that was
gradually creeping M 20 the dark mus
tache that hid his mouth. The captain.
although active, rcsnlute. and at times ter
rihly IN earnest. WAS invariably good tenn
pered. and found time 10 swan jokes 18th
the old salts at odd moments. HIS ewes
were dark and piercing ia their clearness
under straight brows and r broad. high
forehead that betokeued a kindly feeling
and broad generosity all his old employees
now fondly recall
He was a man particularly devoted q
his home and family. having married
young. when only IN his 10Th year lie
leaves four sons. two daughters ana df.
teen grandchildren. or the sons Marry +
Is the acting manager OF the NorthNcst-
ern Steamship Company; Charles + IS
merchant AZ Snohomish; u leslie IS tho
postmaster and telegraph operator NJ Port
Gamble. Winhm the youngest who Is
not yet - is pUrscr on the campsny's
steamer Idaho.
\ Man Of large Wealth.
Cant. Jackson may vel DC termed
wealthy man. but thc amount ~ hts wealth
cannot vet bc estimated. lie owHs o0c ID
the finest residence BLOCKS fn Stn Fs4n.
cisco. and wltA tire levsltv TO tats e.fS
which has marked h.~ whole career since
10 came 90 thv Sound re christenel il
the Seattle block ana hue uenurnv7t /,
Seattle enterprise tt is Ice owns thfrts
a .F4.s