My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH B. JACKSON, a farmer and dairyman of Woodson County, exemplifies in his life the typical western spirit of progress and enterprise which has led to the rapid advancement of this section of the country, an advancement so great that it has awakened the astonishment and admiration of the world. Mr. Jackson has spent the greater part of his life in the Mississippi valley. He was born in McHenry County, Illinois, on the 4th of November, 1844. His father, George Jackson, was a native of England, and when eighteen years of age he crossed the Atlantic to the New World, locating first in Delaware. He married Miss Maria Hill, a native of Connecticut, and on leaving the east made his way to Fort Dearborn, which stood upon the site of the present city of Chicago. There was nothing but a trading post at the time on the land now covered by the metropolis and Mr. Jackson became the owner of a number of lots in the small town, fining possession of them through a trade. Upon the property now stand valuable buildings, ten or more stories in height, and the land is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Jackson, however, made his way into the interior of the state, locating in McHenry County, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1893, at the age of ninety years. His widow still survives and is now living in McHenry County, at the age of eighty-five years. This worthy couple became the parents of seven children and three of the sons volunteered for service in the war of the Rebellion. George lost his life in the battle of Chickamauga. Wilber and Joseph B. were members of the Elgin Battery of Light Artillery.

Joseph B. Jackson was reared on the old homestead farm in McHenry County and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. When the question of slavery brought on sectional differences between the north and the south and the country became involved in Civil war he joined the Elgin Battery and served for eighteen months, participating in the engagements at Newburn, Five Forks and Strawberry Plains. He also spent some time in front of Knoxville, and when the war ended received an honorable discharge, in August, 1865, being not then twenty-one years of age.

After his return from the army Mr. Jackson spent three winters in the pineries of Wisconsin and during the summer months engaged in farming upon rented land. In 1868 he was married, and in 1870 came with his family to Kansas, renting a tract of land on the eastern line of Woodson County. He there resided for three years, after which he purchased eighty acres of prairie land on which he has since made his home, having in the meantime extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises two hundred and forty acres. The place is divided into fields of convenient size that are highly cultivated, the rich alluvial soil yielding excellent crops. A substantial residence, two good barns and many of the modern improvements go to make his farm one of the best in the county. Mr. Jackson is engaged in the dairy business, keeping on hand about thirty head of cows for this purpose. He is also a stockholder in the creamery at Neosho Falls, where he disposes of his dairy products. He got his start in business with a capital of three hundred dollars which he saved during his service in the army. He has, however, met with some reverses. Since coming to Kansas a fire destroyed his home, together with all its contents, including clothing and provisions, but with resolute spirit he set to work to retrieve his lost possessions, and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.

Mr. Jackson has been twice married. In 1868 he wedded Alfaretta Brown, who died in 1879, leaving him with four children, namely: Frank B., now of Erie, Kansas; Julia M., wife of David Henry, who is living on farm in Woodson County; Ora A., wife of Frank Wilson, of Neosho Falls, and Harry Elmer, who is operating his father’s farm and also materially assists in the care of the stock. In 1880 Mr. Jackson was again married, his second union being with Miss Susan Boley, a native of Illinois, who came to Kansas in 1879. The children of this union are: Walter, Edward and May Edna. In his political affiliations he is a Republican and socially he is connected with the Grand Army Post at Neosho Falls, the brave and loyal spirit which he manifested on southern battlefields has always been one of his marked characteristics, and has gained for him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated.