The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-19

! nial, he set out next morning from Clarks- burg alone. and travelled on foot to the former home of his grandfather in Lewis County, about eighteen miles distant 1 then belonging to Cummings Jackson, the
 half brother of his tather. There he was l received with great kindness and affec- 1 tion It was all the more attractive to him that his elder brother. Warren, was sharing the same refuge. In this plain
 but plentiful home Thomas lived until he became cadet at West Point, with one noted interval. Warren chafed under re- straint because his uncle required prompt
 attendance upon school. He was a lad of h and Jackson like began to feel his self-reliance and to find the bread of de-
 pendence irksome He therefore demand ed to sock his own fortunes and to choose his own home. His lncis gave him leave to please himself. and he pre- pared to depar., but he also induced Thomas to go with hisn They first went to the home of a maternal uncle living on the Ohio River. but finding that he dicfated the same policy as did Cum minss Jackson. .e soon wearied of the restraint. and taking his little brother the next spring went down the Ohio River and disappeared from the knowl- edge of their friends for a time.
 After all sorts of hardships they were glad to turn their steps toward the homes or their reladon-ani arrived i'll from agie and exposure. Thomas declared he would go back to the protection of his Uncle Cummings Jackson. Warren died 2 few years later It the home of Mrs. Blake of pulmonary decline.
 There was living in the village of Yves. ton (the village in which Cummings Jack son liveO German smith. one of those neighborly. ingenious gossiping men who
 gre busy ir discussing their neighbor's anairs. Cummings Jackson had occasion
 to go to him for the repair of some of the machinery of his mill. The smith told him of a neighbor lad who had received | an appointment to West Point but after going there and looking over the situa- tion. decided not to accept and came
 home relinQuishing his nomination. he said: Here now Is a chance for Thom- as as he is so anxious for an education. 1" Thomas eagerly caught at the suggestion | and immediately made preparations for the Journey to Washington to see MT.
 Hays (his influential friends in Weston having given their support to his appli- cation.) He presented himself to MT. Hays at once upon his arrival, who sug- gested that he first see the sights of the city and then present himself for exarni- nation. but he declined saying as stud
 les of the Academy were in progress he nad pest get to work at once upon his examination. He entered West Point
 July. ls42. being then eighteen years old
 It does not appear that Jackson was un- der the influence of vital Christianity at West Point. Speculatively he was d ba. never; outwardly he was observant of
 the decencies of religion and his morals were good, but the sacred impression of his mothers piety was as yet dormant. He was graduated at West Point June 30 lS4s, being then g years old, and accord
 Ing to custom received the rank of brevet Second lieutenant of Artillery.
 The Mexican was was then in progress
 and General Winfield Scott was proceed
 Ing to take supreme command. The young
 lieutenant was ordered to report for inn
 mediate duty with the list Regiment of
 Artillery. IT. this service Jackson bore
 nis part nobiy. For his brave conduct at
 the battle of Chapultepec he received the
 rang of brevet major. No officer in the
 whole army of Mexico was promoted so
 often for meritorfous conduct. or made such strides in rank While in Mexico the beginning of a vital change in his religious character was reached. All in- formation that can now be gathered points to the dcvo1t Colonel Frank Tay-
 Tor. commanding his regiment of artillery
 as his first official guide. His religious
 knowledge was at this time exceedingly
 scanty and he resolved to examine efor
 himself and decide conscientiously.
 He first sought the acquaintance of the
 Archbishop of Mexico-had number of
 interviews in which the prelate entered
 at large into the explanation of the popish
 system. The inquirer departed unsatis- fled. His residence in Mexico was not
 long protracted. An armistice was con
 cluded between General Scott and the
 Mexican authorities and on May 26 a,
 treaty of peace was finally ratified. Oni the 12th of June, 1S47. the United States
 troops left the capital to return home. Major Jacksons command was sent to Fort Hamilton. His life here was un- eventful save in his spiritual progress. Colonel Taylor was still near and Rev.
 Mir. Parks, gifted man. who was chap
 lain of the garrison. Under his ministry Major Jackson arrived at a comfortable
 hope of salvation, inasmuch as he felt
 1t his duty and privilege to apply for ban
 tisn (which he had never received) stat
 ing that he should consider himself if he