William H. Jackson

As printed in 1905

WILLIAM HARVEY JACKSON.

'ii.i.i. \i H.VKViiv J.\CK.S( for many years interested in general farming in Franklin township, was born in Luzerne county. Pennsvlvania. Xov. j8,

1829, his parents being William and Jerusha (Inman) Jackson, who were also natives of Luzerne county. The father was born in 1793. In the year 1842 the family came to the Middle West, taking up their above in Jackson township. The journey was made by team from their old home in Pennsylvania to Pittsburg, thence down the Ohio and up the Mississippi Rivers, reaching Uurlington in the spring of that year. The father had previously purchased land in the vicinity of.'>l)erry. becoming owner of one hundred and si.xty acres of prairie land and an equal amount of timber land. He resolutely set to work to develop a new farm in the midst of a pioneer district, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring the following year. He was survived for some time by his wife, and their eldest son took charge of the old homestead.

William H. Jackson, whose name introduces this review, was a youth of twelve years when the family came to the West, and has since lived in this county. His education was acquired in the public schools, and he received ample training at farm labor upon the old home place, where he remained up to the time of his marriage, which was celebrated on Feb. ( 1831. The lady of his choice was Miss Adeline Wasso, who was born in Tennessee; a daughter of Jonathan Wasso, also a native of that State, who came to this county some years after the arrival of the Jackson family.

Subsequent to his marriage 'william 1 L Jackson resided for two years upon his father-in-law's farm, and then purchased eighty acres of land on Section 3, I'r.inklin township, for which he paid ten dollars an acre. With renewed energy and determination he began the further development and improvement of this property, and has added to his place until he now owns one hundred acres in Franklin township and went'-fivc acres in Benton township. It was wild prairie when it came into his possession, and he at first erected a rough cabin, but in course of time added substantial and modern buildings to his farm, erecting his ])present residence in 1868. In all of his work he has been enterprising and progressive, and his life industry is indicated in the excellent appearance of the home place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born nine children: Edward Andrew, now connected with the Iowa Soap Company, of Burlington: Catherine, at home; Lewis, a farmer, residing near Muscatine, Iowa; Henry, a farmer in Louisa county. Iowa; James, a resident farmer of Franklin township; Edith, the wife of Frank Doran,_ of Huron township, this county; Emma, the wife of Edgar Jackson, of Benton township; Jessie, who died Julv 19, 1877, at the age of seven years; and John, who is operating the home farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits. The wife and mother died June 29, 1879, her death being (lee])ly deplored by many friends.

Mr. Jackson was one of the charter members of the Grange, and has always been interested in everything pertaining to the agricultural development of the community. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, and he is a member of the Baptist church. For more than six decades he has lived in this county, and is therefore numbered among the pioneer settlers. He was one of those who early followed the Indian occupancy of this district, and he lived here when deer and other wild game could be had on the prairies by the hunter. His interest in community affairs has always been that of a public-spirited citizen, and he is to-day regarded as one of the prominent and respected agriculturists of his township.

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.