Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18
JOHN G. JACKSON DEAD.
Surveyor, Astronomer, and Former Mem
Der of the State Legislature.

Surveyor, Astronomer, and Former Mem
Der of the stats LeEisiaruro.
John G. jackson. prominent Citizen
of the State, died at his residence,
Hockessin, on Friday afternoon. Mr..
Jackson was born at Hockessin, Sep.
TENDER sth, 1918. His father was
Thomas jackson, whose great grand
father, Isaac jackson emigrated from
Ireland to America with his wife, Ann
Evans in l725, and settled in Chester
county, Pa. Mr.. Jackson's mother,
Jano jackson, was daughter of John
Griffith of Quakertown. Bucks county,
Pa, and was Of Welsh ancestry.
The early tuition of Mr.. jackson was
received in the village school at Hook
essin, supplemented by library of the
neighborhood, and he showed an early
taste for astronomy.
In tho year of 1882 be was sent to the
Westtown Boarding School. an insti-
tuition established in 1888 by the Phila-
delpha Yearly Meeting of Friends.
After attending this school for several
terms under the instruction Of Enoch
Lew ie Mr.. jackson became assistant
teacher and was in 1888 appointed lee
turer on astronomy. While in this
capacity his work became we'll known
and received much notice from all parts
of the country.
| In 1889 Mr.. Jackeon was compelled,
owing to ill health to abandon his posi-
ton as lecturer and entered the field
as surveyor and conveyancer after
studying law for short time with
| Thomas Williamson of Philadelphia.
In tue autumn of 1910 he, i'll company
with another young man, drove from
Philadelphia TO Pittsburg, the TRIP
taking nine days. lie spent the white,
in the land office at Cincinnati and
| afterwards assisted in tho government
spring of 1871 he lectured through somt
philosophical sui iects, but featuring
was not financial success and he ro
| turned to his former homo at Hook
essin.
On September 18th, 1912. Mr.. Jack
son was married at Parkersville Pa. Il
Elizabeth Bailey. sister OF Judge
John p. Bailey OF West Chester, b,
Friends ceremony. They located a
Hockessin and Mr.. jackson became in
terested in opening the limestone guar
RIGS and kilns, which soon became fam
GUS for it's jackson lime, used largely
in Wilmington and New Castle count.
for building purposes.
In 1857 Mr.. Jackson was appointed |
notary public by Gov. P. +. Cause!
and was reappointed by Gov. Cannon
in 1864. Shortly after bis reappoint
ment Mr.. Jackson was elected to th,
Legislature ON the Republican tickle
and resigned his position as notsr,
public. After his term as Representa-
tive expired he WAS elected to the Stat
Senate for four year term. Will
serving in this position he became 10
terested in the Wilmington q Western
Railroad Co. project, and at the ex
piration OF his term assisted material,
in organizing the road and was mem
Der of its first board of directors
Afterwards he was appointed chief en-
gineer Of the road. The road was after
wards reorganized az the Delawar
Western and later sold to the Baltimor
q Ohio Railroad Co. and is the presen
Iiandenberg branch of that company.
In the election of 1878 Mr.. jackson
ran for Congress on the Greenbacl
ticket, but was defeated. He wa
always opposed to limited metaili
basis of currency.
The jackson home where be died wa
butt in 1887 and was known as Sunse
Cottage. Two sous, William B. an,
Thomas survive him., The former is
prominent farmer at Hockesein an
Thomas is engineer of maintenance @
way on tho Western division of the For
Wayne & Chicago railroad. His hom
is at Fort Way ne, Ipd.
Mr.. jackson retired from active lif
about 10 years ago and has since live
quietly at his Hockessin home. In 1S9
he celebrated his golden wedding ami
vorsary. Since bis retirement fror
active life he has devoted considerabl
time to literature, and has write
several excellent poems and numerou
articles in prose.