Jackson

vania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. II
(1878), but this is deficient in important particulars. The
American Historical Review ,^ April 1904, prints Jack-
son's letter of 1794 describing conditions in France.
Journals of the Continental Congress (L. C. edition),
1780-83, contain valuable references, further elabo-
rated by the Papers of the Continental Congress (MS.).
The Washington and Franklin MSS. in the Library of
Congress supply the larger part of the biographical
coloring. The Jackson MSS. are deposited with the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. For obituaries see
Aurora and Pennsylvania Gazette (Phila.), Dec. 20,
1828; Paulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Dec. 20, 24,
1828; National Gazette and Literary Register, Dec. 19,

22, 1828.] J.C.F

JACKSON, WILLIAM (Sept. 2, i783-Feb.
27» ^55 )> tallow chandler, railway promoter,
congressman, the son of Timothy and Sarah
(Winchester) Jackson, and said to be a de-
scendant of Edward Jackson, one of the earliest
settlers of Cambridge, was born in Newton,
Mass, Systematic in his reading and study, he
supplemented the elementary education which he
received in the town schools. At the age of
twenty-one, after three years' experience in a
manufactory of soap and candles in Boston, he
established himself in the business, in which, in
spite of reverses suffered during the War of
1812, he succeeded in laying the foundations of
a modest fortune. He served a term as repre-
sentative of Boston in the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Court in 1819, retiring at this time from
active connection with his tallow chandlery.
About 1826 he became greatly interested in
railroads. Later as a member of the General
Court, 1829-1831, he was an active supporter of
railroad projects in Massachusetts, lecturing ex-
tensively and writing for many newspapers upon
this subject for the next eighteen years. Many
of his arguments and predictions which now
seem conservative were received with ridicule
and abuse at that time when many persons con-
sidered canals more advantageous. He partici-
pated actively in the construction of several
Massachusetts railroads including the Western,
the Boston & Worcester, the Boston & Albany,
and the New Bedford & Taunton.

Jackson was a member of the Twenty-third
and Twenty-fourth congresses (1833-37), be-
ing elected by Anti-Masonic and National Re-
publican support. He refused to be a candidate
for a third term. In 1840 he took part in the
organization of the Liberty party, and as their
candidate was defeated for the lieutenant-gov-
ernorship in 1842, 1843, and I^44- His anti-
slavery views led him to support the Free-Soil
party after its establishment in 1848. Long con-
vinced of the evils of intoxication, he was active
in temperance reform, abolishing, as an em-
ployer, the custom of furnishing rum to his em-

Jackson
ployees, and adding the extra sum to the wages
paid. He was a founder and deacon of the Eliot
Church of Newton, and president of the Ameri-
can Missionary Association for the first eight
years of its existence, 1846-54. His financial
concerns late in life were largely confined to the
land company which he organized in 1848 for
laying out that part of Newton known as Au-
burndale, and to two banks, the Newton Savings
Bank, founded in 1831, of which he was presi-
dent from 1831 to 1835, and the Newton Na-
tional Bank, of which he was president from its
founding in 1848 to his death. He was married
twice: on Dec. i, 1806, to Hannah Woodward
of Newton (d. Aug. 11, 1814) by whom he had
one son and four daughters, and in 1816 to Mary
Bennett of Lunenburg, by whom he had four
sons and seven daughters.
[S. F. Smith, Hist, of Newton, Mass. (1880) ; H. K.
Rowe, Tercentenary Hist, of Newton (1930); Biog.
Dir. Am. Cong. (1928) ; Boston Transcript, Daily Eve-
ning Traveller, Feb. 28, 1855.] R.E.M.
JACKSON, WILLIAM HICKS (Oct. i,
i835-Mar. 30, 1903), Confederate general and
stock-breeder, was born at Paris, Tenn., son of
Dr. Alexander Jackson and Mary W. (Hurt)
Jackson, both natives of Virginia, who had set-
tled in West Tennessee in 1830. The parents
later removed to Jackson, Tenn., where William
was, for the most part, reared. There he at-
tended the common schools and West Tennessee
College. While in the senior class of the col-
lege, he was appointed a cadet at West Point,
entering July i, 1852, and graduating in 1856.
After a short course in the school of instruction
of cavalry at Carlisle, Pa., he served as a sec-
ond lieutenant of Mounted Riflemen in Texas,
1857-61. His regiment operated against the In-
dians in New Mexico. In May 1861 he resigned
his commission, tendered his services to the
Confederacy, and was commissioned as a cap-
tain of artillery. In the early battle of Belmont,
Ky., being unable to land his battery from the
Mississippi, he led an infantry charge and was
seriously wounded. On recovery he was pro-
moted to a colonelcy and commanded the 7th
Tennessee and ist Mississippi Cavalry regi-
ments. For gallantry in the capture of Holly
Springs, Miss., he was appointed brigadier-gen-
eral, with rank to date from Dec. 29,1862. This
success compelled Grant to abandon his land
campaign against Vicksburg and to organize one
by the river. Jackson commanded a division of
cavalry in the spring campaign in Tennessee,
1863. After the death of VanDorn, he com-
manded cavalry in Mississippi under Pemberton
and Joseph E. Johnston, taking a leading part in
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