Jackson Family History

As I get more memorabilia from my mom, and most recently from a kind, long lost relation in Maine, I’m starting to learn more about my history and family. We all have similar stories. We all have history. It provides us an insight to who we are today. Web technology allows me to share mine with those who may have an interest.

Rich Jackson

My paternal grandfather Frank Jackson died when I was five and my grandmother Gertrude remarried Ollie (O.D.) Hamlin when I was 7. He is the only grandfather I really remember and I always called him the “Judge”, because he was just that. My grandmother’s maiden name was Cole and her grandfather Rector E. Cole was the 4^th dentist to practice in Oakland. He was very active with the Board of Education and became its first president. He has a street in East Oakland and school in West Oakland named after him. My middle name is “Cole”, the “C” of RCJ.

A Jackson Furniture recap:

Jackson Furniture was located in downtown Oakland for 76 years. In 1960 Jackson’s was the largest furniture merchant west of the Rockies. It was established in 1889 by Henry Kennedy Jackson who settled here from Jefferson, Maine. The Federal Building now sits on the footprint of Jackson’s. In 1964 Jackson’s had store locations In Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Hayward, Oakland (2), San Francisco (design showroom), and 2 locations within Takashimaya in Japan. We also had stores in Sacramento, Richmond and Vallejo for many years. In 1965 Jackson’s got into a financial crunch and the bank pulled the plug. My dad held on to Pacifica Designs (the S.F. showroom and Japan locations). Many employees owned Jackson’s stock and my dad bought it all back at face value.

From the Oakland Heritage Alliance

Jackson’s gift to Berkeley fire victims

My dad and his dad at the Claremont CC

My Great Grandfather's Obituary #1

My Great Grandfather's Obituary #2

My Grandfather’s Obituary

My Grandfather’s Picture w/ my Grandmother

The Judge with my Grandmother

My dad with a good friend of the “Judge”

The House in which I grew up

A historical perspective of Oakland published in the Sunday Oakland Tribune June 18, 1916 (28 meg file)

“Pacifica”, a Chinese Junk my dad had made in Hong Kong in 1960 and moored at Jack London Square