My Genealogy Hound

JOSHUA BARTON JACKSON, who occupies an influential and prominent position among the agricultural population of Johnson County, has his homestead in township 46, range 27. He is a native son of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Lafayette County, a mile and a-half south of Lexington, on the 18th of September, 1824. He is the third in a family of eleven children born to Uriel and Mary C. (Tomlin) Jackson, of whom four are still living: Hannah Ann, widow of Taylor Sterling, of Texas; Joshua Barton; Christian W.; and Louise, wife of Nicholas Dayton, a prosperous saddler of Texas.

The father of this family was born in Virginia, in 1796, and spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits, mostly on the frontier, as he removed with his parents to Tennessee when but three years old. In that state he spent his boyhood and was there married in 1819. Shortly after, with his young bride, he emigrated to Missouri, settling in Lafayette County, where he became one of the earliest pioneers, and they had to live in a fort, which was erected for the protection of the settlers, as the Indians were very numerous and of an aggressive spirit. Mr. Jackson had no personal trouble with them, but often related an incident which occurred to one of his neighbors. Mr. Palmer and his four sons left the mother and sisters at home one morning while they repaired to the forest to hunt. Returning later they found the house surrounded by four Indians, while three were on the roof trying to effect an entrance. With a quick eye the father saw the danger and at once gave the sons their instructions. Within a few minutes but two of the Indians were alive, while one of these was badly wounded.

After residing in Lafayette County for some ten years, Uriel Jackson removed to within a stone’s-throw of where our subject now resides. He was a man who made many friends, and for miles around was known as “Uncle Coz.” He built the first mill ever erected in Johnson County, and furnished much of the flour used in this, as well as Pettis, Henry, Bates and Lafayette Counties. He here lived until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-four years. He was a great hunter, and took special delight in seeking out the haunts of the bee. He had an amusing experience once while hunting and fishing with two of his sons. A deer passing while they were fishing was shot and wounded, and was seen to run quite a distance and lie down. They immediately mounted their horses and set out in pursuit. They formed a circle and began searching the tall grass, when the father came unexpectedly upon it. The deer, seeing the sons directly in front, turned and sprang right on the back of the father’s horse, knocking him off. When the story became known among his neighbors, they sent him a butcher-knife, with the request to wear it always on his person to protect him from savage deer. During the War of 1812 Mr. Jackson served as Fife Major and served throughout the entire struggle. He was near New Orleans when that noted battle occurred. Later in life, on the occasion of any national celebration, when the old patriotic spirits turned out in force, his fife was the music for marching. He died in 1869, deeply mourned by the entire community.

Joshua Barton Jackson, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and became inured to all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but, though a severe training, it has fitted him for his labors in later years. He began life for himself as a carpenter, and in connection with an older brother built several of the mills in this and adjoining counties. This gave him a start in life, and he later devoted his time to both carpentering and farming.

In 1847 Mr. Jackson made his first trip across the plains as teamster on a wagon train, comprising forty wagons, with an escort of two hundred dragoons and a regiment of infantry. On arriving at the Arkansas River, they started across the country so as to save thirty miles, but alter some hours of travel and finding no water, they were obliged to retrace their steps in order to be near the river. Before arriving there, however, they crossed a small branch of clear water, where they stopped for the night. Four men, including our subject, started with buckets for water, and on nearing the stream he discovered five Indian ponies, all saddled and bridled, under the bank. On reporting this to the Colonel, the latter only laughed and said there were no Indians within a hundred miles of them. Next morning, after a drive, they reached another branch about nine o’clock, and a number of men crossed the creek in search of drift-wood, when they were suddenly surprised by the Indians, fifteen being killed and wounded, nine of them being scalped. They all proved to be soldiers. The following year our subject made another trip, but this time without adventure, though they experienced some very severe weather, during which many head of cattle were frozen to death.

On his return to Missouri, Mr. Jackson settled down to farm life on his present place. He was married, October 15, 1854, to Miss Martha E. Ripley, a daughter of William and Martha (Cox) Ripley, and a most estimable lady. To them were born four children, three of whom are still living, viz.: David William, who married Miss Mary Schaffer, and is a progressive farmer of Johnson County; Nathaniel B., living at home, where he assists in the duties of the farm; and Cora May, the wife of C. T. Middleton, a prominent farmer of the state of Washington.

Although Mr Jackson has passed the seventieth anniversary of his birth, he is still remarkably well preserved, and bids fair to live many years longer. His political aifiliations are with the Republican party, although his father was a stanch supporter of Democracy. He belongs to the Baptist Church, and in its work takes an active part. He is one of the representative agriculturists of the county, and we are pleased to give him a prominent place among Johnson County’s leading citizens and honored pioneers.