Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-22

ca the move lot park QSVelOpuSut anu
it was through the furthering Of the
plans he proposed, coupled with his own
untiring labors that Spencer square
and Garnsey square were transformed
from fog ponds, neglected and avoided,
into garden spots fitted with beautiful
and costly ornaments. For Spencer
square he raised alone $4,000 and Sc
cured practically all of the features
that stamp it for what it is. He gave
the incentive for what in a similar
way was done for Garnsey square and
in his later duties as president of the
park board, in cooperation with other
public spirited citizens, he raised the
major portion of $4,000 for the beau
LITIGATION Of Long View park. 1t was
under his immediate direction that the
improvements there were made. The
name of Jackson is synonymous with
the park system OF Rock Island and
will be so linked for all time.
In the walks of private life in Rock Is
land no citizen is in higher regard and in
like esteem is he held in the great
profession with which he has been
identified for so many years.
Busy All His Life.
Mr.. Jackson has had a busy life and
at &c is still remarkably well pre-
served man. He was born in the city
of Liverpool, England, Aug. IA, 1884,
his fathers name being William Jack
son, born at Hundracre Staffordshire,
England, and his mothers name was
Ann Potts, born at Goxall, Stafford
shire. He was educated in the school
of the Wesleyan Methodist at Liver
pool. the last school he attended being
the Liverpool Collegiate institution, an
Episcopal school.
His first work was as a grocer's
apprentice in his native city. He land
ed in the United States July 2, 1851,
at the city of New York, having come
to this country with his mother who
died in Moline in June, 1859. He reach
ed Rock Island about Aug. 1, 1851, and
in April, 1852, he vent to work in the
plow factory of John Deere in Moline.
He wo5 ed at various occupations I'M
til the fall of 1856, when he en-
tered the law office of H L. Smith, 4
practicing attorney, at Moline as a law
student. He was admitted TO practice
in the courts of Illinois, Sept. 6, 1860.
After his admission to the bar he be-
came the law partner of James Chap
man. The business was conducted at
Moline under the firm name of Chap
man & Jackson. The firm continued
to May, 1862, when Mr.. Jackson re-
moved to this city. When a law stu
dent in Moline he was elected town
ship collector in the spring of 1859.
Enlisted ut First Call to Arms.
When the civil war broke out in 1861
he Joined the first military company
that was organized in Moline under
President Lincoln's first proclamation
for 5000 men. The company was not
accepted, however, as the state quota
was more than filed. He did not en-
list again. In May, 1862, he removed
to Rock Island, where he opened a law
office, and in January, 1864, he formed
a partnership with E. D. Sweeney and
afterwards with Charles L. Walker
The firm name in the fire. instance was
Sweeney & Jackson, afterward Sween-
ey, Jackson e. Walker This partner
ship continued until 1888, when it was
dissolved, and Mr.. Jackson retired on
account of i'll health. In 1885 he re-
sumed the practice of the law. In 1889
he went into partnership with Hon. E.
w Hurst, under the firm name of Jack
son & Hurst. This continued until
1903, when the firm was enlarged by
the admission of John T. Stafford and
Elmer H. Stafford. The firm name is
now Jackson, Hurst & Stafford.
In 1873 he was appointed postmaster
of the city of Rock Island under Pres.
ident Grant This Office he held until
1876. In February, 1897, he was ap-
pointed by Governor John R. Tanner
member Of the board of managers Of
the Illinois state reformatory at Pom
tiac, and held this Office till March
1901. In politics he has always been
Improvement association, he inaugural