TWHP


John Putnam Jackson

Railroad Builder, Publisher and Creator of Napa Soda Springs




John Jackson distinguishd himself at an early age as a stellar lawyer before proving himself a brave and resourceful staff officer in the Civil War; with that background he became a leading figure in the building of California. Though virtually lost to history beyond the Napa Valley and those who know of Napa Soda Springs, he played a significant role as the man who created the link between the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay. As a publisher in the City, he solidified Republican control of the state, and he starred as a public speaker at countless events. His crowning achievement was the magnificent Soda Springs Resort overlooking the Napa Valley, a venue that not only catered to the aristocrats of San Francisco and beyond, but also served as the backdrop for more deals and schemes than we'll ever know. Below is a mini-biography published in his lifetime; it was included in a volume containing the life stories of many San Francisco notables, and typically, the subjects paid a price for their participation. The treatment was hardly objective, but the facts were usually accurate.
Not always does the path of the biographer lie over beds of crumpled rose leaves, since most lives contain dark and gloomy chapters which must be forever unwritten, or at least folded away from human ken; yet sometimes, like a white star, a life falls under his hands wherein is no reservation, which may be given in its entirety to the reading world and handed down to posterity, bright, pure, and glittering as a silver stream. Such is the life now under contemplation, which previous to considering, let us pause before his portrait and mark well the manner of the man. The figure is somewhat tall and slim, with the soldier and lawyer fighting for supremacy in its contour. The face is one on which high intellect, courage, and common sense are strongly blended, and yet it is a most pleasant, kindly, and humane face, with, such wealth of wit and humor dancing in the eyes, and flitting round the corners of the mouth, that it puzzles the beholder on first sight to understand what a firm, indomitable will lies concealed beneath the ever-ready smile,. Such in brief is the portrait of Colonel John Putnam Jackson, who first drew breath on the seventh of March, 1833, where the clear waters of the Cuyahoga river flow into Lake Eric at Cleveland, Ohio. Was it from the bright path of the crooked river that the baby boy gathered the smiles which have made him so popular, so winning, and so prosperous? Who can tell?

The father of our subject was Joseph Jackson, who married a bright and beautiful girl from County Tyrone, Ireland. His mother, who is yet alive, is still a well-preserved woman, rejoicing in an almost undying youth; but it is from his grandfather, John Jackson, who was a Methodist minister, that our subject takes his patronymic. His childhood was strongly marked by a craving after literature and learning in all its branches. While other boys sped through the summer sunshine or the frost of winter intent upon sports suitable to either season, our little student, with bent head and mind intent upon higher things, would sit for hours deeply involved in studies which were to blossom, for him, into a useful future, and mark him a man of rare power and ability. At ten years of age he served as editor of his school newspaper, a bright little sheet most ably conducted. During the Irish famine of i843 he took a leading part in a movement for the relief of famine-stricken Ireland, and by his zeal and exertion made a worthy contribution to the shiploads of flour which Cleveland transmitted to the sufferers of Green Erin. Up to the age of twelve years the boy attended the public schools of Cleveland, and at that early period of his studious life passed a most honorable examination before the Board of Public Examiners, who testified to his ability by presenting him with an unconditional certificate as a school teacher. At this period his father removed to a farm seven miles from Cleveland, near Newburg, where his young son, for the time, threw aside the student's books and applied himself assiduously to labor.

Here, for a space covering two years, he engaged in those agricultural pursuits which are so eminently fitted not only to develop the youthful frame, but give a tone of independence to the mind unacquirable by any other means. One part of the work of the boy was to cut cordwood and take it to market, driving a two-horse wagon and attending to the same himself. Again, he followed in the wake of the reaper, raked and bound the golden grain or fed the threshing machine, and when the fruit trees yielded their unstinted store, it was his business to gather the harvest in and take it to the market town. At this period he was but a slightly-made youth and small for his age, but constant employment in the open air gave strength to his physical powers, which, added to a splendid constitution, indomitable energy, and great power of endurance, fitted him well for taking a position in the foremost ranks as one of life's toilers.

