The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-09
RESOLUTIONS ON
JUDGE JACKSON
ADOPTED eY TIE OHIO COUNTY
BAR COLLATION. At 4 MEEI:
IGe sATlspA Y FTEF

VI WE .tAAlUf SgAAAfi A@tsA-4 Sttssstil
in tile circuit court room SATURDAY az
ternoony the report Of the committee
on resolutions on the death Of Judge
John Jay Jackson was adopted, aud
The resolutions were ordered to bere;
corded on the minutes Of the United
States district court and those ot'the
local courts.
The committee on resolutions was
composed Of Judges H. G. Heryey and
F. w Nesbltt, of the circuit court, and
Judge Louis s. Jordans Of the criminal
court Following we're the resolutions
adopted:
The death Of Judge John ]. Jackson,
which occurred at Atlantic City on
September 2, 1901, removed from the
scenes Of life one Of the most remark
able men of this State. A native OF
that part of Virginia which is now
embraced in the State of West Yir-
GINA, his whole career is closely lden-
titled with the history OF the judiciary
Of this State. While yet a young man
he was, in 1861, appointed judge otthe
District Court of the United States for
the Western District of Virginia, and
. SIS.
held the position Of district judge in
Virginia and in this State for about
forty.four years-a period of time far
exceeding the years that are allotted
to most men for the active work Of
life His professional career was SIN
gularly full and complete. His service
upon the bench constituted almost his
life work. 1t was work for which he
was not only well equipped, bit which
he found peculiarly congenial to him.
II was never to him as a task which
fell as his share in LIES field Of en-
deavor and which he felt It his duty
to do, but a work that was full Of
pleasure, and which < gave him the
means of usefully employing an active
and vigorous mind.
His long official life was crowded
full of duties involving cares and res.
possibilities that would have taxed the
strength of strong men, yet he brought
to his tasks a mind so alert and an
energy so unaagging that he never
seemed to feel the burdens of his Office.
During his time upon rne bench, ne
saw the men who were the leaders Of
the bar and in active practice when
he became Judge, pass away. OF all
those who practical before him in the
early years of his judicial career, none
survive, and he remained the last Of
them to meet and instruct a new gem
Grafton of lawyers,
Long after he had reached that time
Of life when most men prefer to give
up It's activities and seek relief In re-
tirement from official cares, re refused
to accept the rightof retirement which
was open to him, but continued In the
service, faithfully iischarging his Off
claI duties. He was still ready not
only to do his full share of work, but
encouraged rather than avoided the
laying upon him of those burdens
which came to him by reason bt his
official position. Having rounded out
a long life of active public service, he
resigned his position at a time when,
although advanced years, he was yet
possessed of the mental and physical
vlgor to enjoy the pleasures of life and
the society of his friends. His life
work was not broken in upon. He
had completed 1t and laid 1T down. and
he could look back upon It and have
the privilege enjoyed by few men-the
satisfaction of knowing that his work
was done and well done.
Judge Jackson was man Of more
than ordinary keenness of intellect and
depth of legal learning. During his
career on the bench it many times fell
to his lot to pass upon some Of the
most intricate and important questions
Of law;o and his findings have inyar-
iably been recognized as models Of
judicial learning and clearness. AS a
Judge he was remarkable for the jeal-
ousy with which he guarded the dig
nIty Of his court and the answering
flrmness with which he enforced its
mandates. His uncompromlsing de-
nuaciation Of lawlessness, and the
fearless invictlye with which he In
wrlably attacked .wrong.dolng, gave
to him the title "The Iron judge"
yet behind that rugged front there
beat a heart as tender as woman's.
The passing away of Judge Jackson
is distinct lossto West Virginia, for
his name is lndellbly fixed in her his
tory, and in every chapter is recorded
some evidence Of the influence Of his
remarkable personality. To him was
allotted the extraordinary blessing Of
a life Of more than four score years,
ana tho host and FINEST of those wears