Was named after Andrew Jackson, the great democratic president, who was noted for his fixed principles and bluff methods, and the rugged, hilly conditions in the north end of the township--the valley of the 'Coon river--is in harmony with the character of its illustrious namesake. In the early days the Wrights, the Morlans, the Cloptons, the Flecks, and a small host of other pioneers settled along the river, either in the valley or on the uplands, and the living men and women who thus occupied these choice locations are still in possession of the same. The venerable Isaac Clopton has occupied his farm, three miles west of Jefferson, for more than fifty years, and has been pretty nearly an every-day resident all that time. Ervin Wright can tell a similar story, with a few years cut off at the rear end. Two mill sites were discovered in the 70's upon which flouring mills were erected, to the great convenience of the farmers, who had been obliged to go to Panora with their grists, and at an earlier period to Des Moines. These were Fleck's mills, near the extreme north line of the township, and the Eureka mill, a scant two miles due west of Jefferson, on the main Scranton road. When the raising of wheat as a general agricultural commodity was abandoned by the farmer, the profit and the glory of these mills departed, and now there is scarcely a ripple in the waters of the 'Coon to mark the place where the breadstuffs were prepared. They went out of commission in the late 80's, and the buildings were torn down and converted to other uses, and the machinery went into the scrap heap. It is said that a bitter feud arose among the people of Jackson township when the country was quite new that no social influence was able to allay. Even relatives "let each other violently alone," so intense was the feeling. A man in the neighborhood by the name of Shoemaker, who lived with Benjamin Howover, was of the opinion that something might be done in a religious way to cure the ill-feeling. He talked the matter over and it was decided to hold a meeting at the Clopton school house, to which the entire settlement was urged to come, especially the heads of families. The community was largely Baptist, so it was arranged that Erwin King was to drive out with Rev. Heagle, then pastor of the Jefferson Baptist church. A full house greeted the man who brought a message of forgiveness founded on grace and love. He gave them some plain talk and appealed to their Christian professions, to which they were doing personal violence by their every-day ill-will. It was seed on good ground and a "melting" time was had, tears were shed, confessions were made, numberless old snags of bitterness cast out and a real love feast enjoyed. The result was a series of meetings which grew in attendance and interest until the school house would not hold the attendants, and they were continued at Jefferson, followed by a great revival. A number of converts were baptized in the 'Coon river in January, and the winter of 1875 is said to have been one of the coldest on record. In this connection it is fitting to say that there are two churches in the township, Highland Church of Christ, at the north end, which has been built for thirty years, with Rev. Ervin Wright preaching every two weeks, and Bethlehem Church of Christ, erected in 1900. It is located two miles south of the center of the town, on the open prairie, Rev. D. S. Thompson, pastor. It cost $1,250. The membership is about thirty. A good Sunday school is maintained, with Orley Smith as superintendent.

Agriculturally speaking, Jackson township has a great many good farms and many progressive farmers.