William Harvey Jackson 1829 - 1911

JACKSON, WASSOM, DORAN

Posted By: debbie (email)
Date: 6/6/2007 at 20:15:06

The Burlington Hawkeye, Wednesday morning, Feb. 22, 1911, page 6

WILLIAM JACKSON DEAD

Came to Des Moines County With His Parents in 1842

William Jackson, one of the county's honored pioneers, passed away at 10 o'clock Saturday evening at his home near Sperry.

William Harvey Jackson, son of William and Jerusha Jackson, was born November 28, 1829, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather and his grandfather fought in the Wyoming massacre, and were among the few who escaped to the fort when the indians fell upon the little unprotected settlement and ruthlessly murdered nearly all the inhabitants. His great-grandfather's name is carved on the monument which is erected in the historic valley to commemorate the valiant deeds of those early patriots.

In the spring of 1842, then a lad of twelve years, he emigrated with his parents to Iowa, making the journey to Pittsburg by wagon, and thence by boat down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi river to Burlington. The family located on a farm twelve miles north of Burlington near the present site of Sperry. Here young William was reared upon the old homestead farm, and the daily life of the pioneer settler, with its pleasures and joys, became familiar to him.

Mr. Jackson remained upon the old homestead until his marriage to Miss Adeline Wassom, which was celebrated February 6, 1851. The young couple resided two years on their father's(Wassom)farm, and then located on the present place, where he has ever since resided. It was wild prairie when it came into his possession, and he at first erected a rough cabin, but with his enterprising nature he soon erected substantial buildings.

The deceased was a member of the Baptist church at Sperry, and though he lost his eyesight and suffered ill health for five years, he was patient through it all and bore his affliction with Christian fortitude. He was interested in community affairs, always being a public-spirited man. Mr. Jackson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife June 29, 1879.

To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born nine children, one son dying at the age of seven years. The surviving children are Andrew, of Burlington; Louis, of Muscatine; James, of Yarmouth; Henry, of Morning Sun; Mrs. Frank Doran, of Mediapolis; Mrs. E.T. Jackson, of Mt. Pleasant; and Catherine and John, at home. There are eleven grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Margaret Wassom. and one brother, James Jackson, both of Sperry.