Givin Devere Jackson

COURTNEY, JACKSON, PETERSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/13/2004 at 09:46:28

G. D. Jackson, residing on section 18, Madison township, is a progressive young agriculturist and worthy native son of this county and the proprietor of the Maple Lawn Farm. His birth occurred in Penn township on the 9th of December, 1887, his parents being Charles C. and Julia (Courtney) Jackson, the former a native of Warren county, Iowa, and the latter of Indiana. Charles C. Jackson was reared in the county of his nativity and remained with his parents on the home farm until about 1879, when he drove across the country to Madison county, arriving here with practically nothing save a team of horses. He cultivated rented land in Penn township for several years and eventually purchased an eighty-acre tract on section 18, Madison township, beginning its improvement. As the years passed and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase from time to time until he now owns four hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land, constituting one of the finest farms in the county. In connection with the production of cereals he devotes considerable attention to live stock, feeding about one hundred head of cattle annually. In connection with his brothers he is the owner of one of the most remarkable barns of Madison county, it being eighty by thirty-seven feet in dimensions and built entirely of brick. It is used exclusively for feeding cattle. Charles C. Jackson's property is known as the North Branch Stock Farm and in its operation he has gained a measure of prosperity that has won him recognition among the substantial and representative agriculturists of the community. The period of his residence in this county covers more than a third of a century and he enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders.

G. D. Jackson acquired his early education in the district schools of this county and continued his studies in Earlham Academy. On attaining his majority he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, beginning the operation of a tract of twenty-five acres adjoining his father's farm. In fact, he and his father conduct their interests in partnership. Mr. Jackson has improved his property to a considerable extent, having recently expended four thousand dollars in remodeling his barn. His undertakings have been attended with a gratifying and well merited measure of success and he is widely recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising young agriculturists of his native county.

On the 7th of May, 1913, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Peterson, a daughter of Hans and Rena (Peterson) Peterson, both of whom were born in Denmark. Her father carried on farming in his native country until twenty-eight years of age and then emigrated to the United States, making his way direct to Iowa and locating at Kellogg, Jasper county, where he remained until 1890. In that year he came to Madison county and was here employed in the quarry of the Earlham Land Company during the next twelve years. On the expiration of that period he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and has since been identified therewith, now operating the Thomas Cochran place in Madison township.

In politics Mr. Jackson is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed and they are popular in the younger social set.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”