Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-02-23

his illness was diagnosed as grip in a
mild form. The disease grew more
serious from time TO time, and finally
developed into pneumonia. Judge
Jackson was Judge of the Criminal
Court of this County The term of
that court, which is now being held,
is iii the midst of an important muir
der trial and cannot now adjourn in
honor of his memory. Judge J. w,
vandervort is presiding as special
Judge.
Judge jackson is survived by his
widow, his son, James M. Jackson,
jr., and his daughters, Mrs. Mamie
Rathbone and Mrs. James Moffet. of
Chicago, and his grandchildren, also
his brother, Judge John Jay jackson.
Judge yandervort, who was hold
ing court as special Judge was APP
pointed temporary Judge by Gov. At
kinson and will continue the present
term after which he will resign.
Judge Jackson's successor will be
/ dppOlUttQ DS \fot. Nntit
James Monroe jackson.
James, Monroe jackson was born in
Parkersburg, Virginia, Dec. 3, 1926.
He had a careful preparation for col
lege, andfin early life entered Prince
ton College from which he graduated
in his twentieth year. Like his
| father, General John J. jackson, and
elder brother, Judge John Jay Jack
son, he chose the profession of the law
and after two years study under the
direction of his father, was admitted
to the Wood county bar in 1S47. BY
his natural talents and constant appli
lcation, the rose rapidly to an enviable
position in his profession. In May,
1856, he was elected prosecuting at
torney of Wood county, and was re-
elected at the close of his term. He
was elected to and served as member
of the House of Delegates of W. Va.
in 1870, in the proceedings of which
body he took an active and leading
part. He was reelected, and served
in the legislative session Of 1871, after
the removal of the state capital to
Charleston. He was a member OF the
convention that sat at Charleston in
| 1872 and framed the second cons titu
ton for the state of West Virginia.
In October, 1872, he was elected to the
office of Judge of the fifth Judicial
Circuit, in which he resided, for the
term of eight years, and was re-elect-
ed to the same position in 1880. His
his strong common sense, flied him
for the Judicial Office, and it was not
long after his first election until he
made for himself the reputation of be-
ing among the very best judges in the
State, and accordingly gave satisfac-
tion to all with whom he had official
dealings.
Though not per Sc politician, yet
at times he took lively interest in
public affairs. On many occasions
he was urged to become a candidate
for political preferment notably for
lCongress; and in 1888 he was NOM
mated by the Democratic party-with
which he had acted since the death
of the old whig organizaiton-fo a
seat in the fifty first Congress. The
campaign of that year was spirited
one, and the result in all four of the
districts of the State was so close that
1 it took the official vote to decide
who had been victorious. Judge
jackson, however was awarded the
certificate of election, and accordingly
took his seat in that Congress. His
competitor, the Hon. Charles Brooks
Smith, had filed no notice of contest
and the congress itself was called
upon to decide who would permanent
| ly be awarded the scat, and that de-
cision was in favor of Mr.. Smith.
Judge jackson was man of scholar
ly attachments, positive character, fix
edsprincipals and strong convictions.
He was a sound lawyers ready debater
was thoroughly versed in the history
and politics of the country, close
student of the provisions of the con-
stitution; all of which supplemented
by large experience with men and
affairs, equipped him for public posi-
ton and power.
BY inheritance, as well as by the
CONVENTIONS of his own clear judge
ment, he was an earnest adherant OF
that wonderful old party, which, I'M
der the leadership of Henry Clay, at
tianed such enviable distinction for its
probity, its purity and its patriotism
as well as in all times provoke the en-
ulation of all political organizations !;
party which if not always fortu-
nate in the presentation OF its schemes
of statecraft and the election OF its
,anIi1afaco axrar maintained Aag 1fg