Two years were thus spent happily under the eaves of the old farm-house, when within the heart of the boy rose up an uncontrollable desire to throw aside the plowshare and plunge once more into the labyrinthine paths of knowledge. Observing this, and seeing that his heart was no longer in the work before him, his father determined to favor his bent, and once more placed him in the schools of Cleveland; this time in the high school, under that well known teacher, Andrew Freese, who subsequently became State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The next move made by our student was to Cincinnati, in 1847, where he went through the entire course of the Central High School, including higher mathematics, French, and Latin; and upon the division of that school into Woodward's College and Hughes' High School, he was appointed to the latter. Here he worked with vigor and perseverance up to the age of nineteen, at which time we see our young student-farmer taking a new departure, inasmuch as he then commenced the study of the law under the instruction of Messrs. Storer and Gwynne. After close application for two years, he was, at the age of twenty-one, admitted to practice, and, without a backward step, entered at once upon a lucrative business.

It would seem as though, Midas-like, everything the young advocate touched turned at once to gold, for now occurred the death of one of the principals in the firm of which he was a junior partner, and the other being promoted to a judgeship soon after his admission, gave to the youthful lawyer the succession to their extensive and still increasing practice, by which fortuitous circumstances he was spared the uncertainty of that weary waiting for clients that usually is the road over which the young and inexperienced lawyer has to tread on his way to fame and fortune. The practice which fell to his share was heavy, responsible, and extremely profitable, cases involving millions of dollars passing through his hands with perfect satisfaction to all parties interested. Possessed of a high order of ability, and following his profession with that untiring energy and vim which is still his great characteristic of life, he worked to win-and succeeded. For thirteen years he met with a success almost singular in its prefectures, and could boast of as large, honorable, and lucrative a practice as any lawyer in Ohio, albeit he had for rivals men of mark, among whom may be named R. B. Hayes, George E. Pugh, Milton Sayler, Stanley Matthews, Edward F. Noyes, George H. Pendleton, and others of like widespread fame, and not only was he prosperous in his profession, but from his high honor in all business transactions, and general suavity of demeanor to rich and poor alike, he became a most popular, widely-known, and highly esteemed practitioner. His success as a jury lawyer was conspicuous and pronounced.

On the fourth of August, 1857, Mr. Jackson was, by the Right Reverend Bishop McIlvaine, united in marriage to Miss Anna Hooper, in Christ Church. (Episcopalian), Cincinnati, Ohio. On her father's side the fair bride was related to the English house of Earl Stanley, and her maternal grandfather was Captain Downard, who was distinguished for his loyal service to this country in the American war of 1812. Mr. Jackson was raised in the Episcopal church, and as a boy regularly attended the Sunday-schools--the Episcopalian in the morning, and in the afternoon the Methodist; while for ten years he held the position of librarian of the Bethel Methodist Sunday-school in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1861, when the red hand of war was laying desolate the loveliness of the land, the sympathies of our prosperous lawyer were strongly aroused in favor of the Union. With all the earnestness and ardor of a loyal nature he advocated the integrity of this noble cause, and his public utterances were forcible and decided in the matter that he deemed it inconsistent to demand from others services in which he himself should take no active part. Therefore, deserting comfort and money gains, he threw aside his practice and buckled on the sword. At that time his chief endeavor was to hold Kentucky to her allegiance to the Union, and to aid this purpose he organized a company at Newport, Kentucky, which was called the Jackson Guards, of which he was captain. President Lincoln, fearful lest the disloyal element of Kentucky should overcome and imperil the loyal influence of the State, arranged for the distribution of what were known as "Lincoln guns" to those in Kentucky who were considered trustworthy. Jackson acted along the northern portion of Kentucky as distributee, under General William Nelson, of these guns to companies organized for quelling public disorder.

At this time, Major General Buckner, who was the commandant of the State militia, called for an encampment of the State force at Cynthiana. A company at Newport, known as the Washington Artillery, had two guns, which were ordered by the State authorities to the rendezvous named. These two twelve-pounders Captain Jackson took forcible possession of, holding them from the company. When asked by the State adjutant-general by what authority he took upon himself this responsibility, he answered: " Because I believe the intention is to take these guns into the rebel army, and I would rather stand at the breech than the muzzle."

