New-York tribune., 1907-09-04
OBITUARY..
Ex-JUDGE ]. J. JACKSON.

John Jaw Jackson for forty-four years United
States judge for the federal district Of West Viz
giniA who died suddenly at Atlantic City on Mon
day afternoon. born in Parkersburg. Va CnoW
West Virginia), on August T. 1924. He
OF General John Jay Jackson, who was a graduate
of West Point in the class Of 1878 The son was
graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1915,
entered the law Office of his father and John J.
Allen, president of the Supreme Court OF Virginia.
and was admitted 10 the bar in 1877
When Writ County was organized, in lSiS, he
was appointed its first prosecuting attorney. The
following year he was appointed prosecuting at
torney of Richie County, and served two further
terms by election. He was q member OF the Eir-
gtnia Legislature four years from 1851 to 1884;
was 4 Presidential e!ector the Whig tickets in
1852 and 1886 and on the Bell and Everett ticket
in 1860. In the political campaigns IN which he
took part he was known as q forceful and effective
speaker
When. in 1850. the secession of the State OF Vir-
glTia urged John J. Jackson. then vigorous
young lawyer saw the danger that threatened the
integrity Of the Union his forefathers had fought
for and had the courage to oppose his conten-
poraries who urged the passage of the act. Taking
sides with the Union when the broke out. he
naturally dr1fted into the Republican party and
served it faithfully. When peace was declared and
the carpetba ggers secured control Of Virginia's
legislative bodies and enacted the obnoxious laws
which practically inhibited oil from holding
office who had in the smallest degree aided the re-
bellion he co-operated with the Democratic party
ton after that time although he took no active
rart in politics.
When George B. Mcclellan was appointed com
mander IN chief Of the Army OF the Potomac and
marched into Virginia with 1860 men Judge Jack
was the first TO meet him and offer him SYM
pathy and assistance. He accompanied General
Mcclellan hundred miles into the interior and
gave him much valuable information and aid.
II 1851. when he only thirty-seyen years Old,
President Lincoln appointed him TO the federal
bench for the Western District Of Virginia, post
that he held until his retirement for age In 1915,
the designation Of his district changing when
West Virginia of from its parent state
Judge Jackson gained a high reputation for the
fairness Of his decisions during the Civil War and
the reconstruction period that followed It. Most Of
the disputed land titles in West Virginia were
settled by him they had dragged out through
Ioni, years Of litigation he gained tho sobrquet
Of the Iron Judge for the firm way in which he
dealt with the cases CT the striking miners in 1881
His far-reachlng injunctions against the strikers
the most drastic that had been issued UP TO
that time On occasion when he had SEN
tenced the well known Mother Jones to Jail for
contempt of court for violating one Of his injunc-
tons he suspended sentence and took her to his
own nome. instead Of committing her to prison.
Judge Jackson nlarried in 1sH Miss Carrie c.
Cline, Of Parkersburg, by whom he had two chill
dren, Lily Irene and Benjamin Vlnton Jackson.
He was brother of the late Jacob Beesoa Jack
QSs1-'8i). and a cousin OF General "Stonewall'
Jackson the Confederate leader.
Judge Jackson's forty-four years OF service
surprising that OF Chief Justice Marshall by nine