Orick Jackson |
| Posted 2016-11-04 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Prescott Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, March 28, 1928, page 1, column 4 Orick Jackson, Pioneer Scribe Writes 'Thirty' The ancient typewriter on the desk of Orick Jackson in his office in the 'Journal-Miner' was covered last night. It has written its last news for this paper under the touch of the veteran newspaperman of Arizona. Mr. Jackson, who had been ill for over ten days, and whose sickness kept him in his room at the Head hotel since Monday, passed away at 10:30 last night, unexpectedly, after having given his physician, Dr. Looney, his nurse and his two brothers, John and Frank, encouragement during the day for his recovery. No better known man lived in Prescott than Orick Jackson. For over 40 years he had plied his trades, the setting of type and the writing of news in this city. His absences from Prescott and this county probably did not total a year in all that time. There simply wasn't any other place to live for Orick. Eight days after the mother of the pioneer scribe arrived in this section she passed away, leaving her children virtually objects of charity. Orick soon achieved a position as printer's devil on the old Arizona Miner, which was then published by T. J. Butler. Frank Jackson, a younger brother later set type on the same publication. At various times, Orick Jackson held positions of trust in the newspaper game. It was not long after he began to learn the trade that he was accounted the swiftest compositor in the state, and to celebrate this accomplishment, he went to Phoenix and Tucson and worked short periods in each of those sites. In Phoenix, he worked on the 'Herald,' predecessor to the present 'Republican' In all his life he spent but one month on work not directly connected with the printing or publishing trade. That was when he, and with Fred Tritle, son of the governor of the territory, went a month as mail weighers between Ash fork and Los Angeles on the Santa Fe. This was in the '80's. Orick soon returned to his beloved printer's ink. He probably wrote more 'personals' and obituaries than any other newspaperman who ever worked in Arizona. Some of his biographical sketches and appreciations of dexeased persons were remarkable examples of their kind. He knew more persons in Yavapai than any other human being, and had a wider acquaintance than any man will ever achieve in this day of increasing and transient population. His memory for dates was without a parallel here. Recently when the editor of this paper asked him concerning the history of the publication, he supplied without consulting references the names of the owners and editors of the 'Miner' and 'Journal' from the time the earlier was established in 1864, together with dates of their purchases. Orick loved Yavapai county. To him the word 'Hassayamper' represented something more serious than a by-word and the peg upon which to hand a fanciful tale for tenderfeet. It was his lodge, and in some respects, very nearly his religion. In his person, he represented a pioneer age and strain of thought, yet he was ever impatient of reaction to tradition, and always looked upon Prescott as deserving to be a great summer city, the center of a vast mineral yielding region. He had made a close study of practical mineralology, and ores with almost any expert. There has been no figure on the streets of this city more homely and lovable and more usual in the sight of the people than Orick and his white dog 'Billy.' He will be missed by the city of Prescott and the county of Yavapai as more than a man, he was an institution. He was born March 28, 1861, at Petaluma, Sonora county, California, and had he lived a few hours longer he would have been 59 years old. He is survived by two brothers, John, interested in mining in the Copper Basin district, and Frank, manager of the print department of the Holbrook 'News,' both of whom were here at his passing, and a sister, Mrs. Bernard Russman, of San Francisco. Funeral arrangements will be announced Tuesday. --------------------------------------- Prescott Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, March 30, 1928, page 1, column 4 Orick Jackson To Be Buried Today The funeral of Orick Jackson, pioneer printer and newspaperman, who died at his apartment in the Head hotel Saturday night, will be held from Ruffner's mortuary parlors this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The two surviving brothers, Frank Jackson of Holbrook and Johnny Jackson of Copper Basin will be in charge of the interment. The 'Journal-Miner' office will be closed this afternoon out of respect to its old and well-liked employee. Mr. Jackson was a member of the charter organization of the Typographical Union in this city, and that organization will take part in the obsequies. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
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