JACKSON, Mrs. Rachel W.: 1835-1921

BELL, JACKSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 9/10/2013 at 14:18:01

Obituary of Mrs. Minus Jackson.
**Handwritten: 1921

Rachel W. Bell was born in Illinois, Aug. 28, 1835, and died at Oberlin, Kan., Nov. 13, 1921, aged 86 years, 2 months and 15 days. In 1837 her parents emigrated to Van Buren county, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. On April 25, 1852, she was married to Jacob Minus Jackson at Keosauqua, Iowa. To this union were born seven children: Mary, who died Aug. 28, 1887; James of Oberlin, Kan.; John of Phillipsburg, Kan.; Sarah, who passed away at Los Angeles, Cal., 1919; Henry of Birmingham, Iowa; George of Oberlin, Kan., and Will of Woodruff, Kan.

Mr. and Mra.(sp) Jackson lived most of their lives on a farm in Davis county, Iowa, where they had taken up a homestead. Here Mr. Jackson passed away Oct. 9, 1900. As a farmer's wife Mrs. Jackson was most industrious. She was never as happy as when she was busy. She delighted to have her friends and neighbors in to dine with her and to enjoy other social functions together. She did much to make community life in her section in Iowa enjoyable and eyerywhere(sp) she has gone she has had many friends.

For the last seventeen years of her life she made her home with her son George of Oberlin. Here she enjoyed good health until about five years ago, since which time she was up and down. As she grew older her wants and desires grew less and less and of late years she was most content just to have her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George Jackson, by her side.

Mrs. Jackson, even though her years were many, was by no means an invalid. Nevertheless it was necessary that someone be near her at all times. This service was cheerfully rendered by her daughter-in-law, to whose devotion is due much of the happiness and contentment of Mrs. Jackson's later days. Mrs. Jackson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since childhood and in earlier years was an active church worker. One of her greatest enjoyments was singing, and often she was heard to sing the old sacred hymns of her church.

Her favorite hymns were: "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder", and it is touching to know that just before she died she had come to feel that this was not her home but that it was somewhere else. Now she has gone to that Home Above The Skies, which shall be hers forever; the place where her children and all her many friends may join her bye and bye. And there they shall be eternally happy with Him who is Lord and Master of all who love and obey Him.

Besides a host of friends, her sons and their wives, Mrs. Jackson leaves to mourn her loss 30 grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Her body was brought back to her old home in Iowa, where it was placed in its last earthly resting place to await the call of Him who has power not alone over the body but over the souls of all His creatures.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 237, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA