The Elbert County tribune., 1909-05-13
SHELDON JACKSON, MISSIONARY,
EDITOR AND EXPLORER. DIES
AT TWENTY-FIVE.
INTRODUCED REINDEER
WAS EXPECTED TO BE IN AT.
TENDANCE AT GENERAL AS
sEMBLY IN DENVER.

Denver.-The Republican Sunday
morning says: Sheldon Jackson was
spiritual prospector, and opened up the
trail of the cross in the Rockies. With
the eagerness of boy and the loyalty
of a veteran he planned to visit Colo
byterian general assembly commencing
on the goth of this month.
Many of his pioneer comrades were
to meet him here for a reunion. To-
gether they would seek to renew the
memories and fellowships of the early
days in Colorado Afterward they were
to visit some of the historic churches
and camps of the early seventies, as a
SCARED veteran visits the old battle
fields where he fought for his country.
But mans most cherished plans are
subject to change. One day last week
at Asheville, N. c., this heart of cour-
age ceased to beat; this body with iron
endurance dropped life's burdens. A
few days before he reached his seven
ty-fifth anniversary. he finished his
course, having kept the faith.
Colorado is interested in Sheldon
Jackson. About forty years ago he
identified himself with the mountain
land, with Denver as his residence.
For ten years he was editor and propri-
etor of the Rocky Mountain Presbyte-
rian, published in this city. 1t was
vigorous exponent of western oppor-
tunity that had wide influence beyond
tie ,tv,o ion nf
religious circles. It's pages became an
index to hundreds of ambitious Amer
leans who had a thirst for the hori-
zon." Thus he contributed largely to
the material development of the noun
tain territories without losing sight of
his religious responsibilities.
A like service was rendered to Alas
ka in publishing the North Star, from
1887 to 1894 While in Denver be had
official oversight of all the Presby-
terian missions in the Rockies, from
Canada to Mexico This whole terri
tory was traversed again and again on
| horseback and by stage.
Only a few days ago one of his old
companions said: Doctor Jackson is
the only man l ever knew who could
roll himself up in his blankets and
sleep in the boot of jerky stage"
| He was a modern Zacchaeus, in the
double sense that he was short of stat
ure and had a desire to see. In addi-
| tion to religious work in the noun
tains, he laid the foundations of the
Protestant faith in Alaska, where he
was the first ordained minister, begin
ming work in 1877. He has been rep
resentative of the government, as gen
eral agent of education in Alaska since
1885. The following items in his Alas
ka career indicate that he was not a
man of one idea He organized the
Alaska Society of Natural History and
| Ethnology; established first canoe
mail service; introduced public school
| system; introduced domestic reindeer;
opened first reindeer mail service; was
special agent of the United States gov
ernment to procure colony of Lapland-
ers, and represented Alaska at the In
ternational Exposition at the City of
Mexico. He was a member of the edi-
torial advisory council of the Worlds
Best Orations" and the Worlds Best
Essays" Last, but not least, he was
moderator of the Presbyterian general
assembly in 1897. Thus a characte.'
unique, irrepressible, patriotic and con-
structive along material and spiritual
lines, is counted no more among the
human forces of the day. One of the
best known faces will be missed from
a crowd of interested and interesting
visitors so soon to honor Denver with
their presence.