Post by Doris McCraw
aka Angela Raines
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| (C) Doris McCraw |
Together William and Helen with their respective talents were the first equally successful couple in the region. William a successful businessman and Helen a nationally known author, each in their own way had an impact on not only Colorado Springs but Colorado and beyond. As a 'power couple,' they were also the subject of conjecture and gossip.
Helen H and William S. Jackson were in fact the first couple in the area whose careers expanded beyond the town in which they lived. William was the majority owner of the El Paso County Bank and treasurer of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, He also had financial ties to banks in Denver, and later was appointed the receiver of the Denver & Rio Grande when it it went into bankruptcy. Helen was an established poet, essayist, and novelist before arriving in Colorado Springs. She continued her career, publishing in magazines that were read here and in Europe.
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| Wm. S. Jackson from Find a Grave |
When Jackson took over a failing bank and started his in 1873, the world was just beginning to feel the results of a larger worldwide depression. In the United States banks were failing. One bank, the Henry Clewes & Company bank in New York, had a domino effect on the Wm. B Young & Company, which William purchased after it failed. The 1873 depression has been called the long depression. Its primary dates of influence were 1873-1879. The great depression of 1929 only lasted until 1931. His business acumen, which did not necessarily make him popular, kept the bank and this region afloat at a time when other areas were failing. In a larger perspective, Colorado Springs was only two years old and this helped add stability to the area.
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| Helen (Hunt) Jackson from Wikipedia |
Helen (Hunt), as stated earlier, was already an established author when she arrived. Her writings about the Colorado Springs area and a large portion of the state were responsible for the view many Easterners and those from Europe had of this region. Those views, in turn, helped spur the area's growth. When Helen took up the cause of the American Indian, she was responsible for helping to shine a light on the issue and bring a conscience to the general public. Like William, her views did not make her popular with some of the population. Still, that did not deter her from her stance on the subject. Of note is the discussion she had with William Byers, founder and former editor of the Rocky Mountain News, in the New York Independent on the subject of 'The Sand Creek Massacre'. Although William didn't believe as Helen about the Indians, letters between the two indicate that he eventually accepted her point of view.
The Jackson's relationship was more equal than most of the time. Both followed their various careers, each traveling alone or together as the situation demanded. William and Helen together created a dynamic relationship that had a larger influence than most may realize. An example of their local influence, Helen was on the library board and William was one of the early board members for Colorado College. Neither sought notoriety for themselves, only their work. Both were fairly private people, which may be part of the reason their contributions are largely forgotten by the general public. Both were focused on their respective careers and as a result, their work was instrumental in helping this city, region, and a lot of Colorado. This helped make the state what it has become today. Had William not been able to restructure the Denver & Rio Grande we would not have railroading as we know it for Palmer might have lost it all. His banking acumen both in Colorado Springs and the state had an impact on the financial health of our region. Helen, in highlighting all that this state had to offer has left a legacy for future generations to remember how it was. She also was vocal about Colorado Springs and protecting the natural beauty of the area, which tourists can still enjoy today, Seven Falls and Cheyenne Canon to name two.
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