My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM T. S. JAMISON. When the sad news of the death of William T. S. Jamison was received, April 14, 1894, every citizen of the town felt a sense of personal loss. The entire Cumberland Valley lost a familiar figure in the commercial world, and those who knew him best were bereft of a firm friend and wise counselor. He was a courteous, considerate gentleman, generous and charitable to all. In his business he was aggressive and enterprising, yet strictly honest in his methods. His word was as good as his bond, and his honor was untarnished. Mr. Jamison was born in Indianapolis, Ind., July 3, 1843, son of John and Mary Jane (Snodgrass) Jamison.

John Jamison was one of the twelve men who located on and cleared the land where now stands Indianapolis, Ind., and he felled the first tree. He owned seven and one-half acres, where the Blind Asylum is now located. In 1841 he married Mary Jane Snodgrass, who was born in Chambersburg Dec. 6, 1815, daughter of William T. and Jane (Morrow) Snodgrass. He died in 1843, before the birth of their only child, William T. S., and the widowed young mother returned to her father’s home in Shippensburg.

William T. S. Jamison was only a few months old when his mother brought him to Shippensburg, which was his home for the rest of his life. His school days past, he at once began to learn the rudiments of mercantile business as a clerk for J. & J. B. Reddig. From his mother he inherited a natural talent for business, and in a very short time had mastered the general methods of business transactions. During the Civil war he was a clerk in the office of the provost marshal at Harrisburg, and for a short time clerked in a dry-goods store in the same city. His time had so far been spent in preparation for the career he had determined upon. His earnings had been saved, and in 1867 he opened up a dry-goods store for himself, in the old Rankin property in Shippensburg, now occupied by Coffey Bros. This was succeeded by a room fitted up in his own home, a few doors east. Business came to him rapidly, and soon he found himself cramped for room. In 1884 he purchased the Criswell property, on the southeast corner of Main and Railroad streets, and erected the present handsome and commodious building, whither his stock was removed the same year. Jamison’s Bazaar became a household word to people in the Cumberland Valley. Mr. Jamison was essentially a merchant. He left nothing honorable undone to increase and extend his business, and he was a liberal advertiser, always, however, advertising his wares as they really were. He never permitted his clerks to misrepresent anything. Courtesy to patrons and honest representation were two of his fixed rules. His place in the estimation of business rivals and associates was shown in the closing of all places of business in the city during his funeral. When the time came to pay the last tribute of respect to William T. S. Jamison a large concourse of friends assembled. Rev. W. A. McCarrell, of the Presbyterian Church, assisted by other ministers of the borough, spoke words of comfort to the sorrowing widow and the many friends, and amid a wealth of flowers the mortal remains of the beloved husband, successful merchant, upright citizen and noble Christian gentleman were laid to rest in Spring Hill cemetery.

On Jan. 23, 1883, by Rev. J. M. Carvell, Mr. Jamison was married to Emily J. Daley, of Shippensburg, who survives him. Rev. R. L. Jamison of the Methodist Church of Kidder, Mo., a half brother, survived him for one year. In his religious belief Mr. Jamison was a consistent Presbyterian. Fraternally he was a Mason and an Odd Fellow.