James M. Jackson
Encyclopedia
James M. Jackson was a lawyer
and Democratic
politician
from West Virginia
who served as a United States Representative in the 51st United States Congress
.
in Wood County
, Virginia (now West Virginia). He was a son of General John Jay Jackson and his brothers were Federal Judge John Jay Jackson, Jr.
and Circuit Judge and West Virginia Governor Jacob B. Jackson
. The Jackson Memorial Fountain
at Parkersburg is dedicated to the Jackson family.
He graduated from Princeton University
in 1845. Subsequent to studying law, he was admitted to the bar
in 1847. He opened his practice in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He won election as prosecuting attorney for Wood County in 1856 and 1860. He served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
in 1870 and 1871.
He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1872. He served as a judge on the fifth circuit court
from 1873 to 1888, when he resigned. He presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Fifty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1889 until February 3, 1890. He was succeeded by Charles B. Smith, who contested the election. He served as a judge on the criminal court for Wood County, West Virginia from 1891 until his death in Parkersburg, West Virginia on February 14, 1901. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
who served as a United States Representative in the 51st United States Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
.
Early life and career
Jackson was born in ParkersburgParkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
in Wood County
Wood County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile . There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile...
, Virginia (now West Virginia). He was a son of General John Jay Jackson and his brothers were Federal Judge John Jay Jackson, Jr.
John Jay Jackson, Jr.
John Jay Jackson, Jr. was a United States federal judge, first from Virginia, and then from West Virginia, at the time of its creation as a separate state.-Early life and career:...
and Circuit Judge and West Virginia Governor Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob Beeson Jackson was the sixth Governor of West Virginia from 1881 to 1885. In 1855, he married Maria Willard....
. The Jackson Memorial Fountain
Jackson Memorial Fountain
Jackson Memorial Fountain is a historic fountain located at the entrance to City Park at Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. It was built in 1905, and is a cast iron structure that originally had three tiers. The second tier is topped by Parkersburg's Lady of the Lake statue. It features...
at Parkersburg is dedicated to the Jackson family.
He graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1845. Subsequent to studying law, he was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1847. He opened his practice in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He won election as prosecuting attorney for Wood County in 1856 and 1860. He served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
in 1870 and 1871.
He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1872. He served as a judge on the fifth circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
from 1873 to 1888, when he resigned. He presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Fifty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1889 until February 3, 1890. He was succeeded by Charles B. Smith, who contested the election. He served as a judge on the criminal court for Wood County, West Virginia from 1891 until his death in Parkersburg, West Virginia on February 14, 1901. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia