Source: West Virginia And Its People Vol. III by Thomas Condit Miller and Hu Maxwell. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1913. Pp. 1216-1217. (Includes a picture)
"Jackson. James Monroe Jackson Jr. was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, March 19, 1855, and died at his home in that city, June 23, 1903. He was a son of the late Judge James Monroe Jackson, who died February 14, 1901.
Mr. Jackson was one of Parkersburg's leading citizens-a thorough business man, with a wonderful capacity for handling a multiplicity of business details, an indefatigable worker, methodical in business as well as in his personal life-a capitalist and man of affairs in the fullest sense of the word. He received his education first under the instruction of Professor Nash, of Parkersburg, then in the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University, both of Lexington, Virginia. A professional career was open to him, and his father, an accomplished lawyer, would have preferred that his son should have followed in his footsteps, but the young man was inclined to a business career, and the father would not obstruct his inclinations. Young Jackson's first position of any particular consequence was as the New York representative of the firm of Brody & Rathbone, owners of a large acid works in Parkersburg. After several years in the metropolis Mr. Jackson returned to Parkersburg and there entered upon a business career that was soon conspicuous by its brilliant success. He became interested in a wholesale grocery business as a member of the firm of Jenkins, Jackson & Company. A few years later the firm of Shattuck, Mitchel &Jackson was formed, in the same line of business; later Mr. Mitchel dropped out, and it was continued by Shattuck & Jackson, and is in existence to-day, one of the largest and most prosperous enterprises of its kind in the Ohio Valley. In the later years of his life, Mr. Jackson became interested in banking, and was first elected vice-president of the Citizens' national Bank, which position he held at the time of his death. He was also president of the Citizens' Trust and Guaranty Company, and vice-president of the Union trust and Deposit company, to which corporation he devoted the last year of his life in reorganizing and introducing into business. He was also largely interested in the Inter-Urban Railroad Company, and was secretary of the corporation; to him is probably due more than to any other, for this great enterprise. He was also interested in a score or more of other financial and industrial corporations, and was a director in several of them.
Mr. Jackson was a communicant of Trinty Episcopal Church, and one of its most generous contributors. The splendid Rathbone Memorial organ in that edifice was the gift of himself and his wife, and Mr. Jackson left $5,000 to the city of Parkersburg for a fountain as a Jackson Memorial, and which now stands in the city park. He was a Mason, having taken the Knight Templar degrees. He was known by almost every citizen of Parkersburg, and a majority of them were known to him personally. He was a home loving man, and when not in his office was with his family. He lived a quiet methodical life, yet one of strenuous effort in midst of his voluminous business details in his office. He was loyal to his friends, and strong in his likes and dislikes. He was plainly frank, honest and above board in all his dealings with his fellow men; he prized and practiced those virtues in business as well as in social life, and detested shams, deceit and insincerity. He embodied all the elements that combine to make an ideal husband, father, and citizen.
Mr. Jackson married, June 5, 1883, Sophia Rathbone, youngest daughter of John V. and Anna Rathbone. Three children were born of this union-Anna Rathbone Jackson, now Mrs. Kenner B. Stephenson; Vinton Jackson, deceased; and Helen Seeley Jackson, now Mrs. Fred M. Cochran."
Submitted by Nancy Ann Jackson