After this he established Camp King with his company, and raised a regiment, afterwards mustered into the service as the Twenty-third Kentucky Infantry, U. S. A. In the war he served with e�clat under Rosecrans, Buell, and Grant. He was with Buell in his famous march against Bragg, when he drove him out of Kentucky, participating in the battle of Perryville (Chaplin Hills), and afterwards on detached service under Grant at Pittsburgh Landing (Shiloh). During the siege of Corinth, in which he was actively engaged on the advance line from beginning to end; he had a very narrow escape of the life that now blossoms into history. A bombshell exploded; one of the pieces of which struck him directly on the head and felled him to the earth. Again, at Readyville, in Tennessee, in an action with Forrest's cavalry, a dismounted confederate with loaded gun rose up suddenly from an ambush--about fifty feet from where the Colonel stood in the front of his regiment. The piece was leveled directly at the colonel's head, and certain death was before him--when, at a quick warning from one of his men, he made a sudden side motion, and thus escaped the charge, which passed him but to bury itself in the bosom of one of his lieutenants.

In 1864, when the Government prosecuted the Chicago conspirators for attempting to release the rebel prisoners from Camp Douglas, Colonel Jackson was secured as counsel to aid the Government before the Military Commission, the result of which was that Grenfel, an Englishman, was sentenced to be hanged, but subsequently had his sentence commuted to banishment for life to the Dry Tortugas, whence, attempting to escape to Cuba in an open boat, he was drowned. Another of the defendants was sent to the penitentiary for three years, and General Marmaduke, of Missouri, was acquitted by only one vote, while Semmes (nephew of Admiral Semmes) escaped from the guard. It is truthfully asserted that Colonel Jackson has tried more cases before military courts than any other lawyer not in the service, as judge advocate. On one occasion he was left by General Nelson in sole command of all the Federal forces in Murfreesboro, combining artillery in fortifications, infantry and cavalry, with this parting injunction: "Young man, the enemy is about you; but you had better be dead than surrender this place." Notwithstanding the enemy surged around in every direction, each point was so well guarded and such vigilance enforced, that the Colonel held the fort until ordered to break camp and advance. At this camp he permitted all negroes free entrance and protection, in the mean time forbidding inimical whites passing the guard; this being out of abundant caution against surprise.

In 1867 he went to Europe to negotiate the bonds of the California Pacific Railroad Company, which was the immediate occasion of his settling in this State. This mission successfully completed, he assisted in building the road, and on its completion was made its president, which position he occupied until it was bought by the Central Pacific Railroad Company. He then built the Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad and also the Stockton and V isalia branch, after which, settling down in San Francisco, in the year 1872, he purchased the Daily Evening Post newspaper, which he left in charge of a friend, who, in his absence, sold it out at a considerable loss. Again, in 1876, he obtained the control of the same paper, of which he is now publisher and managing editor. Perhaps there are few newspaper offices in this State where business is carried on under such pleasant and friendly conditions as in this one. The proprietor delights in his paper, and manages with a superior tact to keep everything running smoothly within the establishment. He has a staff ever ready to do him most willing service, and in his relations with them is always not only a considerate master, but a faithful friend ; suave in manner and punctual in his payments, he is necessarily both popular and respected.

Colonel Jackson is and ever has been a stanch Republican and strong partisan in the severest sense of the term. In 1864 he was a candidate for elector on the presidential ticket for Lincoln and Johnson, and in 1868 was unanimously nominated by the Republican party for Governor of Kentucky. He subsequently declined the offer to go as Congressman from the sixth district of that State, though a nomination was equivalent to an election. At the close of Andrew Johnson's term of office his friends offered him the Commissionership of Internal Revenue, which he refused, as also the position of First Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Thus it will be seen that although upon emergency Colonel Jackson went voluntarily to the front for his country's good, he yet deemed it outside his ambition to hold public office. In 1864 he "stumped" the State of Kentucky, and, while on one of his electioneering tours, was taken prisoner by Pete Everett's gang of Confederate guerillas. The train in which he traveled was burned, and he was set aside with a number of Federal officers to be taken as a prisoner to Richmond, Virginia. A fortunate incident saved him this fate. On the train was a man whose brother had been condemned to death as a spy by a military commission, but whose life had been subsequently saved by Colonel Jackson's efforts with the reviewing authorities. This man, a rebel, interested himself with Everett, and Jackson was taken from the group and told to stand aside. It was in the early gray of the morning, cold and foggy, and there happened to be a lady and her little child among the passengers. Jackson requested permission of the guerilla captain to conduct this lady to a house near. The answer of the chief was significant: "Yes, go; but don't stay." The Colonel escorted the lady through the front door, but immediately made his exit by way of the kitchen, and escaped through a wood, thus obeying the injunction not to "stay."

