My Genealogy Hound

JAMES JACKSON, farmer and plasterer; P. O. Farmer City, De Witt Co.; born in Manchester, Eng., Feb. 3, 1846; his father, Joseph Jackson, emigrated from England and landed in New York in the spring 1850; after living upwards of five years in Rochester, N. Y., he came West in 1856, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., where he lived until 1863, when he removed to Farmer City, De Witt Co., and followed milling and the dairy business until his decease, which occurred in Farmer City in April, 1875; his widow, who survives him, still resides in Farmer City; her maiden name was Hannah Higginbottom; she was born in Derbyshire, England. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, and followed plastering and farming until June 9, 1862, when he enlisted in the 68th Regt. I. V. I., and was sent to the Eastern army, where, after five months service, he received his discharge; and upon the 12th of February, 1863, he re-enlisted in Co. I, 39th Regt. I. V. I., and was forwarded to the army of the James, and was in twenty-seven different engagements, among which were Ft. Darling, Darbytown Roads, and for one month under fire in front of Petersburgh, and remained in active service until the capture of Richmond and surrender of Lee’s army, in April, 1865; he then remained in Richmond until August; was mustered out of service at Norfolk, Va., and received his discharge at Spring field, Ill., Dec. 16, 1865; he then returned home and followed farming and plastering until 1876, when he purchased his present place of 110 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Martha J. Weedman was celebrated Dec. 24, 1868; she was born in Kankakee, Ill., May 20, 1849; four children were the fruit of this union, viz.: Nellie, born April 26, 1872; John A., born May 19, 1876; Bertha, born June 18, 1879, and one who died in childhood.