Springfield-Greene
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GEORGE W. JACKSON. Endowed with a liberal share of good common sense and possessing sound judgment, backed by a well-founded purpose to succeed, George W. Jackson, well-known farmer and amateur botanist of Republic township, Greene county, has labored with the object primarily in view of making a good home for himself and family and acquiring a competency for his declining years. This laudable desire has been realized, and he is in what we sometimes call "easy circumstances," with a sufficient surplus for the proverbial "rainy day," which sooner or later comes to every individual, and which, when not provided for, results in at least much inconvenience and unhappiness if not downright suffering. After farming successfully in this vicinity for over forty years he is now living in retirement, spending quietly the mellow Indian summer of his years, and having an eye for the beautiful in nature, is happy with her wonders spread about him, which he seeks to interpret.
Mr. Jackson was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, November 27, 1843. He is a son of John and Christiana (Chenabury) Jackson, both parents natives of Tennessee, where they grew to maturity, were educated in a limited way in the old time subscription schools and there were married. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent and the mother was of German descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Virginian and he spent his early life in the Old Dominion, removing from there to Knox county, Tennessee, and establishing his future home on a farm. After their marriage the parents of our subject took up their residence on a farm in Knox county and resided there until 1870, when they removed to Greene county, Missouri, where three of their sons had preceded them, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1872 and the mother in 1879. Their family consisted of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: James is deceased; George W., of this sketch; John S. C., a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume; Edward L. and Mary Jane were twins.
George W. Jackson grew to manhood on the farm and worked there during the crop seasons, and in the winter time attended the district schools. He remained in Tennessee until 1867, when he and two brothers came to Greene county, Missouri, and purchased railroad land, and here they have since resided and prospered by their industry. His brother, John S. C., has accumulated four hundred acres, and our subject's finely improved and productive farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, on which stands a good home in the midst of attractive surroundings, and he has numerous substantial outbuildings. Some time ago he retired from the active work of the farm and is now renting his farm, which is one of the best in Pond Creek township.
Mr. Jackson was married on September 14, 1871, to Charlotta O'Neal, who was born in 1851 in Carroll county, Arkansas, and she received a common school education. She is a daughter of Charles and Martha (Hillhouse) O'Neal, natives of Kentucky, where they grew up and were married and resided until 1850, when they came to Carroll county, Arkansas, living there a while, then came to Greene county in about 1865. The O'Neals are a well-known family, and Mrs. Jackson is a sister of Judge A. J. O'Neal, and George O'Neal. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal eleven children were born.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, namely: Mattie married Luther Wade, a farmer of Pond Creek township, this county, and they have three children; Jason G., also farming in Pond Creek township, married Della Batson, and they have four children; Minnie married Benjamin Squibb, a farmer of Pond Creek township, and they have four children; Nellie, who married Lawrence Coggins, died November 13, 1906, leaving one child, Gladys.
Mr. Jackson has long made a study of botany and has spent much time with plants of all kinds common to this locality, raising almost all the herbs and plants used in materia medica, and has had a very satisfactory income from this source. He has won a wide reputation in this field of endeavor, and is regarded as an authority in this line. Politically he is a Republican, and religiously belongs to the Baptist church. He is a man of fine mind and exemplary character and is popular.
[1691-1693]
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