JOHN J. JACKSON

John J. Jackson owns and operates a fine farm on sections 4 and 5, Red Oak township, which in its neat and thrifty appearance plainly indicates the progressive spirit of the owner and that he thoroughly understands the occupation to which he is devoting his attention. He was born on the 21st of July, 1868, and has always resided upon his present farm. His parents, Richard and Nancy (McKane) Jackson, were both natives of Ireland, but were married in Hartford, Connecticut, after coming to this country. The father was born in County Monahan, February 1, 1831, and at an early age crossed the Atlantic and settled in Connecticut. It was about 1865 that he came west and became a resident of Cedar county, Iowa. For many years he followed farming and met with remarkable success, becoming the owner of seventeen hundred acres of land in this county, which he has since disposed of to his children. For the past twenty years he has made his home in Mechanicsville. His wife, who was to him a true companion and helpmate, died on the homestead farm in 1888. They were the parents of the following children: William A., a resident of Mechanicsville; Mary, the wife of George Davidson of Fremont township; Martha, the wife of Joseph Davidson of the same township; Richard, Jr., who is living in Linn township; Jennie, the deceased wife of William Dallas; John J., of this review; Louise, who died at the age of three years; and Bessie, who died at the age of six months.

On the home farm John J. Jackson grew to manhood and on starting out in life for himself chose the occupation to which he has been reared and for the past ten years has owned the homestead, consisting of four hundred and forty acres on sections 4 and 5, Red Oak township. All the improvements upon the place have been made by himself and father, and he now has one of the best farms in the locality. The buildings are commodious and substantial and include three large barns besides an excellent residence. In addition to his tillable land, he also has ten acres of timber in Linn township.

On the 12th of February, 1895, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Norah E. Boyles, who was born in Pioneer township in 1872, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Wilson) Boyles. Her father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, is now deceased, but her mother is still living and has spent her entire life in Cedar county, being now a resident of Mechanicsville. She is now the wife of Richard Jackson, the father of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jackson have two children: Roy E., born August 9, 1896; and Don H., born September 6, 1903.

For over a third of a century the family have been prominently identified with the development and improvement of Cedar county and have ever borne their part in any work calculated to advance the interests of this section of the state. They are people of the highest respectability and well merit the high esteem in which they are universally held. In politics Mr. Jackson is a democrat.