Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-09-07
JUDGE J.. ]. JACKSON DIES
Expired Suddenly of Heart Fail
ure at Atlantic City,
CELEBRATED "lRON JUDGE
Appointed BY President Lincoln to the
Bench and Only Recently Retired
We'll Known In This City.

~ - 80
Judge John Jay Jackson, ex judge
of the United States District Court for
the Northern District of West yir-
ginia and one of the most noted jurists
this country hss ever produced, died
very suddenly Monday morning at At
lantic City His death is supposed to
have been caused by al attack OF
heart disease, although only meager
details regarding it have been receiv-
ed, even by members of the family.
The first news of the death OF Judge
Jackson was received from Judge
James ID. Butts, of Harpers Ferry,
Judge of the Bankrupt court, and
staunch friend of Judge@Jackson. 1t
: gave no details merely stating that
Judge Jackson. had died very suddenly
A few weeks ago Judge Jackson
went to the sea side resort for the
benefit of his health, and he was ac-
companied there by Mr.. Butts. When
he left Parkersburg Judge Jackson
did not complaia Of feeling badly exs
cept that he had told some of his intf
mate friends and relatives that he had
a depressed feeling. AS to his ply
steal condition he seemed to be In
/ good health and conducted himself
with the same agility and spryness
which made him famous all over the
country and by reason of which he
was given the title, 'The Iron Judge"
DR.. Frame, the family physician,
stated hat While none of the details
regarding the tcause of the death of
Judge Jackson had been received he
was of the opinion that it was the re-
suit of a sudden attcak of heart dis
ease. Only a few weeks ago Judge
Jackson celebrated his eighty-third
birthday and those who called upon
him then to extend their ~congratula-
tons remarked upon his apparent good
health and the vigor displayed by the
eminent jurist
The news of the death of Judge
Jackson was a great shock to his
many friends in this city They had
no information to the effect that he
was in other than good health.
Judge Jackson is survived by one
daughter, Miss Lily Irene Jackson,
with whom he resided at their home
"Carrienda,' in ~Parkersburg. A son,
Benjamin Jackson, of Washington,
died a year or two ago and he was
survived by his wife and two daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Laura Wits and Miss Car
RE Jackson, granddaughter of the
Iron Judge" Judge Jackson is also
survived by two brothers, Henry G.
Jackson and A. Gardner Jackson and
two sisters, Mrs. George Thompson,
Parkersburg and Mrs. America Smith.
of Parkersburg.
Judge John Jay Jackson was the
eldest son of General JOHN Jaw Jack
son and was born at Parkersburg,
August 4, 1912. He graduated from
Princeton College in 1s45, was a law
student under his father and Hon.
John J. Allen. president of the SUI
preme court Of Virginia. He was adj
mitted to the bar the following year.
He was elected the first prosecuting
attorney of Writ county in 1s4S, and
the same year was appointed to the
same Office in Richie county. Ia 1852
and again in 1853 he was elected to
the Virginia legislature from Wood
county. During this time he acquired
a high reputation as a speaker and
debater. In 1852, $50 and go, he was
an elector on the Wing ticket. In the
political campaigns in which he took
part he was justly distinguished as
one of the finest speakers to be found
anywhere, and by his efforts in the
region of the state where he lived,
contributed largely to the success OF
the Bell and Everett ticket in carry
ing Virginia in 1860. 1t was stated In
the Richmond Wing, Of that day, the
organ of the party in Virginia, that the
success of the ticket was largely due
to him. In August, 1861, he was APP
pointed United States District Judge
OF the District of West Virginia, It
can be truthfully said Of him that he
was an industrious, upright judge and
an honest man. 1t has been often re-
marked that President Lincoln made
no mistake when he appointed Judge
Jackson"