Fulton-Bibb County GaArchives Obituaries.....Jackson, Chief Justice James January 13, 1887
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Meredith Clapper http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002801 April 22, 2013, 3:38 pm

Atlanta Constitution  14,  18  & 19 Jan 1887
The Death of a Good Man
In the death of Chief Justice James Jackson, Georgia loses a great and good man,
whose name is honored throughout the length and breadth of the commonwealth.

As a citizen, lawyer, statesman and judge, the dead chief justice leaves behind
him a record so shining and spotless that it will be proudly cherished by his
people as a bright example and a precious memory.

He belonged to a family famous in the annals of our state, and the distinction
justly earned in his public career was worthy of his lineage.  But he had a
still stronger claim upon the love and admiration of his fellow men.  Throughout
his long life, James Jackson was a devoted Christian.  It was his highest
happiness to work for the Master, and through his earnest words and pathetic
eloquence, many of those who now mourn his death were first persuaded to give
themselves to Christ.  It is impossible in this brief outline to sketch the full
proportions of a character and a nature so lofty, so pure and so lovable.  Other
pens will attempt the test.

The people of a great state share the bereavement of the stricken family.  But
for such men as James Jackson there is no death-only Eternal Life!

Atlanta Constitution 18 Jan 1887 p 10 
Judge Jackson Dead
After Seven Days' Sickness He Peacefully Passes Away.

He Becomes Unconscious Several Hours Before Death-In His Delirium He Address
Courts and Juries-A Christian's Deathbed-A Sketch of His Life and Character.

Chief Justice Jackson is dead!
He lived a blameless life and died a peaceful death.

Early Thursday morning it was announced that Judge Jackson was worse, and many
of his anxious friends hurried to the residence.  They were told that no
material change had taken place in the patient's condition and that there was
still hope of recovery.  Dr. Bizzell spent the previous night in the sick
chamber, and he watched the progress of the case till morning.  He was nothing
particularly encouraging, but rather certain symptoms which aroused his
apprehensions.  Thursday morning at 8:30, he and Dr. Alexander held a conference
to determine the exact status of the case.  Both concluded that his appearance
and condition were more unfavorable than ten hours before. 

A few hours before the sad occurrence a number of the most intimate friends of
the family were allowed to visit the sick chamber.  Among these were the Rev.
Dr. Morrison, pastor of the First Methodist church, and the Rev. Dr. Hawthorne,
pastor of the First Baptist church.  These ministers offered up most touching
and beautiful prayers. 

The very last act of consciousness on the part of the judge was making a
response to the petitions as they fell from the lips of Dr. Morrison. 

Dr. Hawthorne said after he had come from the patient's bedside: "I believe
Judge Jackson has illumined in his life the Christian religion more than any
layman in the church in Georgia, and I am sure he will be more missed than any
other man."

On his way home the reporter dropped into Judge Bleckley's residence, to have a
few words with the judge regarding the career of one who was his bosom friend
and his brother on the supreme bench.  In answer to several questions, Judge
Bleckley said:

"With feelings disturbed by the shock of such a loss, it is with difficulty that
I can say anything of Chief Justice Jackson coherent enough for publication.

"His great characteristic was goodness.  It crowned his life, private and
public.  He was penetrated through and through with vital Christianity.  He
found perfect certainly in religions truth.  I have heard him say he had the
witness and was more assured of its testimony than of the correctness of any
judgment he ever rendered from the bench. 

"During my four and a half years of service with him in judicial work, I never
once saw him swerve, or show the slightest inclination to swerve, from the exact
line of impartial, conscientious duty.  His constant endeavor was to do right. 
To him justice was holy-so holy that he could accept nothing as sound law that
seemed to violate it. He thought it incredible that there could ever be a real
conflict between law and justice.

"His mind was always warm, but at the same time clear, comprehensive and
eminently judicial.  He was wise and sagacious; understood human nature on both
sides, the good and the bad, and was invariably pointed and practical.  That he
was an able and useful judge, we of this generation all know, and the Georgia
Reports will testify the fact to posterity.  The death of such a man is a public
calamity, affecting both church and state, and were there not other sorrows
deeper than my own to be considered, I should count my own personal loss as very
great, for he was my friend."

In the family circle, Judge Jackson was its life and soul.  He was always the
leader in conversation and amusement. 

On Friday the United States court, the supreme court, the superior court, and
the city court adjourned until yesterday morning as a mark of respect for Chief
Justice Jackson.  Governor Gordon ordered that the national flag be placed at
half-mast over the capitol, and the different departments of the state
government be closed for three days.

