William M. Jackson

MAPLETHORP, PROCTOR, SHIPENSON, THOMAS, DUGEN, WILLIAMS, HOUGHTON, WEATHERWAX

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:36:55

The large amount of property accumulated by this gentleman was gathered together by hard labor, prudence and economy, and now, in the enjoyment of a comfortable home, he is fully prepared to appreciate the season of comparative rest from labor and anxiety, which he can avail himself of if desired. He has a choice body of land well improved, and not the least of his blessings is that he enjoys the esteem and confidence of his neighbors. He is a man conscientiously devoted to his religious belief, and, with his family, belongs to the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Our subject, a native of Lincolnshire, England, is the son of Joseph and Frances (Maplethorp) Jackson, who were born in East Alton, Lincolnshire, where they spent their childhood and youth, where they were married, and also reared their large family of children. The father was a laborer by occupation, and died about 1878. The mother is still living in England, and is about seventy-nine years old. Their eldest daughter, Sarah, is the wife of Robert Proctor, and lives in England; William, our subject, was the second born; Joseph is in Jackson County, Iowa; Mary is deceased; John J. and Thomas are in England; Ann became the wife of John Shipenson, a noted English detective.

Mr. Jackson, when a youth of twenty years, crossed the Atlantic, and for about five years thereafter was occupied during the summer season on a farm in the vicinity of Albion, N.Y. In winter he attended school. From there he started for Iowa very poorly supplied with money, and when arriving in Rock Island, Ill., after paying his stage fare, had only five cents remaining. He crossed to Davenport, and entered the employ of Dr. J.M. Weatherwax, with whom he remained five years. At the expiration of this time he secured a small tract of land, upon which he operated as a market-gardener three years, and where he made his first $1,000. He loaned his brother Joseph $200 of this, for which the latter repaid him in forty acres of the farm, which he now owns. Subsequently he purchased 120 acres, and another forty acres, which he presented to his son George when the latter reached his majority.

The 30th of January, 1859, witnessed the marriage of our subject with Miss Margaret Thomas. Of this union there were born five children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Bessie, is the wife of M. F. Dugen, and lives in Page County, this State; George and Mary F. are at home with their parents; two children died in infancy. Mrs. Jackson, also a native of England, was born in Flintshire, and was brought by her parents to the United States when a mere infant. They were John and Elizabeth (Williams) Thomas, and upon their arrival in America they sojourned for a short time in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thence they came to Iowa, settling in Norwood, where the mother died many years since. Mr. Thomas then removed with the remainder of his family to Davenport, where he spent his last days. Both parents were members in England of the primitive Methodist Church, and to this church also belonged the mother of Mr. Jackson. His father was a member of the Church of England, in which William M. was baptized in infancy. To the parents of Mrs. Jackson there were born eight children, of whom only two are living: Margaret and Martha, the latter Mrs. Houghton, of Davenport.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)