Peter V. Jackson was born on October 8, 1844, at Rochester, New York, the son of Joel and Julia A. (Southworth) Jackson. He grew up in Rochester and graduated from Rochester University in 1866. Soon after his graduation Jackson accepted a position as accountant and bookkeeper for the Midas Mining Company, a business founded by several Rochester businessmen to develop and exploit mineral deposits in the far west. Jackson came to Montana by the Missouri river in the spring of 1867 and assumed his duties at Midasburg, the company's headquarters west of present day Norris in Madison County, Montana. When the company suspended operations in 1869 Jackson was left in charge of the works, and becoming part owner of the property, continued in charge until 1871, when he became assistant superintendent for the Columbia Mining Company at Unionville for one season, retaining his interest in the Midas Company. After that he was engaged in assaying and dealing in gold and silver bullion at Sterling for nearly ten years. In 1877, Jackson began operations in ranching and stock raising, eventually owning several thousand acres of land. He was married in June, 1875, to Henrietta Fletcher, a native of Allegany County, New York. The Jacksons had eight children including: John T. Jackson, Peter V. Jackson Jr., M. W. and Emily M., who attended the Wesleyan University in Helena. Peter Jackson died on July 7, 1923.
The Peter V. Jackson papers consist of business and personal letters received by Jackson from 1868 through 1916. The letters document Jackson's activities in operating his various business interests and range from extensive descriptions to brief notations regarding purchases, payments, or banking matters. Included in the correspondence are letters from Henry Augustus Ward (1834-1906). Ward was a Rochester, New York natural history professor and geologist who became well known as a supplier of specimens to museums and exhibitions around the world. In 1865 became part owner of the Montana mining claims and initially directed Jackson's activities in their management. Afterwards he corresponded with Jackson to facilitate the contracting of hunters to gather skins and skeletons for his museum and taxidermy services. Represented in the hunter's letters are those from the David Folsom, Charles W. Cook, and George W. Rea. There are also business letters from Bozeman business owner Davis Willson. Included in the correspondence are letters addressed to Emily Jackson from Peter V. Jackson, Henrietta Jackson, as well as Peter V. Jackson Jr. during and after her time at Wesleyan University in Helena. The collection also includes banking memoranda and statements.
Series 1 Correspondence, 1868-1916
Series 2 Financial Papers, 1869-1898
Series 3 Printed Material, circa 1870-1890
This collection is open for research.
Original letters, postcards, financial documents, and ephemera created or collected by Peter V. Jackson was purchased by Montana State University on March 18, 2014 from Stuart MacKenzie of Chinook, Montana.
This collection was processed 2014 June 19
Personal, professional, and legal letters mostly addressed to P.V. Jackson from family members and business associates in New York, especially the Rochester area, and various locations in Montana. Especially prominent are letters from Henry Augustus Ward written from New York and elsewhere pertaining to the mining concerns Jackson was managing. Of interest are the letters addressed to Emily Jackson from her father, mother, brother, as well as friends and acquaintances during and after her tenure at Mills Hall, Wesleyan University in Helena discussing her education, family news, her time spent in Seattle, Washington, as well as her time in Norris, Montana. Also included in Emily's correspondence are several letters expressing condolence over her mother's death in 1915.
Ledger sheets, bank statements and other material dealing specifically with Jackson's financial concerns. Although many financially related letters can be found throughout the collection, this series consists entirely of financial documents that do not have substantive cover letters or narratives associated with them.
Newspaper clippings and other printed matter that did not accompany any particular letter in series one. Material includes: alumni constitution for the University of Rochester, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York forms, information on transplanting trees, as well as information on mining and lumber mills.