Wendell was born in Worth County, Missouri on May 22, 1940 to Earl and Hazel WAUGH JACKSON. He attended grade school in Worth County, graduated from Grant City High School in 1958, and attended Drake University. He served in the Missouri National Guard for seven years and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He started farming in Benton Township in 1966.

Joan was born in Des Moines November 27, 1941 to Cleo and Regina MULLIN LYNCH. After attending elementary school in Maloy, she graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1960. She then attended Northwest Missouri State University, where she received a B.S. in education. Joan taught in the Albany, Missouri, Grant City, Missouri, and Diagonal schools, and since 1977 has served as the elementary librarian in the Mount Ayr Community School.

Wendell and Joan were married July 25, 1965 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Maloy by the Rev. M. J. CULHANE.

The JACKSONS have three sons: Curtis Wendell, born January 27, 1968, attends Des Moines Area Community College majoring in agricultural business; Kevin Lynch, born February 18, 1969, is a senior at the Mount Ayr Community High School; Erin Thomas, born March 21, 1972, is an eighth grader in Mount Ayr.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 136.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Notes by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011