James Jackson

As printed in 1905

JAMES JACKSON.

James Jackson, of Franklin township, is a representative of one of the old colonial families. His great grandfather, and his grandfather, William Jackson, were in the Wyoming massacre, when the Indians fell upon the little, unprotected town in Pennsylvania and ruthlessly murdered nearly all of the men, women, and children there. WilIiam Jackson and his father, however, were among the few who made their escape to the fort.

William Jackson, Jr., father of our subject, was a native of the Keystone State, born in Luzerne county, where he wedded Jerusha Inman, who was also a native of that county, and a daughter of Edwm Inman. With several neighbors, William Jackson, Jr., emigrated westward, making his way to Des Moines county. This was in the year 1840, and he purchased four hundred acres of land in Franklin township.

In 1842, having completed his arrangements for a home in the 'est, he brought his family to Iowa, making the journey to Pittsburg by wagon, and thence by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi River, to Burlington. His farm was only twelve miles from that city. He had purchased a claim from a man by the name of Buckhart. who emigrated to Oregon. About one-half of the land was raw prairie. Mr. Jackson fenced the place and made improvements thereon, continuing its cultivation and developments until his death, in 1846. At that time his eldest son, Edward, took charge of the farm, and the mother continued to reside upon the home place until her death, which occurred in 1862.

James Jackson, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1831, was a youth of about eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa. Here he was reared upon the old homestead farm; and the daily life of the pioneer settler, with its hardships and privations, its pleasures and joys, became familiar to him. After his father's death he continued upon the old homestead with his mother until his marriage.

March 9, 1854, he wedded Miss Mary A. McMichael, who was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Archibald McMichael, who was a native of the Keystone State. Her mother bore the maiden name of Mary McLaughlin, and was born in Philadelphia, Pa. They came to Des Moines county in 1840, making the journey by canal to Pittsburg, and thence crossing the Allegheny Jklountains on the old gravity railway.

Mrs. Jackson spent her girlhood days with her parents, and was trained to the duties of the household: so she was well prepared to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. Her father was one of the government surveyors, and was prominent and influential in public life. He served in the State Legislature for one term, when Iowa City was the capitol. Mrs. Jackson's maternal grandmother was twice married, her first husband, A. Frazier, being one of the body guard to King George the Third, of England.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born the following named: 'william W., of Mediapolis: Minnie, the widow of John Barnes, also of Alediapolis; Edward, of the same place; Rose, the wife of J.

Collier, a resilient farmer of Henry county, Iowa; Lucy, the wife of J. A. Cowger, of Mediapolis; Lewis, who died in 1895, at the age of twenty-eight years; Susan, who (lied in iSSs. at the age of eight 3'ears; and Abbie E., who is at home with her parents.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.