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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Everard Horatio Jackson

Everard Horatio Jackson, the well known proprietor of the Oak Grove Stock Farm of Jefferson, was born in Knox county, Illinois, August 15, 1866. He is a son of Major Charles H. and Anna E. (Chaffee) Jackson, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. Charles Jackson, when a young man, was graduated from the Wisconsin Law School and was a successful practitioner in Knox county, Illinois. In 1873 he removed to Jefferson, where he built up a large practice. For several years he was in partnership with Captain Albert Head. His close attention to office work had told upon his health and under the advice of his physician he and his family removed to Louisiana in 1887. The change did not prove as beneficial as desired and Mr. Jackson passed away in that state, September 18, 1888. He was a man of fine education and was very prominent in the county. Outside of his law practice he founded and was the editor of the Greene County Gazette. His widow is now living in Cleveland, Ohio. There were four children in this family: E. H., the subject of this sketch; Miss Eleanor Annie, living in Rockford, Illinois; Miss Francis Adelia; and Mrs. Maud May Crouse, who are with their mother in Cleveland.

E. H. Jackson acquired his education in the public schools of Jeiferson, and also spent some time in the Greene County Gazette oflice. During the period of his boyhood and youth he was trained to the work of the fields. This always occupied a favorite place in his life as a boy and he determined to pursue agricultural interests as his life work. After his father’s death he accordingly returned to Jefferson, where he purchased from the heirs the farm of one hundred and ten acres which had belonged to his father. He has added much to the value of this place and now has a well improvedand valuable tract, on which he has placed a splendid residence and substantial out buildings, while in addition to the cultivation of his land he is also engaged extensively in breeding and raising the following lines of pure bred stock: shorthorns, Poland Cninas, Shropshires, standard bred horses and White Wyandottes. This branch of his business is proving a very gratifying source of income to him, so that he is numbered among the most prosperous farmers and the best known stock-raisers of this community.

Mr. Jackson further established a home of his own by his marriage, October 10, 1889, to Miss Bertha Helen Taylor. Their marriage has been blessed with two interesting children: Verna Helen, born in Jefferson, August 28, 1892; and Zona Anita, born in Jefferson, May 20, 1897.

The ancestry of Mrs. Jackson is traced back to Elisha Richards, who was born in Norfolk, October 3, 1762. When young his parents moved to Susquehanna. When he was sixteen years old his father was killed by Indians. He and his mother and five sisters escaped to Middletown. On the 21st of May, 1788, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Woodruff. She died October 28, 1798, leaving five children. On the 16th of May, 1799, he was married to Miss Lucy Haze. They had six children, four of whom are Linas, Hiram, Julius and Ammi. He was deacon of a church for twenty years. He died January 13, 1830. His death was caused by an ox sled being drawn over him.

Ammi Richards was born in Norfolk township, Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 9, 1805. He was married to Miss Percia Pease, November 4, 1830. They went to Medina county, Ohio, where Clarissa and Helen were born. Then moved to Fulton county, where Henry, Benjamin, Emily and Octavia were born. In 1852 they moved to Michigan, stayed seven weeks and moved back. He died December 23, 1884.

Percia Pease was born December 7, 1804, and died December 17, 1888.

Clarissa Richards was born March 3, 1833, and married Elmer Lacy. They have three children, Frank, Edward and Ammi. Elmer Lacy was either murdered or ran away. She was married again to John Musselman, of Paulding county, Ohio.

Helen Adelia Richards, mother of Mrs. Jackson, was one of Jefferson’s earliest school teachers, before there was any railroad in the place. She was born February 10, 1835, and was married to Joshua G. Taylor, April 8, 1866, who died March 3, 1876. To them were born two children, Cora Josephine and Bertha Helen. The mother died at Jefferson, Iowa, March 16, 1886.

Henry O. Richards was born February 17, 1837, and married Sarah Doren, February 25, 1867. His death occurred June 29, 1907. There is one child of this marriage, Irvin L. Richards.

Benjamin F. Richards, born August 3, 1839, never married.

Emily Richards, born April 6, 1843, married Thomas Nobbs. There are four children of this marriage, Howard, Edward, Elizabeth and Estella.

Octavia Richards, born May 8, 1846, married James Harrison and has one child, Belle.

Mr. Jackson is a republican in his political views, but has never cared to serve in any public oflices. He has never been a member of any church, but attends the Presbyterian. He has never joined any societies, preferring to spend his leisure hours in his home. He is field representative for “American Swineherd,” Chicago, and “Farmer’s Tribune,” of Sioux City.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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