My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD JACKSON, Jr., an enterprising and successful business man of Pen Argyl, and prominently identified with the slate interests of that city, was born February 24, 1848, in Devonshire, England. He is a son of Richard and Susan (Steer) Jackson, also natives of England. Mr. Jackson’s ancestors for a number of generations made their home in Devonshire, living and dying in their native land. John Jackson, the grandfather of our subject, was a slater in that country, and died there in 1865.

The father, Richard Jackson, Sr., emigrated to America in the year 1864, arriving in Quebec on the 30th of July, and from there going immediately to New York, whence he moved to Chapman Quarries. He engaged as an employe of the slate quarries of that place, remaining there eight years. In 1872 he came to Pen Argyl and embarked in the slate business for himself. Two years later, on the 22d of October, 1874, he, in company with his uncle and our subject, leased a slate quarry and immediately began operating the same. At the expiration of the lease the firm name was changed from John Jackson & Co. to the Jackson Slate Company, under which name they continued to operate the lease, and the firm is still known by that name.

Richard and Susan Jackson are the parents of three children: John S., the manager and Superintendent of the firm of Stephens, Jackson & Co.; Mary A., widow of John Stephens, formerly of Stephens, Jackson &Co., slate operators; and Richard, our subject. In politics Mr. Jackson is a Republican, and always votes for the candidates of that party. He is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Devonshire, England, and at the age of sixteen came to this country with his parents. He had learned the trade of a slater in his native land, and found employment at Chapman Quarries, where he first located on his arrival in the United States. In 1872 he removed to Pen Argyl, and with his father and uncle leased a quarry, and, as stated above, embarked in the slating business under the firm name of John Jackson & Co., and from that time until the present he has been identified with the slate interests of Pen Argyl. At present he holds the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the company formed by his father, his uncle and himself. He also holds the same office in the Stephens & Jackson Company, and among his other interests he is a stockholder and Director of the Nazareth Electric Light Company, and is interested in the stores run by the Jackson Slate Company and Stephens, Jackson & Co.

Mr. Jackson was united in marriage December 20, 1873, with Miss Caroline, daughter of Henry and Dinah Jury, of Pen Argyl, who were natives of England. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson; Richard, Susan, Lily and Dina. The eldest is a student in Pierce’s Business College of Philadelphia, and the others attend the public schools of Pen Argyl.

In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and is intelligently posted in political affairs. He was elected the first Burgess of the borough of Pen Argyl in 1882, and was instrumental in securing a borough organization. He served as Treasurer of the borough in 1885 and 1886, and in 1894 was re-elected Burgess for three years. The Republican party of Pen Argyl has shown its appreciation of his faithful support by making him a delegate to most of the county conventions, and in 1894 he was the representative to the Republican State Convention at Harrisburg.

December 15, 1877, Mr. Jackson sailed for Liverpool, for the purpose of selling the output of his own quarry, and while there negotiated for the sale of the Pennsylvania Slate Company’s property at Pen Argyl, containing about one hundred and ninety-six acres, upon which the above city is located, and also the quarries of which there are six in number. Negotiations were closed in March, 1878, and the property was purchased by William Dawburn & Co., one of the largest lumber firms in Liverpool.