Jackson, William S. (William Sharpless), 1836-1919

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William Sharpless Jackson was born (1836) and raised in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He served as an apprentice in the machinist trade in Wilmington, Delaware. For the next six years, he engaged in the lumber trade and car industry. Afterwards William S. Jackson worked for the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company in Duluth. This job introduced him to William Jackson Palmer, who invited him to work for the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company. In 1871, William S. Jackson moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to become secretary and treasurer of the Denver Rio Grande Railway.

William S. Jackson took part in the founding of Colorado Springs. In 1872, he became vice-president of the railroad company. The next year he founded the El Paso Bank (later the El Paso County National Bank) and the First National Bank of Colorado Springs. In 1874, he served the founder and original Trustee for Colorado College. William S. Jackson retired from his position at the Denver and Rio Grande Railway in 1876 to devote his attention to the El Paso County Bank. In 1884, he took part in the founding of the Denver National Bank. During the same year, the U.S. District Court appointed him receiver of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company. He served as receiver for two years. In 1911, he resigned from his positions at both banks. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, William S. Jackson engaged in mining enterprises, business ventures and real estate. After his retirement, he continued to develop his numerous investments.

In 1875, William S. Jackson married Helen Marie Fiske Hunt, a noted western author. Their marriage lasted ten years, until the death of Helen Marie Fiske Hunt Jackson in 1885. In 1888, William S. Jackson married Helen Fiske Banfield (his first wife’s niece). They had seven children: William S., Helen, Everett, Roland, Edith, Gardner and Margaret (who died at nine months). Helen Fiske Banfield Jackson died in 1899. Edith Colby Banfield (aunt Kitty) helped Jackson raise the children until her death in 1903. Shortly afterwards William S. Jackson hired a nanny, Dora Jones, to assist with the children’s upbringing. William S. Jackson died in 1919.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jackson, William Sharpless, 1836-1919. William S. Jackson Papers. Part 1 Colorado College, Tutt Library
referencedIn Seven Falls, Mrs. Enterman, Celia, Hans [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Gardner Jackson, right , maybe Edith [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Jackson, Helen Hunt, 1830-1885. Helen Hunt Jackson Papers. Part 4, 1831-1885. Colorado College, Tutt Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Alexander R. Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad : [collection] : 1870-1974. History Colorado
creatorOf Jackson, William Sharpless, 1836-1919. William S. Jackson Papers. Part 3. Colorado College, Tutt Library
referencedIn Roberts Brothers (Boston, Mass.) Correspondence, 1882-1898, bulk 1838-1932. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Juan Jose Lovato Land Grant (N.M.). Records, 1902-1981. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn William and Mamie (?) [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Jackson, William Sharpless, 1836-1919. William S. Jackson Papers. Part 2. Colorado College, Tutt Library
referencedIn South Cheyene [sic] Canyon [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn William, Everett, Roland, Gardner [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Cheyenne Canyon, mtns. near Colorado Springs [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
WILLIAM SHARPLESS JACKSON FAMILY PAPERS, 1850-2006 Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Gardner with donkeys [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Bell, William Abraham, 1841-1921,. William Jackson Palmer : [collection] : 1840-1922 ;. History Colorado
creatorOf Ehrich, Louis R., 1849-1911. Colorado Springs Century Chest Collection, 1901. Colorado College, Tutt Library
creatorOf De Coursey, Marcelin Lafourcade, 1842-. William Abraham Bell : [collection] : 1867-1981 ; (bulk 1871-1921);. History Colorado
referencedIn Helen? Wm. in Scottish. [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Archibald, Albert William, 1840-. Southern Colorado Coal and Town Company : [collection] : 1883 ;. History Colorado
referencedIn Roland, Everett, Wm., Gardner in backyard 228 Kiowa, Colo. Spgs. [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Jackson, William S. (William Sharpless), 1836-1919. William Sharpless Jackson family papers, 1860- Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Jackson, Helen Hunt, 1830-1885. Collection of manuscripts and letters of Helen Hunt Jackson, 1852-1887 (bulk 1871-1885). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Bridge over South Cheyenne Creek [graphic] Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Jackson, William Sharpless, 1836-1919. William S. Jackson papers. Part 4, 1882-1917. Colorado College, Tutt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Colorado Springs CO US
Chester County PA US
Leadville CO US
Subject
Bankers
Banking
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company
Railroad
Occupation
Banker
Railroad executive
Activity

Person

Birth 1836-01-16

Death 1919-06-04

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6qg9jf1

SNAC ID: 85539395