For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 605
FRANK JACKSON....Frank Jackson, now retired, who is recognized as one of the responsible citizens of Muscatine, was born in this city, January 18, 1855, of Scotch descent. He is a son of Alexander and Lucy Ann ( Daily ) Jackson, the former of whom was born in Scotland May 9, 1818, and the latter in Chillicothe, Ohio. At seventeen years of age Alexander Jackson left his native country to seek his fortune. He came to Albany, New York, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade, working later in New York City, Cincinnati, St, Louis, and Galena, Illinois. He first came to Iowa in 1839 but did not remain at that time. In 1843 he settled permanently at Muscatine and began working at his trade, conducting a harness shop for fifteen years. He then became connected with the Muscatine Gas Company as secretary amd treasurer and was for many years active in its management. He was one of the original directors of the old Muscatine National Bank and was president of the water works until the disposal of the same to the city. He was an earnest friend of education and held various school and town offices, being regarded as one of the most trustworthy and public-spirited citizens of Muscatine. He and his wife were active workers in many ways in behalf of the community and were valued members of the Congregational church. Mr. Jackson was called from earthly scenes in 1903, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife died in 1896, being then seventy-five years of age. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living : Mary, the wife of S. B. Cook ; Lucy, now Mrs. Ogilvie ; and Frank, our subject.Educated in the public schools, Frank Jackson grew to manhood under the kindly influences of a happy home and began his business career as errand boy in the old Muscatine National Bank. In his early manhood he went to Chicago, where he was employed as clerk for five years in the wholesale hardware establishment of Seeberger & Breakey. After resigning from this position he was connected for one year with the retail hardware business at Danville, Illinois. Returning to Muscatine in 1878, he was employed for two years in a retail grocery store and then spent one year rafting logs on the Mississippi river. About 1885 he entered the wholesale grocery business in this city, to which he devoted his attention for twenty years and gained a wide reputation as one of the substantial business men of the city. He has been living retired for the past five years.
On the 10th of August, 1887, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Mrs. Clara C. ( Burneby ) Wheeler, a daughter of Edward and Lydia ( Sunbury ) Burneby, both of whom were natives of Canada. Mrs. Jackson first married Arthur Wheeler and lived in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he died, and she subsequently came to Iowa, where her parents were then living, here becoming acquainted with Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson is not connected with any religious organization nor has he ever been an active worker in politics, preferring rather to devote his energies to his private interests. Being gifted with good business capacity and executive force, he early won recognition and for many years was one of the capable and energetic men of the community. He is now enjoying at ease the results of his diligence and application.
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