Colonel
Clarence Jackson
 |
1999 photo looking North
|
Col. Jackson was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania
on March 25, 1842, the son of Mordecai and Margaret Gearhart Jackson. As a young boy of
seven, he drove the horses which supplied the power for the only machinery in use, a
blower and a lathe in his father's foundry located at Third and Market streets. The elder Jackson merged with William H.
Woodin in 1849. Woodin had a furnace and foundry located in Foundryville located about one
mile north of Berwick. This was the partnership that formed the beginning of the American
Car & Foundry, also known as the A.C.& F. |
|
|
| Clarence attended the Berwick schools and at
the age of 14 he entered the Seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, graduating in two
years with the highest honors. He entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania
where at the age of 18 he graduated at the head of his class. He returned home and at the age of 20 entered the service on August
2, 1862 as a 2nd Lt. of Company H, 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Twice he was
wounded and twice he was captured by the Confederate Army. He was taken to Libby Prison
which had the reputation as being one of the worst prisons in the south. |
1998 Summer view looking south showing the North Side and the covered carriage stop
|
|
|
1998 Winter View looking at North Side taken from same
position as above
|
It was during his two prison stays that Jackson dreamed
and planned of his mansion to be built in his hometown. Jackson was finally exchanged for
southern prisoners and returned home not yet recovered from his wounds. In 1866, he married Elizabeth Seybert. This was the same year in
which the now expanded Jackson Woodin Works was totally destroyed by fire. |
|
|
| In 1872, the partnership of Jackson and
Woodin Manufacturing was formed. Col. Jackson became the Vice President of the firm.
Jackson became Vice President of the rolling mill.
He was a bank director, school board member, a trustee of Dickinson College, Church
trustee, a prominent member and chief advisor of the state Republican party, a trustee of
the state Normal School at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and a trustee of the Methodist Church.
He filled these positions with great credit and unusual ability. Col. Jackson was one of
the substantial business men of Pennsylvania and one of the most prominent members of the
Republican party. His wide acquaintances, his liberal views and his political acumen made
him one of the chief advisors of the party and he was prominently mentioned for the
highest office in the gift of the state. |
1910 Post Card view looking North
|
|
|
A pen sketch drawing featured
on the cover of Berwick's 1986 Bicentennial Celebration
|
The Jacksons had two daughters, Henrietta and
Jane. In 1877, Jackson engaged a Danville Pennsylvania architect named Brugler to design
his home which was to be a showplace of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a leading center for
prominent social circles. It is quite
sad to note that Col. Jackson died in 1880 after living in his dream home for only three
years. It is believed he died from unattended wounds suffered during the war. At his death
he left an estate of $900,000. Mrs. Jackson and her daughters continued to live in the
mansion until the daughters married and moved away. Mrs. Jackson passed away in 1914 and
her will gave the use of the Jackson home as a City Hall. In 1915 the building and its
grounds were given to the Borough of Berwick for municipal purposes by the Jackson
daughters in memory of their parents. |
|
|