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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joshua B. Jackson is a native of Chester District, S. C, his birth occurring on August 25, 1840. His father, Lemuel Jackson, was also born in that State in 1800, and died there in 1846, having been fairly successful in the pursuit of agriculture throughout his life. He was a prominent Democrat, and in the year 1840 represented his parish in the State Legislature; was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and also belonged to the I. O. O. F. His wife, who was formerly Miss Jane S. Blake, was born in the Palmetto State, in the month of July, 1804, and was reared, educated and married there, and still makes that State her home, having become the wife of Josiah Jardan. Her union with Mr. Jackson resulted in the birth of four sons and five daughters, five of the family now living, named as follows: John (a farmer of Chester County, S. C.), Emily (wife of James McFadden, an agriculturist of York County, S. C.), Martha J. (who first married Samuel Ferguson, and is now the wife of David Hyatt, of Lancaster County, S. C.), Lucy C. (who was first the wife of David Boyd, and is now married to William T. Wylie, of York County), and Joshua B. Jackson (the youngest of those living). The following children are dead: Dempsey K. (who died during the war, in the hospital at Richmond, Va.), and three children who passed from life in infancy. Joshua B. Jackson was reared, and obtained a common-school education in his native State, and owing to the early death of his father, he was compelled to make his own way in the world. When eighteen years of age, he began for himself as a farm-hand, and this has been his business through life, his efforts meeting with a fair measure of success. He has some fine bottom land on the Arkansas River, and has about seventy-five acres in a fine state of cultivation, his principal crops being corn and cotton. He was married in South Carolina, February 4, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Porter, a native of Chester District, and a daughter of William S. and Martha J. (Cherry) Porter. She was born October 3, 1849, and her marriage resulted in the birth of two sons and three daughters: Walter P., Effie J., Lee, Mary B. and Lemuel C. In May, 1861, Mr. Jackson enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Company K, Third Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of Northern Virginia, participating in the seven days’ fight at Richmond, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg, Chickamauga, and in various small battles and skirmishes. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House, and was there paroled, returning to his home in South Carolina, where he remained until 1871, at which time he removed to Arkansas and settled in Bradley County. After remaining here two years, he spent two years in Drew County, and has since been a resident of Desha County. He is a member of the K. of H., is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in the political welfare of his county and State. He has been a prominent member of the Old School Presbyterian Church since 1872, and his wife is a member of the same. He has been a director of the common schools of his community for many years, and is an industrious and honorable citizen, highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Jackson is of Scotch Irish descent, and his wife is of Irish-Dutch lineage, and her maternal grandfather was born on board a vessel sent from Ireland to America.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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