J. Dallas Jackson, p. 296

J. DALLAS JACKSON, a typical self-made man, whose trade banner bears the legend-- "The hammer in the hand above all the arts doth stand"-- is a native of Washington county, having been born April 13, 1840, in Hanover township. James Jackson, his grandfather, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, came to Hanover township at an early day where he died. By occupation he was a farmer, in religious faith a member of the M. E. Church, and, in politics, a Whig. His children were Andrew, John, Noble, Perry and James.

John Jackson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hanover township, this county, October 5, 1808, his education being received at the subscription schools of his district. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he followed all his life with marked success in his native township. On March 3, 1836, Mr. Jackson was married to Margaret, daughter of James Matthews, of Lancaster county, Penn., and they then commenced married life on the farm adjoining that on which he was born. Here he remained some years, when he sold his property and moved into the village of Florence, in the same township, where he passed the remainder of his life retired from active labor dying March 11, 1853. He was an Old- line Whig in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church. The names of his children are as follows: Martha J., Andrew M., John Dallas, Horatio C. and Sarah J.

The subject proper of this biographical memoir received a liberal education at the common schools of his native township, and at the age of fourteen came to Washington, where he entered the employ of S. B. & C. Hayes, as an apprentice to the trade of carriage builder. With this firm he remained some sixteen years, in part as apprentice, in part as journeyman, and then moved to Wheeling, W. Va., but after a stay there of fifteen months returned to Washington. In 1874 he opened his present widely-known carriage and wagon shop in the borough, where is also carried on a general line of blacksmithing, employment being given to six hands. Here, by industry, perseverance, thorough, honest work, judicious economy and close attention to business, Mr. Jackson has built up one of the most prosperous houses of the kind in the county. On January 8, 1859, he married Mary E., daughter of Jacob Miller, of Washington, Penn., and the children born to this union are James W., Sarah M., Jacob, John, Susan (deceased), Ella, Wray (deceased), Emma, Daisy and Joseph. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

Text taken from page 296 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed June 1997 by George A. and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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