My Genealogy Hound

Jackson F. Box was born in Georgia on May 15, 1815. He is the son of Michael and Frances (Jones) Box. The father is supposed to have been born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and is a son of Michael and Mollie Box, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania, and some time after their marriage removed to Georgia. Michael Box, the grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier. Frances Jones was born in South Carolina, whence she removed with her parents to Georgia, where she was married. Her parents, William Jones and wife, were both born and reared in Virginia, whither they removed to South Carolina, and from there, as before stated, to Georgia. Michael Box, the father of our subject, emigrated westward in 1829. He crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and settled in McMinn County, Tenn. The family made the entire journey on pack-horses, and experienced the hardships common to the sturdy pioneers who left their homes in civilization for the wild western country. Upon reaching McMinn County, he purchased a tract of land and located, but prior to his death he removed to Rhea County. He and wife were the parents of ten children, viz.: Harriet W., William W., Jackson F., James M., Michael D., Gilbert S., Jane, Thomas P., Francis and Josiah, deceased. Jackson F. Box’s marriage with Elizabeth E. Baldwin, was celebrated on December 14, 1834. Mrs. Box is the daughter of William and Elizabeth Baldwin, Virginians by birth, who, when young, went to Tennessee and settled in Knox County, where they were married. After their marriage they settled in Rhea County, where Mrs. Box was born and reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Box have been born ten children, only three of whom, Frances E. (Mrs. John Morrison), Robert S. and Sarah E. (Mrs. Alonza Howard) are living. Those dead are John W., James J., William W., Thomas J., David Michael, Hugh L. and a baby unnamed. Mr. Box left Tennessee on April 29, 1843, and settled on Grand Prairie, Greene Co., Mo., on June 7, 1843. Remaining there until December 1 of the same year, he again set out, and located where he now resides. He entered 240 acres of land, and soon after built a log house, which, at that time, was the finest in the neighborhood. Mr. Box has improved his property, and, after having given his children land, still has a farm of 120 acres. He helped to build the first church and school-house in his neighborhood. He has been an influential citizen of the county, and has witnessed its development from a wild state to its present prosperous condition. At the time of his settlement the country surrounding his home was an unbroken, prairie, but since then a heavy growth of timber has sprung up. In early life Mr. Box professed religion, and connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and two years later, when about eighteen years of age, he was licensed to exhort, which he continued until 1843, when he was licensed to preach. For the last forty-five years he has been engaged in ministerial work, and in that time has joined ninety-eight couples in marriage. During the late war he remained at home on account of his age, and took no part in the contest in any way.