The funeral of Chief Justice Jackson Sunday was one of the largest ever held in
Atlanta.  The First Methodist church, although one of the most spacious in the
city, was wholly inadequate to contain one-tenth of those who were anxious to
gain admittance.  Every seat in the building, down stairs and in the gallery,
was occupied nearly an hour before the beginning of the services, and hundreds
of persons thronged the streets surrounding the church. . . . 
. . .James Jackson was born sixty-seven years ago in Jefferson county.  When
very young his parents removed to Athens and he was placed at school under the
immediate care of Dr. Thomas, who was a noted teacher at that time.  He made
remarkable progress and soon distanced his classmates.  At this school was laid
the solid foundation upon which his future scholarship was reared.  His
preceptor regarded him as one of the brightest pupils and most exemplary young
men whom he had ever trained, and he predicted that young Jackson would some day
make his mark in the world.  When a very young man the subject of this sketch
entered the University of Georgia.  He pursued a full course in this celebrated
institution and was graduated with great distinction shortly after reaching the
age of 18 years.  During his collegiate career he distinguished himself in
several ways.  The professor esteemed him as a young man of extraordinary gifts.
 His erudtion and maturity of judgment and severe taste were regarded as
remarkable in one of his years.  He displayed an usual aptitude for the classics
and belles letters, but has(sic) penchant was for mathematics, and he was
acknowledged to be one of the ablest mathematicians that this university ever
produced.  As a member of one of the debating societies of the college he came
into prominence as an orator as soon as he delivered his first address.  His
oration on this occasion produced something of a sensation in college circles
and it was subsequently published in a newspaper of an adjoining county.  Even
this early in life young Jackson became a serious investigator of religion.  He
was undecided which church was the best to join and he determined to study the
creeds of all before joining any particular branch.  Consequently he began the
systematic study of the Bible and a critical examination of the doctrines of
each one of the evangelical churches.  While he was engaged in this study he
made a visit to Columbia, S.C., and there heard the great Thornwell expound the
Calvanistic doctrines.  Young Jackson was wonderfully impressed with Dr.
Thornwell's pulpit oratory, and in after years always referred to him as the
most eloquent and powerful preacher he had ever heard in the pulpit.  But his
predilection seemed to be toward the doctrines of Wesley, and he finally
resolved to unite himself with the Methodist church. 

About this time, having thoroughly prepared himself for the legal profession, he
was admitted to the bar, and immediately began the active practice of law.  He
opened his law office at Monroe, in Walton county, and practiced here with
moderate success for two or three years, when he was elected as a member of the
legislature from this county.  His legislative career was not a conspicuous one,
for he was inordinately modest, and always had an aversion to thrusting himself
forward.  He delivered a few speeches, however, which challenged the admiration
of the body, and exerted no inconsiderable influence in shaping legislation.  He
was then elected clerk of the state senate, a position which he filled with
great ability for several years.  He was scarcely thirty years old when, in
1850, he was elected judge of the superior court of the then Western or Athens
circuit.  He was of the youngest men, if not the very youngest man, ever elected
to the bench in Georgia.  He wore his judicial robes with grace and dignity.  He
was a just and humane judge.  His learning and discriminating legal acumen,
coupled with a broad, liberal, enlightened and just conception of his duties,
rendered him one of the ablest as well as one of the most popular judges that
ever wore the ermine.  He was respected and beloved by the entire bar.  He was
an eminently safe judge too, for very few of his decisions were appealed from. 
He left the bench in 1857 to go to congress, having been elected over the Hon.
Bill Simmons, then of Gwinnett, but now of Norcross. 

While in congress he and General Gartrell were colleagues and sat together.  His
congressional career was not noteworthy.  He took part in very few of the
debates, but whenever he spoke his utterances commanded the respectful hearing
of the house.  Just before George seceded from the union, he left congress and
again turned his attention to the practice of law.  He went to Macon and formed
a copartnership with Howell Cobb, the firm name being Jackson & Cobb. For some
years these two distinguished lawyers devoted themselves tirelessly to law, and
during their copartnership, figured as counsel in many of the most important
equity suits of that period.  They were phenomenally successful, and their
reputation extended beyond the borders of the state.  After Howell Cobb's death,
Judge Jackson became a member of the law firm of Nesbit & Simmons.  He practiced
with them till July, 1875, when he was appointed an associate justice of the
supreme court.  He held this position until the spring of 1880, when Governor
Colquitt appointed him chief justice to temporarily succeed Chief Justice
Warner.  In the following November the legislature elected him for a full term
of six years.  Last December the general assembly unanimously elected him for
six more years.  Only a few weeks ago he took the oath of office. . . .

In 1853, Judge Jackson married his first wife, a Miss Mitchell, of
Milledgeville.  She was the daughter of Walter L. (sic) Mitchell, for many years
state treasurer of Georgia.  This was one ofthe happiest marriages ever
solemnized, and as the result of the union five children were born-four
daughters and one son. His son a young man of great promise went to Mississippi
to practice law, and there died.  One of his daughters married Mr. Joe
Scrutchens.  Another married Professor Slaton.  Both now reside in Atlanta.  The
two other daughters are unmarried.  About fourteen years ago his wife died, and
between two and three years later Judge Jackson, while attending a Methodist
conference in the west, met Mrs. Scofield.  A few months later Mrs. Scofield
became his wife.  No children were born unto the judge by his second wife. 
Judge Jackson's only surviving sister is the wife of Colonel John Grant, who
though advanced in years, is in good health. . ..


Atlanta Constitution 19 Jan 1887 
Memorial Services-In the report of the memorial services held at First Methodist
Sunday school in honor of Judge James Jackson, on Sunday the 16th inst., a
mistake was made in the name of one of the speakers.  It should have read Major
W. F. Slaton, superintendent of the public schools.  Excellent addresses were
also delivered by the following Sunday school workers: J. F. Barclay, J. C.
Kimball, Chandler Smith, Barton Patti, B. F. Crew and R. A. Hemphill. 



Additional Comments:
He's buried at Rose Hill cemetery, Macon, Ga.

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