In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910)
JOHN F. JACKSON.
The subject of this sketch has seen experience in several lines of work, serving an apprenticeship in the book selling business, than which perhaps nothing else so well fits a man for entering into any other profession, for perhaps in that business there is better opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of human nature than in any other. Then his later experience in the loan office work was of such a character as to teach him many valuable lessons and, with such a beginning, he is well fitted by training for the business in which he is now engaged, and has proved his fitness by his success.
John F. Jackson was born April 19, 1863, on a farm one mile from Higginsville, son of Benjamin F. and Margaret A. (Robertson) Jackson. Benjamin F. Jackson was born in Allen county, Kentucky, April 19, 1835, and went with his parents to Boone county, Missouri, in 1837. In 1859 he moved from Boone county to a place near Elmwood, Saline county, Missouri. September 2, 1860, he was married to Margaret A. Robertson, who was born near Lexington, Kentucky, June 6, 1841, and to their union ten children were born: Thomas W., John F., James Edward, Joseph M., Annie L., King S., Annie M., Oliver P., Arthur D. and Obie C.
Mr. Jackson enlisted in the Union army at Lexington, Missouri, in February, 1863, and served gallantly until he was mustered out, July 11, 1865. He united with the Christian church in 1886, and was thereafter a faithful member.
John F. Jackson was reared on the farm and worked on it until 1884, when he represented Browning, King & Company in book work for two years, then sold books on his own account for some time. In 1890 he was special agent of the Southern Building and Loan Association at Knoxville for one year, and for some time was special agent of the Missouri Building and Loan Company in northern Missouri. In 1896 he started in the tailoring business, representing a Chicago house, and has lately, in 1909, bought out an insurance business, and carries that on in connection with the tailoring. He carries good lines of fire, life, tornado and accident insurance.
Mr. Jackson is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church, and in his fraternal relations is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen, of which latter order he is venerable consul. He has never married. Mr. Jackson is genial and affable in disposition and has made many friends. His business operations have been uniformly successful.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.