Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, June 25, l903

While sorting some old papers, MR. LEWIS. B. JACKSON found the above wood cut of his father, WILLIAM C. JACKSON, well remembered by all of the older residents of this county, who died Feb. 2l, l880, aged 43 years, l month and ll days and he has kindly granted us permission to publish it.

At the time of his death MR. JACKSON was the senior editor of The Reporter, then called the Democrat-Reporter, his partner being O.M. Howard, now of Kansas City. He was also at one time editor of the Leon Pioneer, the first paper published in Decatur County, being associated with Aaron Frazier.

MR. JACKSON was an ardent democrat, who in early life followed teaching as a vocation which he commenced when he was eighteen years old, being principal of the Afton Schools in the sixties. After coming to Decatur County he taught for a time and was then elected County Superintendent which office he held during l87l and l872. He also was three times elected Auditor of the county, serving from l874 to l880, his death occurring within two months after he had finished his last term. He was one of the most popular officials who ever served the people of Decatur County and was always elected by good majorities, defeating some of the best republicans in the county.

His funeral was held in Leon on Sunday, Feb. 22, l880, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows Lodge of which he had been a prominent member for years.

MR. JACKSON was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, Jan. l0, l837. He was united in marriage to MISS ELIZABETH BEAL at Osceola in l860. Eight children were born to them, the widow and three children now living. MRS. JACKSON and son, LEWIS B., still being residents of Leon, MRS. A.J. WARNER residing at Carl Junction, Mo., and MRS. E.R. PATCH at San Francisco, California.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March l4, 2003
*There is a newspaper picture of him with this article.