As an orator Colonel Jackson will take high rank with the eloquent of the land. He is both fluent and terse in his style, possessing, in addition, a brilliant flow of wit and humor and a perfect grasp of the English language; so much so that he has earned for himself the sobriquet of the " Silver-tongued." His powers have been tested on many memorable occasions. At the age of nineteen he presented a purse of money to Louis Kossuth on behalf of the young men of Cincinnati, making at the same time a well-timed and brilliant original address. Again, he has frequently been the orator: on the thirtieth of May, and on the mournful occasion of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, he delivered a never-to-be-forgotten speech in Kentucky before an audience numbering seven thousand people. At the first dedicatory services over the graves of Union soldiers in that State he delivered an address, that for beauty of diction and patriotic sentiment has not been surpassed, by any cognate effort by others. Upon the occasion of the arrival of ex-President Grant in the city of San Francisco, Colonel Jackson represented our citizens in many welcoming speeches offered to the great General, and also on behalf of that city made the reception address to President Hayes, Secretary of War Ramsey, and General Sherman, upon the occasion of their visit to this coast.

In all emergencies the subject of this sketch is called upon as a speaker. In a testimonial to be offered to a gifted actress, as in the case of Kellogg, he is the person on whom the task devolves. If a public meeting is suddenly improvised, none so fit as he to perform the necessary honors. Successful in all things, he seems most so when speaking before an attentive and admiring audience, at which times he is always listened to with favor and approval. It very rarely happens that an eloquent speaker proves himself either a good writer or brilliant conversationalist; but Colonel Jackson is equally at home on the platform, in the drawing-room, or at the desk: He is a man who loves society and shines in it, being possessed of rare conversational powers, with a youthful, fun-loving temperament, which permeates any gathering he enters with his cheerful spirit. His conversation is brimful of caustic wit and bright repartee. He has a marvelous appreciation of the humorous side of life, and is rarely seen with a cloud on his brow. As a business man he is prompt and keen--his word is his bond and his payments sure. He never drives a bargain, even with the meanest; he gives what he considers is right, and neither cajolery nor force will compel him to yield to a tortious claim. While he pays for all work done from his business pocket, if a story of deserving want or woe reaches him he will at the same time add from his private purse a golden guerdon. As a writer, the same tone that characterizes his speeches and his conversation crops up in his bright and well-worded editorials.

The reviews in the Saturday Post are always from his pen, and those who read know how bright and telling they are. No man was ever more opposed to secret societies than Colonel Jackson, and though frequently requested, he has never joined any of them; but still is willing to admit that much good has been accomplished by the Masons and Odd Fellows. His idea in opposing such organizations is that they permit the weak, worthless, indolent to rest upon their stronger fellows, and thus impose upon the generous and willing helpers what should in reality be accomplished by the dependent themselves.

We have followed this smooth and bright life through its various channels; we have seen Colonel J. P. Jackson in the garb of student, farmer-boy, lawyer, and soldier and editor; let us now look at him at home, where in very truth the more noble qualities of the man shine forth. At five o'clock every working day of the week his figure may be seen quietly walking from the office of the Post along Sutter street, where he stops before a handsome mansion embowered in verdure. Opening the gate, he enters and is soon seated in his handsome library, from whose cosy comfort he is seldom drawn after the dinner hour. A devoted husband and father, he may fitly be placed as a bright example before the world. No breath of slander rests upon his name. He has a family of six fine sons and two daughters. One of his boys has graduated at Amherst, Mass., and another is a senior at Harvard University. And now, in the bosom of his beloved family, in a home made happy by perfect trust and affection, the proprietor of the Daily Evening Post passes away his evenings. Casting aside the outside cares of life, he has no desire beyond the comfortable walls of a dwelling wherein is heard no murmur of discontent. And here we leave him.


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