Edward (Ed) Jackson

Born 1854

Born in Germany, Western Prussia

Parents from Germany

Immigrated 1867

Naturalized 1875

Tailor

Married to Lizzie 188x? – 1898

Married to Sara 1901 – 1919?

Lizzie Jackson (Surname Unknown)

Married to Ed 188? – 1898

Divorced 1898

Sara (Caspar) Jackson

Born 1874

Born in Germany

Parents from Germany

Married to Ed Jackson 1901 – 1919?

Ed Jackson had a long term tailor business in Leadville from 1884 to 1905.  In addition to his business activities he was heavily involved in Leadville’s social scene and Jewish community.  Jackson was born in West Prussia during 1854.  He immigrated to the United States in 1867.[1]  It is likely Jackson was not his original last name.  It may have been an Anglicized one his family adopted when they immigrated from Germany.  Jackson had a brother, named Charles,[2] and an unnamed sister who married a Wilzinksi.[3]   Newspaper articles suggest Charles lived on the East Coast, in New York,[4]  and his sister was in San Francisco.[5]   At first Ed Jackson stayed with his relatives from his mother’s side,[6] the Caskells (also Kaskell) in Connecticut, where he appears in the 1870 census.[7]   Later he gained his citizenship in New York during 1875.[8]

In 1880 Jackson moved to Leadville where he lived with Julius, David, Ida, Annie and Henrietta Kaskell at 404 Upper Chestnut street.[9]   From 1880 to 1883 Jackson worked as a clerk in the Kaskells’ store.  In March 1884, Jackson set up his own tailoring business at 106 East 3rd Street.[10]

“The expected new styles of cloths are now in at Ed. Jackson’s merchant tailoring establishment, 106 East Third street, and he is correspondingly happy, for now he is able to show all the latest designs in cloths for business suits, for mining suits or for dress suits.  The new and latest fashion plates are also here, and what Mr. Jackson cannot show you, cannot be found in the west.

Everybody knows Ed Jackson, he who was so long connected with the Star clothing house as manager, and who made so many friends, all of whom call on him now and receive such perfect fits in clothing, for Ed never allows anything but good fitting goods to leave the shop…”[11]

In 1884 Ed Jackson placed the following advertisement in the Leadville Daily Herald,

“Whither are you going, my friend?” asked one gentleman of another yesterday on East Third street.

“Why, I am going to Ed   Jackson’s merchant tailoring establishment at 106 East Third street, next to the Herald office.”

He has just received a splendid stock of fall goods, and the newest and latest styles of sample plates.  New goods are arriving daily, and those who want anything in the ways of merchant tailoring will consult their own interest by calling on Mr. Jackson at 106 East Third street.  His work is as good as the best and he warrants it

too give entire satisfaction.  The reliability of Mr. Jackson makes it particularly beneficial to deal with him, for whatever he says can be relied on as absolutely true.  Give him a call and you can rest assured you will go no further, as he offers inducements that cannot be equaled.”[12]

Throughout his time in Leadville Jackson’s business would ebb and flow, expanding into multiple locations.  He also employed several other tailors.  From 1894 to 1899 Jackson ran two separate businesses, his tailoring shop, and a men’s furnishing goods store.[13]

Sometime between 1880[14]  and 1884[15]  Jackson married Lizzie (surname unknown).  The Jacksons frequently attended social events in Leadville.  In April, 1884, the Jacksons attended the Paper Carnival.[16]   During March, 1885, Ed Jackson attended the annual Purim Ball, a popular Jewish event that even gentiles would regularly attend.[17]   In 1888, they attended the Knights of Pythias Ball held that September.[18]   In November, 1889, the couple was present at a party

thrown by the McCallums.[19]   In May, 1892, Ed Jackson suffered a minor setback when three thieves robbed his store of $500 worth of merchandise.[20]  In May, 1898, Ed and Lizzie divorced. Unfortunately, it appears Ed was not kind to his wife and the cause of the divorce was his “extreme and repeated acts of cruelty.”[21]   There are no records to suggest that Ed and Lizzie ever had any children together.

After his divorce, Jackson continued with the operation of his business interests.  In addition to his tailor and clothing pursuits, Jackson invested his spare capital in various mining interests.  An 1883 notice in the Leadville Daily Herald, reveals Jackson as one of the stakeholders in the “Long Tom” mine.[22]   In 1898, he was also a shareholder in the “Home Mining Company.”[23]

Jackson was also slightly involved local politics.  In August, 1898, he was listed as the secretary for a local Democratic Party meeting where there was much concern about traveling to a convention in Colorado Springs, a dry city.

