This business was established in 1880 by John L. Jackson, initially operating under his name. Their early products included steam engines, pumping equipment, and mill machinery, probably including sawmills. A fire in 1885 destroyed the factory but a new and larger replacement was quickly built.

Ad from 1881-1882 Saginaw City Directory

In 1894 Edgar D. Church joined the business, which became known as Jackson & Church. Church was in charge of the office and Jackson ran the machine and boiler shop operations (the boiler shop was a separate operation known as McGregor & Jackson). As the lumber industry declined in their region, Jackson & Church began to make stave, hoop, and barrel-head machinery. Hoisting and dredging machinery were also added to the lineup, and became quite successful. The business incorporated in 1898 as Jackson & Church Co.

In 1899 Church bought out James McGregor of McGregor & Jackson, and the boiler works was merged into Jackson & Church. Their product line continued to expand with the addition of brick machinery, steam shovels and dredges, and car-pulling engines. From our perspective, the most notable addition to the product line was a self-feeding jointer that had been patented by one John Herzog in 1909, a product that was quite successful if we are to judge by the number of surviving examples. The Herzog jointer was also manufactured by the Canadian firm of Jackson, Cochrane & Co.; the company name raises the possibility that John L. Jackson (or a relative) was involved in establishing Jackson Cochrane.

The later history of the company is murky, but they survived until at least 1951.

Information Sources

• From Industries of the Saginaws, by J. W. Leonard, 1887, available online through Google Books:

  John L. Jackson.—Manufacturer of Steam Engines, Salt Well, Saw and Shingle Mill Machinery, and Castings of all kinds; Corner of Water and Jefferson streets, Saginaw City.—Mr. Jackson started in business eight years ago and conducted it successfully until in August, 1885, his premises were destroyed by fire. With characteristic energy he at once rebuilt, and has now a larger business and premises than ever. His works comprise a two story brick machine shop, 100x60 feet in dimensions, with an L 30x100 feet, and a large foundry and yards covering half a block. In his machine shops he has a 50 horse-power engine, seven lathes, one of which is 4£-feet swing, two 42-inch planers, four drills, one of them a 42-inch drill, a shaper, bolt cutter, and all other requisite plant and machinery adapted to the successful prosecution of the business upon a large scale, the whole making up a machine shop equipment which has no superior in the State. In the foundry he has a 10 horse-power engine which run his rattler, blower, etc., and a complete outfit. He manufactures steam engines and machinery for salt wells, saw mills and shingle mills and all kinds of castings, and makes a specialty of a new automatic cut-off engine, his own recent invention, one of which he has put up in Germain's new mill and another in the new Crescent match factory, of which he is Vice-President. In addition to manufacturing he conducts a completely equipped repairing department and gives close and accurate attention to repairing machinery, well tubing and pipe fitting, aud he also builds and refits machinery of all kinds. He gives employment to a force of skilled workmen ranging from twenty-five to fifty in number, according to the season, and enjoys a large trade extending to all points within a radius of one hundred miles of the twin cities. Mr. Jackson is a thoroughly practical man in all the departments of the business and carefully supervises all its details so as to secure the uniform superiority in materials and workmanship which marks all the products of his works. His energy and the propriety of his business conduct have earned for him a steadily growing prosperity which is the result of merit.

• Portrait and Biographical Record of Saginaw and Bay Counties, Michigan, Volume 2, published 1892, available online through Google Books, gives a biography of John L. Jackson that substantially overlaps with the others quoted here.
• Michigan Historical Collections, Volume 7, 1892, available online through Google Books, has an obituary of James McGregor.
• From History of Michigan, Volume IV, by Charles Moore, 1915, available online through Google Books:

  John L. Jackson. Something over thirty years ago a small machine shop was established in Saginaw, and that small industry was the original of what is now one of Saginaw's greatest industrial plants, the Jackson & Church Iron Works. John L. Jackson, who originally started the business in 1880 has developed his individual enterprises in proportion to the growth of this industry, of which he is now the president, and his name is connected in official capacity with several other large concerns. He is president of the Herzog Art Furniture Company, and of five brick manufacturing plants—the Saginaw Brick Company, the Grande Brick Company at Grand Rapids, the South Michigan Brick Company at Kalamazoo, the Jackson-Lansing Brick Company at Rives Junction, and the North Indiana Brick Company at Michigan City.

  John L. Jackson, whose importance in the industrial enterprise of Saginaw is thus briefly indicated, was born in this city, August 19, 1854, and belongs to one of the pioneer families. His parents were Thomas L. and Veronica (Blatz) Jackson. His father, a native of England, for many years followed the sea as a sailor up to 1852. In that year he came to Michigan and settled at Saginaw, and became one of the foremost citizens in influence and activity. He was a farmer, a merchant, served as county treasurer for four years, was superintendent of the county poor for thirty years, and at his death on October 8, 1898, at the age of seventy-four. Saginaw city and county mourned his loss as that of a man whose value to the community had been often tested. His wife was born in Germany, came to America, as a girl with her father, was educated and married in Saginaw, where her death occurred in 1881 at the age of forty-seven. There were only two children and the other son died in boyhood.

