Jackson Hull

HULL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 12:04:10

Jackson Hull, who follows agricultural pursuits on Sec 34, Worth township, has been a resident of Boone county for a longer period than almost any of the citizens, the date of his arrival here being the fall of 1848. He is a native of Schuyler county, Missouri, born April 25, 1841. His father George Hull, was born in Virginia, in 1779, and was a soldier in the war of 1812,, at the close of which he moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he remained for several years, moving finally to Fulton county, Illinois, and thence to Schuyler county, Missouri. During the Black Hawk and other Indian wars, he commanded a company of the regiment commanded by Colonel Farris. After the death of his first wife he married Lucy Farris, the sister of his old colonel, and the mother of Jackson Hull, the subject of this sketch. In 1848 they moved to Boone county, Iowa where he died in 1855, his wife having died in 1852.
After the death of his father, Jackson Hull resided with his older brother, Jesse Hull, until he was sixteen years of age, when he began earning his own living by working as a farm hand by the month. He then went to Colorado, in the spring of 1860, making his way to Denver and Pikes Peak where he engaged in prospecting for a time. Subsequently he was employed in a quartz mill in Colorado, spending about eighteen months in that state, after which he returned to his home in Iowa. At the time of the civil war his loyalty to the Union was manifested by his enlistment, in Decembe r1861, at which time he joined the boys in blue of company D, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry. The regiment went south, was attached tot eh Army of the Tennessee and participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, Black river Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg and the capture of that Confederate stronghold. Mr Hull then veteranized and was granted a furlough of thirty days, at eh end of which time he rejoined the army at Clifton, Kentucky, and participated in the Atlanta campaign, including many noted battles. He was taken prisoner at Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and was then sent to Andersonville, where he was incarcerated for two months when he was exchanged and rejoined the army. He went with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea and participated in all of the engagements of that campaign, then marched through to Richmond and on to Washington, where he participated in the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere the “grand review” a most fitting close of the brilliant victory of the northern army. He was ten sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained until mustered out. Returning to Iowa he was honorably discharged at Davenport in July 1865. He was only twenty years of age when he enlisted but his loyalty and valor were equal to that of many an older soldier and his military record is a most creditable one.
During the summer season following this return to Boone county, Mr Hull rented land and engaged in farming. As soon as possible he purchased a tract comprising 40 acres in Douglas township. Clearing away the timber and brush he built a home and with characteristic energy began the improvement of the farm upon which he lived for several years when he sold the property and purchased a part of the farm upon which he now resides, becoming the owner of 35 acres. Taking up his abode here he has each season since cultivated the fields and year by year has successfully carried on farming until he is now one of the substantial agriculturist of the community, having 140 acres of rich land which brings him splendid harvests. He has a good residence upon the place, substantial improvements, barns, a bearing orchard and beautiful evergreen trees which adorn the lawn and shade the home. No equipments of a model farm are lacking. He has purchased improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and he also raises a good grade of stock, this branch of his business likewise proving profitable.
Throughout the greater part of his business career Mr Hull has enjoyed the companionship and assistance of a most estimable lady, who in her maidenhood was Mary J Payne, and whom he made his wife on March 17, 1867. She is a native of Indiana and a daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Payne. Benjamin Payne died during the early girlhood of Mrs Hull. She was largely reared in Boone county, and has become the mother of three children: Ida, now the wife of P H Zenar, a resident farmer of Worth township, formerly a telegraph operator on the Northwestern Railroad, Rebecca may, who was married to B F Hull and died at the age of twenty-one years, and Frank, who is married and assists in the operation of the home farm. In early life Mr Hull was a Democrat but in 1864 he cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He endorses the Democracy after the war, but of recent years has been a Prohibition Republican. He was elected and served as township trustee, filling the position for six years and also has been a member of the school board, doing everything in his power to advance the cause of education in this locality. He and his wife belong to the Christian church known as the meadow Grove church, and Mr Hull is serving as one of its elders and as a trustee. He was formerly a master mason, but is now dimitted form the lodge. Fifty-four years have passed since he came to Boone county. He is one of the few remaining early settlers who have witnessed the development of this portion of the state through a half century There were no railroads when he came and few wagon roads. There greater portion of the land was still in possession of the government land upon the prairies grew the native grasses or timber. He has taken a just pride in what has been accomplished in the way of improvement and development her earned has borne his part in the work of progress. His efforts have not been without result and as the years have been added to the cycle of eternity, Jackson Hull has been numbered among the valued and representative men of his county.

1902 Boone County History Book