“… W. R. Kennedy was elected temporary chairman, and Ed Jackson secretary.  The election of permanent officers was deferred until the delegation reaches the Springs.

… When it came to the selection of a committee on hotel accommodations there was quite a lively discussion.  The incongruity of holding a Democratic convention in a prohibition town was somewhat caustically commented on, and the proposition was seriously debated as to whether the hotel committee should not be instructed to secure accommodations at Colorado City.  Another proposition that seemed to meet with favor was that a special refreshment car be taken with the delegation which would save the trip from Colorado City.  It was finally decided to leave this important matter to a committee consisting of Messrs. F. X. Hagan, Geo. B. Harker and Dan Healy.”[24]

In 1900, perhaps liberated from marital concerns, Jackson decided to take an extended tour of Europe, visiting Germany and France.

“Ed Jackson, the well known local business man, returned yesterday morning from a pleasant trip across the water.  It was one full of interest and instruction from start to finish, and Mr. Jackson, who is a keen and careful observer came back full of ideas and impressions.

Accompanied by his brother, Charles Jackson, he left New York in April on the steamer Columbia of the Hamburg line, landing at Hamburg after a very successful voyage.  After visiting Berlin, he went to his mother’s home in Thorn, West Prussia, where he assisted in the celebration of her 79th birthday.  A visit was then made to Carlsbad, the famous health resort.

Mr. Jackson particularly enjoyed his historic city of Prague, with its towers and arches, cathedrals and other historic structures.  Next came a trip to Vienna, Nuremburg, Frank-fort-the-Main, and finally Metz, with its grim fortresses and soldiers.

From there Mr. Jackson went to Paris, the exposition being in full swing.  He spent several weeks at the wonderful exhibit, which he characterized as marvelous in every respect.

“I was disappointed, however,” said he, “In the United States building.  It was positively a disgrace.  The building is large and handsome, but absolutely barren of any exhibits.  There is a post where one can write letters, but it is really too bad that with every country represented by buildings filled with fine exhibits the United States building should have been neglected.  It is even reported to be an unsafe structure.”

Mr. Jackson took a keen interest in all that pertained to the exhibits, and his copious notes on all that he saw give one a most accurate idea of the extent and variety of the wonderful exposition.

From every country in the world, no matter how small marvelous exhibits of handicraft, skill and cunning have been sent to the exposition, and Mr. Jackson spent days among these buildings seeing something new and astonishing at every turn.

He also visited some of the stable attractions of the great French capital, the great galleries of the Louvre, Versailles, the ancient home of the French kings, and Notre Dame, where the priceless jewels are kept.

Jackson, after leaving Paris, visited some of the principal cities of Holland, and concluded his European tour with a few days in London.

“It was a most interesting journey,” said he, “and one which gives one food for thought and discussion for a life time.  Europe after all is but a small corner of the world, but it is packed with wonders, which it would require years to see in detail.”[25]

Shortly after his return from overseas Jackson married his second wife in early 1901.   Her name was Sara Caspar.  She and her family lived in New York and were immigrants from Germany.[26]   Sara had been born in 1874.  There is an infant Jackson who was buried in July, 1902, in the Hebrew Cemetery in Leadville and listed as stillborn.[27]   This child was probably the offspring of Ed and Sara.

Together the Jacksons continued to attend various social events in Leadville.[28]  In September, 1905, Sara Jackson was a guest at a luncheon held by the Kahns, another Jewish family in Leadville.   Ed Jackson became involved with Leadville’s board of trade in the early 1900s.[29]  Jackson also became increasingly concerned with the welfare of the larger Jewish community around this time.  In 1905, he partook in a committee which helped send relief to Jews suffering pogroms in Russia.[30]   He also donated funds to the Jewish Publication Society which focused on educating American Jews about their history and culture.[31]

In Early 1906, the Jackson sold his business to M. Sack[32]  and left Leadville for Germany.[33] After 1906, Ed Jackson lived in Berlin where he worked as an agent for the New York Life insurance company.  He died in 1919 in Berlin, and a memorial service was held in Denver.[34]   It is not known what became of Sara Jackson after Ed’s death.  It does not appear that Ed Jackson ever had any children who survived him.  Jackson was a successful Leadville businessman who encompassed the varied, cosmopolitan character of early Colorado.