Walter Jackson playing a mandolin, 1910.
Walter Arnold Jackson was born October 7, 1888 in Washington Territory, fourteen months before Washington became a state. In 1885, his parents, William A. and Harriet Jane (Wymer) Jackson “took up” a timber claim about 20 miles west of Sequim, Washington Territory, where Jackson relatives living nearby assured them opportunities were good.
Prior to living in Washington, William had been farming in the southern part of Mendocino county. Originally from Arkansas, he had come with his own parents across the plains in 1857. The Great Register of Mendocino County for 1875 gives his residence as “Arena” (Point Arena) and his occupation as farmer.
He and Harriet were married in 1879. The couple’s first child, Sylvester, was born in 1881 and died in 1883 of scarlet fever. He was buried at Manchester on the southern Mendocino Coast. It was after that the couple moved to Washington Territory where sons Walter Arnold and Ora Clyde were born.
The Jackson family returned to Mendocino County in 1896 when Walter was eight years old. William went to work for McFaul & Keen near Bridgeport. The family lived in the Keen’s home at Switzer Gulch until 1906. Working men learned many jobs along the coast, as work was seasonal in the agriculture and logging industries and versatility helped make a living. William Jackson drove stage between Point Arena and Mendocino for the Holiday & Howe Stage Line. He also travelled up the coast from Manchester to the Humboldt county line with the crew that was installing telegraph lines, tending to the pack train. William often worked on ranches, even after moving to Mendocino, going down the south coast for the threshing and harvesting.
The family came to Mendocino when Walter was ready for high school. First, they lived in a house near the foot of the high school hill, on the southeast corner of Ford and Little Lake Streets. Then they moved to one of Dave Kearn’s houses on Pine Street. Early in 1912 William bought a lot in the eastern part of town and began the construction of a “substantial dwelling.” By the end of March, the Beacon notes “W. A. Jackson has moved into his new home just erected by himself and son Walter in the Clark addition this week.”
Walter followed in his father’s footsteps in obtaining a variety of jobs. One somewhat unusual, though important, job Walter had was catching gophers for Mrs. Lyons. A white rag tied to her front gate signaled to him that his services were needed. The pay was rather good those days, ten cents a gopher. One Kelley House volunteer remembers receiving only one cent a gopher for the same work when living on the Canadian plains at the age of ten. It is specialized work requiring patience and sharp reflexes.
Walter was in the Mendocino High School class of 1907, but stopped short of graduating to start work at the Mendocino Lumber Company mill. He started work there soon after the 1906 earthquake, worked his way up to tallyman and grader; later he was made foreman of the gantry yard at the base of the incline for about 18 months. To explain the size and load capacity of the big gantry, Walter said, the machine had a counterbalance of 15 tons.
Walter Jackson joined IOOF (Odd Fellows Lodge) and the Ancient Order of Foresters in 1909. Men joined these clubs or lodges in the years before employers were obliged to carry Workmen’s Compensation Insurance, and dues included medical protection.
This piece is excerpted from Mendocino Historical Review vol. 3, no. 2. The Kelley House Museum is open Thursday-Monday, 11am-3pm. Visit our event calendar for a walking tour schedule.