Person:Charles Jackson (98)

In her Family Tree Maker Genealogy Report for Ezekiel J Jackson Sr^S2, Merrie Rue Smith includes the following note:
The Press, Manchester, Iowa - October 26, 1876

Killed Last Thursday evening, a few of our democratic citizens got out an old rust eaten cast-iron cannon, for the purpose of celebrating their victory in Indiana. They took it, about half past 9 o'clock, some ten rode west of the engine house on Main street, on the road graded up north of the pond, with the muzzle pointing south toward the marsh, and commenced firing, filling the piece after putting in the powder, with clay, sand, grass & rammed down as solidly as possible to make the noise of the discharge the louder. After firing five or six times the old thing exploded, as might have been expected, throwing the carriage in all directions, and literally blowing the piece itself to fragments. One piece, weighing 44 pounds, was thrown directly east W [unreadable word] west corner of the Clarence House, a distance of 134 paces. Two other large pieces went in directly an opposite line, for about the same distance. But the saddest thing of all is yet to relate. Standing about 30 feet west and a little north of the gun, was a young man named Charles H. Jackson, a spectator of the proceedings. A piece of the cannon struck him just at the top of the forehead, a trifle lowest on the left side. Both sides of the skull were fractured to the base of the brain, and the top of the skull was taken completely away, exposing the whole brain. Portions of the brain were found twelve feet distant from the body. As a matter of course his death was instantaneous.

That others were not hurt is remarkable. Quite a number were standing about, besides those engaged in firing the cannon. But with the exception of Jackson, no one was injured, worth mention. We are informed that those who got out the gun were cautioned not to use it, by those who knew something of its condition. It is deeply to be regretted that they did not heed the warning.

Young Jackson, who had just passed his 21st birthday, was a young man of most excellent character, steady, temperate, and industrious, and of a genial disposition that had made him many friends. He had been employed in the meat market of Rich & Smith for about three years, and was highly esteemed by them. He was a nephew of Mr. R. H. Smith, of that firm, and has four sisters and two brothers in Kansas. The funeral was held at Mr. Smith's house at 11 o'clock Saturday last, the services being conducted by Rev. B. Sheffer of the M. E. church and E. R. Silles of the Congregational. The utmost sympathy is felt by all for the relatives of the young man so suddenly taken from among us.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Compiler: Thomas H McCorkill. McCorkill-Smith GED. (file 1802192)
   Date of Import: Feb 6, 2002.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Merrie Rue Smith. Merrie Rue Smith, Recipient: Rick Moffat.

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   Note by Rick Moffat regarding the obituary included by Merrie Rue Smith if the reporter was referring to the Thursday prior to publication on Thursday, Oct. 16th, 1876, then the date of the above incident was Oct. 19th.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Ezekiel Jackson household, in Dearborn, Indiana, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M693)
   1860.

   Name: Chas H Jackson
   Age in 1860: 5
   Birth Year: abt 1855
   Birthplace: Indiana
   Home in 1860: Miller, Dearborn, Indiana
   Gender: Male
   Post Office: Lawrenceburg
   Household Members: Name Age
   Ezekiel Jackson 33
   Ann Jackson 35
   James S Jackson 7
   Chas H Jackson 5
   Rhoda Jackson 2
   Martha J Evans 17
   Kate A Evans 15
   Wm H Evans 13
   Rhoda Jackson 78

4. ↑ Spring Grove Cemetery, Winchester, in Find A Grave.

   Charles H. Jackson