Herbert Jackson came from a large English family of ten children. Born in 1874 he was the last child of Arthur and Lovinia Jackson. Herbert's obituary states he was from Yorkshire but records reflect the family was in Bristol for many years.
By the 1880s the family had migrated to Canada. But soon the oldest son, William, moved on to Covington, Kentucky, where he was a letter carrier. After he returned to Canada to marry the rest of the Jacksons followed him back to Covington in 1891. Most of the family lived together in a small 780 square foot home on 17th street. Father Arthur and William began selling furniture while three other sons became salesmen of different businesses. Herbert finished his secondary education and then went to attend the nearby University of Cincinnati Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1895.
By the 1880s the family had migrated to Canada. But soon the oldest son, William, moved on to Covington, Kentucky, where he was a letter carrier. After he returned to Canada to marry the rest of the Jacksons followed him back to Covington in 1891. Most of the family lived together in a small 780 square foot home on 17th street. Father Arthur and William began selling furniture while three other sons became salesmen of different businesses. Herbert finished his secondary education and then went to attend the nearby University of Cincinnati Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1895.
Herbert soon became well known as an Attorney and eligible bachelor. A number of his divorce cases made the front page news of local papers. He also became the counsel for the liquor distributors of Covington. The distilleries in Covington were big business.
Herbert soon caught the eye of a lovely young lady named Olive Root Barker. She was the niece of a very successful lawyer, whom she was named for, Oliver Root. Mr. Root let it be known that she was the light of his life and would hate to see her marry and not have her around. In 1900 Herbert and Olive married and soon after had a daughter. Herbert was so loving of his daughter that his affections were even reported in the papers about their outings.
Herbert soon wanted to expand his interests. For several years he had worked for the major distilleries in Covington. Now living in the upscale area of Ludlow, next to Covington, his next door neighbor was Jacob Crigler. His company, Crigler & Crigler, was the major distillery in Covington. So in March 1905 Herbert incorporated as the distillery company called "The H. Jackson Company". Interestingly the Forsythe Whiskey brand on the card was a Crigler & Crigler product. And to advertise his business he decided to include a deck of cards in every order of 5 quarts of his whiskey. Plus, he even packaged the cards in an aluminum card case.
(More about these cards at the end of the story)
The mail order liquor business was thriving at this time. In 1913 it would become limited but 1905 was good year. In 1906 things changed. The usual way of doing the mail order business was for the delivery company (Adams, Wells Fargo or Southern) to collect the money from the customer, take their cut, and then pay the distillery. Now the carriers wanted 30% more for doing the work. As counsel for the mail order companies, and one being his business, he took on the delivery companies. Finally winning a reduction of their demand it took some toll on the mail order companies. Apparently, Hebert's was affected, because by the end of 1906 his corporation is gone.
The delivery increase may have impacted his business but there may have been even more to the story. This involves his young pretty wife Olive. Herbert had been having suspicions of Olive's possible infidelities. By 1908 it was plainly obvious. She had been seen in a number of major cities, when supposed traveling without male companionship, to actual having one. His name was Henry R. Myers. Mr. Myers was an older, married, wealthy Covington mail order liquor business man. Coming home one night Herbert found Myers in his apartment building. He ran Myers out and shortly after a shot was heard. Neither party admitted to firing one. They claimed it was just a coincidence. Herbert confronted her and wanted a divorced. Olive then hired a big name Covington attorney to represent her and the fight was on.
Literally the fight was on. Herbert and his brother-in-law tracked down Myers and found him at at the Grand Hotel in Covington and beat him up. Myers left town for a few days but sued for $50,000. Herbert and Myers were both on the board of the First National Bank of Covington. Even after the divorce Herbert was still upset at Myers and burst into a board meeting and gave him another beating. Myers again disappeared and was said to have left for China to await Olive. Olive's brother was so upset at her he tried to declare her insane and have her committed. The attempt failed.
Herbert and Olive both moved on with their lives. Even though Herbert got custody of his daughter she ended up with her mother and Herbert remarried in 1912.
37 year old Herbert married 22 year old Mary Foster and remained together for over three decades. Herbert's law practice and business connections grew. He was Vice-President of the Covington People's Liberty Bank & Trust, President of the Ludlow First National Bank and Director of the Globe-Wernicke Furniture Company in Norwood, Ohio.
37 year old Herbert married 22 year old Mary Foster and remained together for over three decades. Herbert's law practice and business connections grew. He was Vice-President of the Covington People's Liberty Bank & Trust, President of the Ludlow First National Bank and Director of the Globe-Wernicke Furniture Company in Norwood, Ohio.
The Globe-Wernicke Company
By 1940 Herbert was spending winters in the Miami, Florida, area before living there full time. He eventually moved into the still exclusive La Gorce Island. He passed away there October 9, 1947. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, with his parents and several siblings.
THE CARDS
This deck does not appear in The American Playing Card Encyclopedia. It was brought to my attention by fellow 52+Joker club member Rocco D'Eugenio that has a deck.
There are two known card back colors (Brown & Blue).
This deck does not appear in The American Playing Card Encyclopedia. It was brought to my attention by fellow 52+Joker club member Rocco D'Eugenio that has a deck.
There are two known card back colors (Brown & Blue).
The cards are said to be made by the United States Playing Card Company (USPC). This makes sense because of Herbert's hometown being just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Comparing the court cards we find they really are a match for early USPC court cards.
On the left is an early USPC court card. On the right is one from Rocco D'Eugenio's H. Jackson deck.
But the aluminum case maker is a puzzle. If the case was done in Cincinnati there were over 20 companies working in aluminum at the time. But USPC was not selling their decks with aluminum cases that I know of.
Playing cards in aluminum cases are rare. But, also in 1905 there was another deck that was in an aluminum case. This was a deck made by the Aluminum Manufacturing Company of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. (See the story about Joseph Koenig). Their cases look similar. What do you think?
But the aluminum case maker is a puzzle. If the case was done in Cincinnati there were over 20 companies working in aluminum at the time. But USPC was not selling their decks with aluminum cases that I know of.
Playing cards in aluminum cases are rare. But, also in 1905 there was another deck that was in an aluminum case. This was a deck made by the Aluminum Manufacturing Company of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. (See the story about Joseph Koenig). Their cases look similar. What do you think?
The Jackson case and the Aluminum Manufacturing Co. case