William A. Jackson, of Mechanicsville, is the owner of five hundred and seventy acres of land, making him one of the prosperous representatives of agricultural interests in Cedar county. His property is situated in Fremont township and to its cultivation Mr. Jackson gives personal supervision and derives therefrom a gratifying annual income. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in South Dakota. Moreover he is numbered among the early settlers of the county, dating his residence here from 1865. He arrived when a young lad of nine years, his birth having occurred in Rock Island, Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi, May 26, 1856.
His father, Richard Jackson, was for years one of the active and progressive farmers of Red Oak township. He owned more than one thousand acres of land of which four hundred and forty acres constituted the old homestead, while six hundred are in Fremont township. He carried on general farming in this country from 1865 until his removal to Mechanicsville, when he bought out the lumber business which he conducted for a number of years. At length he bought a lot and built a residence. He also bought and owns a business house and owns several dwellings which he rents. In business affairs his judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and his labors have been effective elements in the upbuilding and progress of the town and county. He is one of the worthy citizens that Ireland has furnished to the United States, his birth having there occurred in 1831. He was reared there to the age of twenty-two years and then came to the new world in 1853, settling first in Connecticut. In that state he remained for two years, after which he went to Illinois, establishing his home in Rock Island county, where he carried on farming for eight years. In 1865 he came to Cedar county, Iowa, and here purchased eighty acres. After improving that property he bought more land from time to time until his holdings were among the most extensive in the county. He put splendid improvements upon his land, erected good buildings and was extensively engaged in the raising of grain. He also raised and fed some stock and was numbered among the most successful and progressive agriculturists of the community until he left the farm and removed to Mechanicsville to become identified with business interests there.
On the 10th of March, 1855, Richard Jackson was married in Connecticut to Miss Nancy McKane, who was born in Ireland and died in this county in 1888. There were six children of that marriage: William A., whose name introduces this record; Mary E., the wife of George Davidson, a farmer of this county; Martha, the wife of Joe Davidson, of Cedar county; Richard, who is connected with agricultural pursuits in this county; John J., who is living on the old homestead farm in Red Oak township; and Jennie, who became the wife of William J. Dallas, and at her death left three children. The father of this family is today numbered among the prominent citizens of Cedar county and his life record proves that the accident of birth and nationality does not determine the value of citizenship in this country. Loyal to the interests of his adopted land, he does all in his power to promote the welfare of the community in which he cast his lot and where he has long been favorably known for the sterling traits of character that he ever displays.
Coming to this country when a lad of nine years, William A. Jackson assisted in opening up the farm and developing the property. He remained with his father until about thirty-five years of age, associated with him in farming interests, and at that time he took charge of the farm and business.
On the 3d of October, 1900, in Mechanicsville, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Sophronia Ferguson, who was born and reared there and is a daughter of John Ferguson, one of the early settlers of the county. After their marriage they located upon Mr. Jackson’s farm three miles east of Mechanicsville. He erected an attractive and comfortable dwelling there, also put up four barns and a work house thirty-two by fifty-nine. His fields are carefully cultivated with due attention to the care of the soil and the needs of the crops and he also raises and feeds stock, being very successful in handling cattle and hogs, in which connection he ships from three to five carloads each year. He has recently purchased a fine residence property in Mechanicsville and there makes his home at the present time, although giving personal supervision to his farming interests.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born three children, Jennie L., John R. and Alberta. Mr. Jackson votes with the democratic party and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being identified with the blue lodge and chapter at Mechanicsville, with Anamosa Commandery and with the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids. He is now junior warden in the lodge and has served as junior deacon. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and Mrs. Jackson is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Jackson attends the services of that church. Forty-five years’ residence in this county has made him widely known and his fidelity to manly and honorable principles has gained him the high regard and enduring friendship of many with whom he has come in contact. Energetic, prompt and notably reliable, he has, moreover, the gift of common sense which is too often lacking and which enables one to judge correctly of possibilities and utilize opportunities. He has made steady progress in his business from his boyhood to the present time, and while he has won success he has also gained an honored name.
