Charles B. Jackson

As printed in 1912

CHARLES B. JACKSON.

In nearly every community are individuals who by innate ability and sheer force of character rise above discouraging environments to honored places in public esteem. Such a case is that of Charles B. Jackson, well known farmer and stock raiser of Milford township, a man who has been identified with the history of Knox county all his life, during which he has striven to do his part in the material affairs of the locality, while his career as a progressive man of affairs has been synonymous with all that is upright and honorable in citizenship. He is a schon of one of the sterling pioneer families of this section of the Buckeye state, and many of their praiseworthy attributes seem to have outcropped in him.

Mr. Jackson was born in Milford township, this county, near where he still resides, on November 14, 1853 He is the son of George and Sarah (Riley) Jackson. The paternal grandparents, Abram and Sarah Jackson, natives of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, came to Knox county, Ohio, in 1820 and located in Milford township, when the country was being redeemed from the primeval wilderness and neighbors were few; here they bought a farm, established a good home and reared their family of three children, of whom George, father of the subject, was the youngest. He was a blacksmith by trade and a great trapper. He followed his trade until quite old. He and his wife both died here.

The maternal grandparents, William and Lucy (Arnold) Riley, were natives of Virgiia, she descended from a very early Kentucky family. He was a shoemaker by trade.

George Jackson, father of the subject, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and his wife, Sarah Riley, was born in Maryland on October 22, 1820. They each came here when young with their parents and grew to maturity, she marrying first a Mr. Cramer, who died young, then married George Jackson. The latter devoted his life to farming and became the owner of about two hundred acres of excellent land. He was an influential man in his community. At one time he served as county commissioner, being on the building committee during the period that the court house was constructed. Politically, he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church.

To Mr. and Mrs. George Jackson were born six sons and two daughters, five of whom are living. By her first marriage one son was born.

George Jackson was captain of a company of militia in Milford township about 1838 or 1840. He was a hard working farmer and led a quiet life. His death occurred in September, 1890, his wife having preceded him to the narrow house in October, 1886.

Charles B. Jackson received his education in the old brick school house, in his home district schools, and he was reared on the farm, where he worked hard when a boy. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood, working on the home place. In May, 1876, he purchased one hundred and one acres in Milford township, on which he erected a splendid set of buildings and made up-to-date improvements in every way and here he still resides, having been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, devoting especial attention to raising sheep.

Politically, Mr. Jackson is a loyal Democrat and has long been a potential factor in local affairs. He has served his township as clerk and assessor, and has been treasurer for the past two years, also township constable. As a public servant he performs his duties most ably and conscientiously, to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Since 1908 Mr. Jackson has been president of the Knox County Agricultural Association, and he has done much to make the same a success. He keeps well informed on agricultural topics and advocates up-to-date methods in general farming. He has always been active in bettering the condition of the farmers. He and his wife belong to the Grange, and he has held all the offices in the same. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, having passed all the chairs in the local lodge, and represented it at Cleveland and Cincinnati at state conventions.

Charles B. Jackson was married on March 23, 1876, to Melvina Ross, a native of Milford township and the daughter of Timothy and Esther Ann Ross, each representing pioneer families of this locality, in which they were both born. Grandfather Ross was from Pennsylvania.

One son, Carroll, has been born to Charles B. Jackson and wife. He received a good education and is now a druggist at Gambier. He married Catherine Graham, daughter of N). Graham, and they have one son, Charles Graham Jackson, now four years old. Carroll Jackson served in Company L, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish-American war, being first corporal. He saw active service in Porto Rico. He was educated in the Mt. Vernon high school and in Ohio Northern University at Ada, from which he was graduated in pharmacy, also took a post-graduate course in the Ohio Pharmaceutical Institute.

As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.