- Edward Jump
Edward Jump (1832-1883), was an artist and
cartoonist of the 19th century, born inParis ,France . His early life is not well documented, but he emigrated toCalifornia in 1852, attracted to theUnited States by theCalifornia Gold Rush .cite web|url=http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/explore.php?Lang=1&tableid=1&tablename=artist&elementid=00578__true
title=Jump, Edward (concise biography)|accessdaymonth=29 July |accessyear=2007]While living in California, Jump, who was both a talented painter and cartoonist, made a living drawing commercial signs, painting portraits, and producing humorous cartoons of political figures for various publications.He worked in many places around the state, but mostly in San Francisco; there he created labels for
whiskey bottles, and caricatures of contemporary figures.cite web|url=http://www.edanhughes.com/biography.cfm?ArtistID=356|title=Edward Jump - artist biography|accessdaymonth=29 July |accessyear=2007] Jump remained active in San Francisco until October 1865, when anearthquake occurred. After moving toWashington, DC , in 1868, Jump became somewhat renowned for his artistic merits as a portrait painter. It was there that he met and married a French performer from a touring opera company.By the 1870s, Jump and his wife had moved toNew York City , where he worked as a comic illustrator. Later in the decade, Jump attempted to start aillustrated newspaper inMontreal . Following the failure of this venture, Jump moved frequently, first toNew Orleans , then toCincinnati andSt Louis . Finally, in 1880, Jump and his wife settled inChicago , where he was just able to make a living by producing circus and theatrical posters.On21 April 1883 , three years after the move to Chicago, Jump committedsuicide by shooting himself with ashotgun , driven to depression by the state of his marriage, financial issues, and alcoholism.An article reporting Jump's death appeared in the "Chicago Daily Tribune", on the day of his death. "Chicago Daily Tribune", Saturday,
April 21 ,1883 - p.6 ( [http://www.twainquotes.com/edjump.html web link] )] The article described how Jump wrote two final letters, one addressed to his wife, and another to a lodge inSt. Louis , where he was a member.The letter to Jump's wife read as follows:bquote|...My dear wife: I have to go --keep calling here for letters; there will be a good one for you from England. I am too excited to write. God bless you. Your husband,
E. Jump.The other read:
bquote|20 April, 1883. -- Gentlemen: I belong to the Lodge of Knights of Honor, No. 100 Oak Lodge, St. Louis, Mo. If I am disfigured don't let my poor wife see me. She is nervous, and it might kill her. I want to be buried by brothers.
Edward Jump.Jump's funeral occurred two days after his death, and he was buried at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago. [Chicago Daily Tribune, Tuesday, April 24, 1883 ( [http://www.twainquotes.com/edjump.html web link] )] He was survived by his wife and daughter.
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