Top Plate from 1893 18-size Seth Thomas Model 3 Private Label J.E. Jarck Danville, VA.

This top plate is from an 1893 18-size Seth Thomas Model 3 private label “J.E. Jarck” pocket watch manufactured with nickel finish, 15 jewels, a micrometric regulator, and grade 170. It was included with my recent purchase of other Seth Thomas pocket watches.

Turner’s Seventh Annual Directory for the Cities of Danville and North Danville for the years of 1892-1893 report that J.E. Jarck was jeweler at 328 Main Street in Danville, and had a residence at 647 Main Street. I also found records of a J.E. Jarck in 1890 and John E. Jarck in 1888 in the Pittston Pennsylvania City Directory who was a jeweler.  It’s possible that Mr. Jarck started out living in Pittston Pennsylvania; then moved south over 800 miles to Danville Virginia for a few years, selling his business to a new jeweler.

An advertisement in the Roanoke Baptist Union, Volume 7, Number 6, 1 June 1894, Page 4 for E.P. Sangston, D.R. explains that E.P. Sangston is the “Successor to J.E. Jarck”.

The 1900 U.S. Census recorded information from a John E. O. Jarck living in Northampton Pennsylvania who was a jeweler. This could very well all be the same J.E. Jarck who contracted Seth Thomas to produce the private label pocket watch.

A map showing the positions of Pittston Pennsylvania, Danville Virginia, and Northampton Pennsylvania illustrates the possible journey of J.E. Jarck in the United States after emigrating from Germany in 1884.  After Danville Virginia it looks like Mr. Jarck moved back north to Pennsylvania; but settled in Northampton instead of returning to Pittston.