Person:Silas Jackson (19)

Silas and his second wife Rachel are found in the 1880 Census for Denver, Arapahoe Co. They say they've been married one year. The biography below doesn't mention it, but Silas must have been divorced from his first wife as she was still living when he married Rachel.

Biography of Silas Mitchell Jackson written by his daughter Ella Brown Jackson Spooner and published in Oscar Burton Robbin's book, pgs 30, 31. See source.

"Silas Mitchell Jackson was born at Chesterville near Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Moved to Whiteside County, Illinois, in 1838. Lived with his parents on their farm which later comprised part of the town of Morrison. attended district school at Morrison.

"By the time he was 12 years of age he had read 'Washington and his Generals", "Napoleon and his Marshalls", "Caesar and his Wars" and "Josephus' History of the Ancient Jews" besides all of his father's books and all he could borrow from neighboring farms. Always had a great thirst for knowledge and was a habitual reader. Often read till 2:00 AM, and some times all night.

"In 1856, at 19 he graduated from High School at Lyndon, six miles away on Rock River. In 1856-57 he lived on a Homestead in Kansas, about fifty miles south of the present city of Lawrence. The Homestead consisted of 160 acres. He lived there nearly a year, then sold his land for $500.00. With this money he spent 3 months attending a Business School in Rockford, Ill. At the same time Henry M. Teller, who was later to be the U.S. Senator from Colorado was studying law there, he [Silas] was also studying law in another office in the same block.

"The Civil War ended his studies, he was admitted to the Bar in 1861. He enlisted in Morrison, was mustered in at Dixon Illinois, May 24, 1861, Company "G" Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He passed through the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Arkansas Post, Madison Station, Ringold Gap, the sieges of Vicksburg and Chattanooga. They were under Grant, Sherman, Logan. Mustered out at Springfield, Illinois June 18 1864. At the close of the War conditions were so changed that he did not attempt to continue his Law studies.

"In 1866-68 he was living in Lyons, part of the town of Clinton. Here he engaged in Insurance business. During the next six years he taught school.

"After attending two summer sessions of the Missouri State Norman at Warrensburg, he graduated there receiving his Diploma, June 18 1874. In 1875 he went to Denver, where he took a position as bookkeeper for a Wholesale Lumber firm, and spent time learning the lumber business. After the boiler exploded in a saw-mill at Salida, Colo., killing one of the partners in a retail lumber firm there, the surviving partner appealed to the Wholesale firm in Denver for a man to take the place.

"This was the occasion for Mr. Jackson's going to Salida, where he became one of the partners in the Salida Lumber Co. His wife and daughter followed in the spring of 1884.

"On April 15, 1891, he received his commission as Post Master of Salida. Held office until March 31, 1896. This was during Harrison's Administration and part of Cleveland's.

"He was Mayor April 1896 to April 1898. Said to be the first one to hold two successive terms in the town. City Clerk April 1898-99. President of the School Board, 1902-1908.

"At the expiration of his term as City Clerk he again went into the Lumber Business and established the Jackson Lumber Company. Commander of the G.A.R. Post at Salida and Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee several times.

"In the spring of 1908 he removed to Canon City, where he reside for 19 years and until his death June 27, 1927. His interest in Politics and Current Events was keen to the end."

1. ↑ United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9)
   Denver, Arapahoe Co, CO.
2.   Keifer, Sarah J. Harris (Sarah Jane Harris). Genealogical and biographical sketches of the New Jersey branch of the Harris family in the United States. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Photocopied by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 19--).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Robbins, Oscar Burton. History of the Jackson family of Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., Ohio and Indiana: descendants of Robert and Agnes Washburn Jackson. (Loveland, Colo.: Robbins, 1951)
   30, 31.

   Includes biography written by his daughter.

4.   United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
   District 37, Whiteside County, Illinois.
5.   United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   Mount Pleasant, Whiteside County, Illinois.