Jefferson Jackson, general merchant, and a member of the firm of Owen & Jackson, of Stockton, Mo., was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1818, and is a son of John and Jane (Preston) Jackson, who were also Tennesseeans, born in 1792 and 1795, respectively. The father was a farmer and carpenter, and served in the War of 1812. They both died in 1840, her death preceding his nine days. Jefferson is the fourth of their nine children, and was educated in the early subscription schools, and was reared in a mill and still house. After remaining with his parents until twenty-one years of age, he began doing for himself, and, in 1843, was married to Miss Matilda Crawford, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1818. To them were born seven children; Elizabeth Jane, wife of J. R. Owens; James M., a merchange of Stockton, Mo.; Margaret, the deceased wife of C. W. Paynter, of Stockton; Nancy S., wife of Daniel M. Bailey, of Kansas City; Sarah, wife of Dr. R. A. Brown; Amanda, wife of Lon Pyle, and John R. (deceased). Mr. Jackson left his native State in the fall of 1843, and moved to the State of Arkansas, but, in November, 1845, came to Cedar County, Mo., and settled, and until the late war was engaged in farming eight miles east of the county seat. In 1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards, but soon after returned home, and resumed farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, Fifteenth Regiment Missouri Cavalry, and, after being in the service twenty months, was discharged at Springfield. His son James M. was in the same company. In the fall of 1865 he commenced clerking in Stockton for his son, James M., and J. R. Owen, remaining with them five years. In 1870 he was elected sheriff and ex-officio collector, and served two years. In 1880 he and J. M. Thompson purchased an interest in the general store of J. R. Owen, in Stockton, but, in December, 1888, Mr. Thompson sold his interest, since which time Mr. Owen and Mr. Jackson have been in business alone. Since 1871 he has had an interest in the store belonging to his son and C. W. Paynter, eight miles east of Stockton. He owns 550 acres of land in Cedar County, and is one of the substantial business men of the community. When he commenced life for himself he was the owner of two ponies, two cows, and one colored man, but at present is one of the wealthy citizens of the county. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Harrison for the presidency in 1840, being then a Whig. He is a Mason, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for twenty-five years. His wife died in 1876, and in 1881 he married Harriet E. Pollard, a native of Tennessee, whose maiden name was McMinn. James M. Jackson, his son, was born in Roane County, Tenn., and received his education in Fayette College, Howard County, Mo., which institution he entered in 1858, remaining eighteen months. When eighteen years of age he began teaching school in Cedar and Polk Counties, continuing this occupation until the fall of 1863, when he enlisted in Company M, Fifteenth Misouri Cavalry, U.S.A., and served for twenty months in Southwest Missouri, receiving his discharge at Springfield. January 1, 1865, he formed a partnership with J. R. Owen, and, until 1872, the firm was Owen & Jackson, but, at that date, Mr. Jackson purchased Mr. Owen's interest, and, almost immediately, A. J. Bacon and Jefferson Jackson became members of the firm, which is now known as J. M. Jackson & Co. The establishment comprises two rooms and a basement, and is filled with a first-class stock of general merchandise. Mr. Jackson is a live, energetic business man, and, besides his store, owns 240 acres of valuable land, a one-third interest in Caplinger's mills, and a general merchandise store, managed by T. B. Kannady, at the latter place. He is a Democrat, politically; his first vote being cast for John Bell, in 1860. He has served as a member of the town council, and has been secretary of the same. He is a Royal Arch Mason. On the 15th of March, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Seraphine Bacon, a daughter of Abel J. and Hannah (Hembree) Bacon. She was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1849, and she and Mr. Jackson are the parents of four children: Walter L., a salesman in his father's store; Abel J., a student at Morrisville College; Otis M. and Pearl C.