  John L. Jackson was reared and educated in Saginaw, attending the public schools, and after leaving school his first experience was along the line which his father had followed, and for one year he sailed the salt seas as a common sailor. Coming to the great lakes he spent two summers as a fireman and engineer, and also studied in a private school during the winter months. Perfecting himself in the trade of machinist to which his abilities and tastes inclined him, he took up his trade as a journeyman during the seventies, and followed this up to 1880 in different localities in the state. Returning to Saginaw in 1880 he went to work in a foundry and machine shop, and soon established a small business of his own. In 1894 Mr. Jackson formed a partnership with Mr. Church, his present partner, and under their combined efforts the establishment grew and flourished until it is now one of large proportions, employing from one hundred to two hundred men, and manufacturing machinery and supplies for a trade of much more than local character. In 1902 the business was organized and incorporated under the laws of Michigan, the three constituent members being Mr. E. D. Church, Mr. A. G. Roeser and Mr. Jackson. In 1900 the firm of Jackson. Church & Company took over the McGregor & Jackson Boiler Shop, Mr. Church buying out the McGregor interest. This business is now consolidated with the Jackson & Church Company. Mr. Jackson also has interests in the Saginaw Table and Cabinet Company, and the Saginaw Specialty Company.

  In politics he is a Democrat, and was alderman two years and trustee of the Auditorium for five years. At St. Louis, Michigan, on January 1, 1881, John L. Jackson married Miss Sadie Smith, who died January 26, 1913. Her parents were Martin S. and Mary C. Smith, of a well known family. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson became the parents of three children: Mrs. Edyth M. Ressegye of Saginaw, and the mother of one daughter, Mary; Thomas M. Jackson, of Saginaw; and Mrs. Inez V. Connery of Saginaw.

• From History of Saginaw County, by James Cooke Mills, 1918, available online through Google Books:

  Jackson & Church

  Among the older and substantial industries of the West Side is the Jackson & Church Company, which was founded in 1880 by John L. Jackson. The lumber and salt business of the Saginaw Valley was then approaching the height of production, and the steady demand for saw mill and drill house and salt-well machinery led him to start a machine shop and foundry business. At first the shop was located in a two-story brick building at Water and Jefferson Streets, now known as Niagara and Cleveland Streets; and turned out steam engines for driving circular and gang saws and other mill machinery, pumping equipment and general repair work. From the beginning the business was successful and has been developed into one of the largest machinery industries in Saginaw.

  By 1894 the business had increased to such an extent that a division of responsibility seemed desirable, and Edgar D. Church was admitted to partnership, the name of Jackson & Church then being adopted. Mr. Church assumed charge of the financial and office affairs of the new firm, an arrangement which left Mr. Jackson free to devote all his attention to the management and superintendence of the machine and boiler shop operations. Meanwhile the lumber business at Saginaw had declined, due to the exhaustion of the pine timber in this section, and the old business of mill machinery fell off. To replace the old lines the firm began the manufacture of stave, hoop and heading machinery, which for a time was in demand in Michigan. Later the manufacture of dock and deck hoisting and dredging machinery was undertaken and proved so successful that at the present time this line is a large part of the production of the company.

  The business thus established on a solid and enduring foundation was incorporated in 1898 as the Jackson & Church Company, with John L. Jackson, president, A. G. Roeser. vice-president, and Edgar D. Church, secretary and treasurer. In 1899 E. D. Church purchased of James McGregor, his interest in the boiler works of McGregor & Jackson, and the manufacture of boilers, heaters, tanks, burners, plate and structural iron added to their line. Since that time the business has experienced a remarkable expansion. The company has developed the "Saginaw" system of sand-lime brick machinery, which is manufactured for brick companies established from one end of the country to the other, setting up and making the machinery ready for successful operation. It also builds steam shovels and dredges, dredging, hoisting and car-pulling engines, automatic safety jointer feeders, and boilers, heaters, tanks, burners, plate and structural work.

  About 1908, when the utilization of the great waste of beet pulp in beet-sugar factories of this country was still a problem of economic management of this great industry, the Jackson & Church Company began the manufacture of beet-pulp drying machinery of improved type. The company has since done a considerable business in this line, the machinery and equipment furnished for this purpose being recognized as standard; and the installation of such plants as adjuncts to sugar factories proving a source of direct revenue to the companies from the extensive sale of the dried pulp for stock feeding.

  The machinery and boiler plant, meanwhile, has grown and expanded with the addition of various machinery products, and is now one of the important industrial establishments of the city. From a small shop on Water Street, employing a few mechanics in building engines and mill machinery, the plant has spread out to cover practically a square between Hamilton, Cleveland. Niagara and Madison Streets and nearly another city block lying adjacent thereto. Steady employment is now given to one hundred and seventy-five machinists, moulders and boiler makers, and the pay rolls are constantly growing.

  The modern and well equipped machine shop fronting on Niagara Street, during working hours, is a scene of well directed activity, and the boiler works in the new steel and concrete building along Cleveland Street, from Niagara to Hamilton Street, is likewise a busy place. North and west of these buildings are the foundry, power house, and material and stock rooms, all arranged for the most economical handling of supplies and finished product. The plant is served by the Michigan Central Railroad whose tracks enter the property, and by the Saginaw & Flint Railway (electric line) from its Hamilton Street tracks.

• Used dowel machine listed in ad in a 1920 issue of The Wood-Worker.
• 1920 William H. Field catalog shows the Herzog Safety Automatic Jointer Feeder from this company.
• A 1938 Saginaw city directory lists Jackson & Church Co.
• The 1949-01-22 issue of Billboard magazine (available online through Google Books) has an article on shoeshine machines, which mentions, "Jackson & Church Co., Saginaw, Mich., will introduce a shoe shiner during the CMI show this week." The 1951-06-03 issue had a small ad for shoeshine machine supplies from "Jackson & Church Co., Saginaw, Michigan".