BIO: WILLIAM T. S. JAMISON, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 272-273 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ WILLIAM T. S. JAMISON. When the sad news of the death of William T. S. Jamison was received, April 14, 1894, every citizen of the town felt a sense of personal loss. The entire Cumberland Valley lost a familiar figure in the commercial world, and those who knew him best were bereft of a firm friend and wise counselor. He was a courteous, considerate gentleman, generous and charitable to all. In his business he was aggressive and enterprising, yet strictly honest in his methods. His word was as good as his bond, and his honor was untarnished. Mr. Jamison was born in Indianapolis, Ind., July 3, 1843, son of John and Mary Jane (Snodgrass) Jamison. John Jamison was one of the twelve men who located on and cleared the land where now stands Indianapolis, Ind., and he felled the first tree. He owned seven and one-half acres, where the Blind Asylum is now located. In 1841 he married Mary Jane Snodgrass, who was born in Chambersburg Dec. 6, 1815, daughter of William T. and Jane (Morrow) Snodgrass. He died in 1843, before the birth of their only child, William T. S., and the widowed young mother returned to her father's home in Shippensburg. William T. S. Jamison was only a few months old when his mother brought him to Shippensburg, which was his home for the rest of his life. His school days past, he at once began to learn the rudiments of mercantile business as a clerk for J. & J. B. Reddig. From his mother he inherited a natural talent for business, and in a very short time had mastered the general methods of business transactions. During the Civil war he was a clerk in the office of the provost marshal at Harrisburg, and for a short time clerked in a dry-goods store in the same city. His time had so far been spent in preparation for the career he had determined upon. His earnings had been saved, and in 1867 he opened up a dry-goods store for himself, in the old Rankin property in Shippensburg, now occupied by Coffey Bros. This was succeeded by a room fitted up in his own home, a few doors east. Business came to him rapidly, and soon he found himself cramped for room. In 1884 he purchased the Criswell property, on the southeast corner of Main and Railroad streets, and erected the present handsome and commodious building, whither his stock was removed the same year. Jamison's Bazaar became a household word to people in the Cumberland Valley. Mr. Jamison was essentially a merchant. He left nothing honorable undone to increase and extend his business, and he was a liberal advertiser, always, however, advertising his wares as they really were. He never permitted his clerks to misrepresent any thing. Courtesy to patrons and honest representation were CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 273 two of his fixed rules. His place in the estimation of business rivals and associates was shown in the closing of all places of business in the city during his funeral. When the time came to pay the last tribute of respect to William T. S. Jamison a large concourse of friends assembled. Rev. W. A. McCarrell, of the Presbyterian Church, assisted by other ministers of the borough, spoke words of comfort to the sorrowing widow and the many friends, and amid a wealth of flowers the mortal remains of the beloved husband, successful merchant, upright citizen and noble Christian gentleman were laid to rest in Spring Hill cemetery. On Jan. 23, 1883, by Rev. J. M. Carvell, Mr. Jamison was married to Emily J. Daley, of Shippensburg, who survives him. Rev. R. L. Jamison of the Methodist Church of Kidder, Mo., a half brother, survived him for one year. In his religious belief Mr. Jamison was a consistent Presbyterian. Fraternally he was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. MRS. MARY JANE (SNODGRASS) JAMISON entered into rest at midnight, Aug. 23, 1898, in the eighty-third year of her age. Thus passed another familiar figure from the busy daily life of Shippensburg. Mrs. Jamison was born in Chambersburg, Dec. 6, 1815, a daughter of William T. and Jane (Morrow) Snodgrass, worthy pioneers of ScotchIrish descent, who were married Dec. 20, 1809, by Rev. Dr. John Moodey. She was but a few weeks old when her parents removed to Shippensburg, where her father conducted a mercantile business, and was prominent in the welfare and advancement of the Presbyterian Church. In 1841 she married John Jamison, of Indianapolis, Ind., where they resided until Mr. Jamison's death, which occurred in 1843, when she returned to Shippensburg with her infant son, William T. S. Mrs. Jamison was a woman of remarkable business ability, and was one of the first, if not the first, ladies to become a saleswoman, as she entered her father's store in early life, subsequently her brother's, and finally her son's. The latter became one of the leading merchants in the Cumberland Valley, and with him she remained until his death, when she retired. Her pleasant,. hearty welcome was sadly missed by the shoppers, and when death came they spoke, feelingly of her efforts in their behalf, of her kindly guidance and counsel, which helped to mold their lives in safer and surer ways. Her last years were made pleasant through the loving care of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Emily J. Jamison, who was most devoted to her. Her brother, Robert Snodgrass, of Philadelphia, is the only surviving member of the family. In early life Mrs. Jamison united with the Presbyterian Church, and was always faithful in the discharge of her Christian duties. She was very charitable, her great womanly heart sympathizing with every cry of distress. Her remains rest in Spring Hill cemetery.