Pioneer State Official and Lifelong Mason Dies at Family Home
With the passing yesterday of Thomas B. Jackson at the family home, 406 North High street, Salem lost one of its most prominent citizens and state officials of the pioneer days of Oregon. Death occurred at 5 o’clock and ended a long period of suffering for he had been an invalid for the past 15 years. He was 88 years old.
He, a few years back, was one of the leading men in state affairs, for several months he was acting governor, when Governor Chadwick was absent from the state during his administration. Prior to this time he was assistant secretary of state under Governor Glover and when that governor became Unites States senator he became secretary of state. He was employed by the government as an accountant in the Grand Ronde district. At one time he was in charge of the commissary at the state penitentiary when Asahel Bush was superintendent of that institution.
He was a first cousin of “Stonewall” Jackson, and he and the famous general “grew up together,” attending the same school.
Was Active Mason
He also took a very active part in the Masonic circles in the state in pioneer days. He was warden of the Bethel lodge in 1856. In 1865 he assisted in making George P. Litchfield a Mason in the Amity lodge. After coming to Salem he became affiliated with Salem lodge No. 4.
The deceased was born March 2, 1831, at Leesburg, Va. He attended the college in that city until he was about 20 years old when he came west, settling in Oregon. He lived first in Portland and then in Yamhill before coming to Salem in the early ‘60s where he has lived since.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hattie M. Jackson, special officer for the Marion county court, a daughter, Mrs. C.A. Pague of Oakland, Calif., and by three children by a former marriage all of whom live in Idaho.
The funeral services will be held from the Webb & Clough chapel Thursday at 2 p.m. and will be conducted by Rev. Thomas S. Anderson. Burial will be in the Odd Fellows cemetery and the local Masons will have charge.
Source: Salem Statesman Journal, September 17, 1919. Jackson’s first wife, Mary Walling, who was the daughter of Jerome and Sarah Leaverton Walling, died in 1872.
Carol Ann Hilton 