This post, so far, relates only to William Jackson – more information will be forthcoming, although if you have some, please comment and let us know and save us some searching…
From the Todmorden and Hebden Bridge Historical Almanack 1913:
“The Late Ald. Wm. Jackson, J.P. – A Useful Public Representative.
One of the most untiring and devoted public representatives which this town of Todmorden ever had was Alderman William Jackson, J.P. of Byrom Street, whose death occurred on July 27th, 1912, at the age of 65 years. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. Jeremiah Jackson of Jeremiah Jackson & Sons, Der Street. In his early youth he was sent to one of the local dame schools, after which his education was continued and completed at the Todmorden National School, Burnley Road, in the days when the resident headmaster was Mr. Joseph Gledhill. On leaving school he was sent to work as an ordinary employee of the firm whose fortunes he was afterwards called upon to direct.
The late Mr. Jackson was a lifelong abstainer, an earnest Sunday School worker, an ardent Co-operator, and a devoted Public Representative, with a record of which any individual might be justly proud.
Before he was out of his teens he was enrolled on the staff of teachers at Bridge Street United Methodist Sunday School, and served in this capacity for the lengthy period of 45 years; he was also one of the leading Church Officials at Bridge Street, acting as Steward for close upon 20 years.
His active participation in the Co-operative movement began about 1888, and three years later he was elected a Director of the Todmorden Co-operative Society, a position which he occupied with only a brief break up to 1909. He was President of the Society from 1892 to 1899, and again from 1902 to 1909.
Alderman Jackson crowded a good many public interests into his 44 years of manhood’s estate. He was elected a member of the old Todmorden Local Board in 1886, and afterwards sat as an Urban District Councillor. He was one of the prime movers in the agitation for the charter of incorporation, and when Todmorden was created a Borough in 1896 he was honoured with a seat on the Aldermanic Bench. in 1902 he was unanimously elected Mayor of the Borough, a position which he filled with much satisfaction and dignity for three years. As Chairman of the Gas Committee, and an energetic member of the Waterworks Committee, he had much to do with the negotiations preceding the purchase of the gas undertaking and the successful piloting of the scheme for the construction of Gorpley waterworks; and as a prominent member of the Education Committee he always took a deep and practical interest in matters educational. In politics, Alderman Jackson was an ardent Liberal.
The outstanding feature of Alderman Jackson’s career – the characteristic which most entitled him to the admiration and respect of his fellows – was his intense civic spirit: during many long years he gave unstintingly of his time, energy, and ability, to the service of the community in which he lived, and he reaped his reward in the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, who conferred upon him almost every honour it was in their power to confer, and notably the highest honour of all – the Mayorality.”
