Jacob Green JACKSON

 

Jacob Green JACKSON, a scion of sterling Colonial New England stock, came to California in the year 1851.  His ability and well directed energies gained him a place of prominence and influence in connection with business affairs of broad scope and of much industrial importance, his special sphere of enterprise having been that involving lumbering operations.

 

He was born at East St. Johnsbury, Vermont, March 16, 1817, son of Elijah JACKSON, a farmer in the old Green Mountain State, and his death occurred in San Francisco, April 17, 1901.  A child at the time of his mother’s death, he was taken into the home of an aunt who resided in the State of Maine.  There he profited by the advantages of the common schools of period, and finally became associated with his brother Samuel in the coal and shipping business at Providence, Rhode Island.  When but sixteen years old he took charge of the transportation department of the business, and eventually he was admitted to partnership in the concern, for which he acted as buyer and agent in the shipping of coal between Providence and Philadelphia.  Later he attempted the manufacture of rubber products at Salem, Massachusetts, but soon sold his patent process to the Goodyear Rubber Company.

 

In 1851, Mr. JACKSON, coming to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, became associated with Asa SIMPSON in the lumber trade at San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton.  He made one voyage to Australia, with a load of lumber and the captain of the vessel, continuing in charge of the return  voyage to San Francisco. In this connection he gained the title of captain, by which he was thereafter familiarly known.  At the time of the mining excitement in the Fraser River district of British Columbia Captain JACKSON transported to that district a cargo of lumber, and there he continued in business for at time.  In 1861 he severed his partnership with Mr. SIMPSON, and with two other men, MESSRS, KELLY and RUNDELL, engaged in the manufacturing of lumber of Mendocino County on Caspar Creek.  In the following year he purchased the interests of his partners, and under the title of the Caspar Lumber Company developed a large and prosperous business in manufacturing of redwood lumber, his sawmill plant having been established at the mouth of the Caspar Creek.  He continued as the principal owner of this important business until the time of his death, the mill having an output capacity of 100,000 feet of lumber daily, and the company having 80,000 acres of redwood timber land, besides operating in connection with the industry a railroad fifteen miles in length.

 

After the death of Captain JACKSON, his daughter, Mrs. Abbie KREBS-WILKINS, became president of the company.  In the management of the business she has shown distinctive ability and has been its president for more than twenty years.  Under her administration was constructed the railway line used by the company, and she carried forward the construction of 800 feet of tunnel railroad, the line being known as the Caspar South Fork & Eastern Railroad.  Under the direction of Mrs. WILKINS the company also owned and had in commission several steam schooners.  The concern now owns and operates a large and modern lumber mill at Pittsburgh, Contra Costa County, and Mrs. WILKINS still continues her active associations with the business.  The company owns a portion of the Mendocino Lumber Company, acquired during Mrs. WILKIN’s administration.

 

The year 1840 recorded the marriage of Captain JACKSON and Miss Elvenis D. DURGIN, of Sanbortnton Bridge (now Tilton), New Hampshire, and she was ninety-nine years of age at the time of her death in 1919. Of the two children, Mrs. WILKINS is the elder and the son Charles G., died in 1890.