JEFFERSON JACKSON

 

     Jefferson Jackson, general merchant, and a member of the firm of Owen & Jackson, of Stockton, Mo., was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1818, and is a son of John and Jane (Preston) Jackson, who were also Tennesseeans, born in 1792 and 1795, respectively.  The father was a farmer and carpenter, and served in the War of 1812.  They both died in 1840, her death preceding his nine days.  Jefferson is the fourth of their nine children, and was educated in the early subscription schools, and was reared in a mill and still [sic] house.  After remaining with his parents until twenty-one years of age, he began doing for himself, and, in 1843, was married to Miss Matilda Crawford, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1818.  To them were born seven children: Elizabeth Jane, wife of J. R. Owens; James M., a merchant of Stockton, Mo.; Margaret, the deceased wife of C. W. Paynter, of Stockton; Nancy S., wife of Daniel M. Bailey, of Kansas City; Sarah, wife of Dr. R. A. Brown; Amanda, wife of Lon Pyle, and John R. (deceased).  Mr. Jackson left his native State in the fall of 1843, and moved to the State of Arkansas, but, in November, 1845, came to Cedar County, Mo., and settled, and until the late war was engaged in farming eight miles east of the county seat.  In 1861, he enlisted in the Home Guards, but soon after returned home, and resumed farming.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, Fifteenth Regiment Missouri Cavalry, and, after being in the service twenty months, was discharged at Springfield.  His son James M. was in the same company.  In the fall of 1865 he commenced clerking in Stockton for his son, James M., and J. R. Owen, remaining with them five years.  In 1870 he was elected sheriff and ex-officio collector, and served two years.  In 1880 he and J. M. Thompson purchased an interest in the general store of J. R. Owen, in Stockton, but, in December, 1888, Mr. Thompson sold his interest, since which time Mr. Owen and Mr. Jackson have been in business alone.  Since 1871 he has had an interest in the store belonging to his son and C. W. Paynter, eight miles east of Stockton.  He owns 550 acres of land in Cedar County, and is one of the substantial business men of the community.  When he commenced life for himself he was the owner of two ponies, two cows, and one colored man, but at present is one of the wealthy citizens of the county.  He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Harrison for the presidency in 1840, being then a Whig.  He is a Mason, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for twenty-five years.  His wife died in 1876, and in 1881 he married Harriet E. Pollard, a native of Tennessee, whose maiden name was McMinn.  James M. Jackson, his son, was born in Roane County, Tenn., and received his education in Fayette College, Howard County, Mo., which institution he entered in 1858, remaining eighteen months.  When eighteen years of age he began teaching school in Cedar and Polk Counties, continuing this occupation until the fall of 1863, when he enlisted in Company M, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, U. S. A., and served for twenty months in Southwest Missouri, receiving his discharge at Springfield.  January 1, 1865, he formed a partnership with J. R. Owen, and, until 1872, the firm was Owen & Jackson, but, at that date, Mr. Jackson purchased Mr. Owen’s interest, and, almost immediately, A. J. Bacon and Jefferson Jackson became members of the firm, which is now known as J. M. Jackson & Co. the establishment comprises two rooms and a basement, and is filled with a first-class stock of general merchandise.  Mr. Jackson is a live, energetic business man, and, besides his store, owns 240 acres of valuable land, a one-third interest in Caplinger’s  mills, and a general merchandise store, managed by T. B. Kannady, at the latter place.  He is a Democrat, politically; his first vote being cast for John Bell, in 1860.  He has served as a member of the town council, and has been secretary of the same.  He is a Royal Arch Mason.  On the 15^th of March, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Seraphine Bacon, a daughter of Abel J. and Hannah (Hembree) Bacon.  She was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1849, and she and Mr. Jackson are the parents of four children: Walter L., a salesman in his father’s store; Abel J., a student at Morrisville College; Otis M. and Pearl C.

From the History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889, p. 744-746

 

Cedar County's Oldest and Wealthiest Citizen Succumbs to Pneumonia.

With the dying year there passed away at his home in this city one of Cedar's most highly esteemed citizens--Jefferson Jackson--after 84 busy, eventful years. His death occurred Friday, Dec. 12, 1902, at 10 o'clock p.m., after one week's illness of pneumonia. He had been in an unconscious and semi-conscious condition for several days and on the night of his death he was no worse and the family had retired to get needed rest, leaving him in care of nurses. Shortly before 10 o'clock he turned upon his side. About 10:00 the nurses observed that he was breathing abnormally and awakened the family, but 'ere they reached the bed he was dead. His home-going was so beautifully quiet that the watchers scarcely knew when the soul took its upward flight. (Poem and caricature omitted.) The deceased has spent 57 years in this county as a farmer, merchant, county official and banker in all of which positions his honest, conservative business methods brought success and he enjoyed in the fullest degree the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has lived so long. He was an indefatigable worker and his labors and business judgment were fruitfully blessed, as he started in life with two ponies, two cows and one colored man and was at the time of his death said to be the richest man in the county. He was above all things scrupulously honest. He wanted everything that was rightfully his and he was desirous of seeing others receive that which was theirs. As a husband he was tender, thoughtful and devoted; as a father he was a wise and safe counselor and adviser; he was very firm and steadfast as a friend. He was very regular in his habits. Five o'clock p.m. always found him at home no matter what he was doing; at 9 o'clock he was in bed. He seldom left home after night except on election nights and then he sat up later than many younger men, always evincing a strong interest in national, state and local elections. In politics he was a strong Democrat and cast his first vote for Harrison for president in 1840, being then a Whig. In 1896 and 1900 when many other moneyed Democrats wavered and faltered he remained firm and true to his party, with firm belief in the wisdom and justice of Democratic principles as applied to all public questions. In 1870 he was elected sheriff and ex-officio collector of Cedar county and served two years. He was born in Roane county, Tenn., Aug. 6, 1818. In 1843 he moved to Arkansas and two years later came to Cedar county, Mo. He engaged in farming until the civil war broke out. In 1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards, but soon after returned home and resumed farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. M, 15th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry and after being in the service twenty months was discharged at Springfield. In 1865 he engaged in the mercantile business and continued in that business until recently, being interested in two stores in Stockton and one in Bear Creek. A few months ago he sold his store at this place and his interest in the store at Bear Creek. In June, 1901, he was instrumental in organizing the Commercial Bank at this place and was elected as its president, which place he was filling at the time of his death. He lived long enough after its organization to see the bank become one of the solid financial institutions of the county. He has been married twice and his second wife survives him. No children were born of the second marriage. His living children are J. M. Jackson, of Humansville; Mrs. R. A. Brown, of Stockton and Mrs. L. A. Pyle, of Cedarville. The deceased children are Mrs. J. R. Owen, Mrs. C. W. Paynter and John R. Jackson. He was a member of the M. E. church, south, and a Mason and was buried with Masonic honors by Stockton lodge, No. 283, A. F. & A. M. Interment was at the family burying ground at Lindley Prairie last Sunday.

Cedar County Republican, Stockton, Missouri; December _, 1902

 

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