Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 448. JOHN B. JACKSON John B. Jackson, though not a native of the Hood River valley, has lived here so long and taken so active a part in the development of its farming and orchard interests that he is regarded as one of its "old residenters," and holds a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born in Morristown, Tennessee, on the 26th of June, 1871, and is a son of Captain F. M. and Elizabeth (Thurman) Jackson. His paternal grandparents were John B. and Dorcas (Cox) Jackson, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, a member of an old pioneer family of that state, and was highly educated, having served as professor of higher mathematics and music in Monticello Academy in Kentucky. He published a book of music, which gained him a nice fortune. Later in life he served as clerk of McMinn county, Tennessee, for many years. He and his wife died in that state, he in 1858 and his wife in 1853. F.M. Jackson was born in Athens, Tennessee, December 13, 1836, and received a good academic education in that state. After completing his studies, he went to Missouri with ox teams and in the spring of 1856, when not yet twenty years old, went overland to California. He worked in the gold mines for two years but on the death of his father in 1858 he returned east and, buying some slaves, operated the home farm until the outbreak of the Civil war. On June 21, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Fourth Battalion of Tennessee Cavalry, Peck's Light Dragoons, in which he was made a lieutenant two months later. He fought through Kentucky and Tennessee and was captured at the battle of Black River. He was confined as a prisoner of war for eighteen months at Johnson's island, near Sandusky, Ohio, and on being exchanged returned to his old regiment, of which he was acting colonel until the close of the war. He was a member of the escort of Jefferson Davis until the day before the latter's capture, when he went home to visit his family. When the war ended he found himself practically ruined financially, but he gathered up what property he could, with which he paid off the debts he owed, and then became city recorder of Morristown, filling that office for two years. He was nominated for mayor but decided to again go west. He proceeded to San Francisco, thence by boat to Portland, and up the river to the Hood River valley, which he reached in 1872, and located on a homestead seven miles south of Hood River, where he resided until his death on January 12, 1914. He cleared a large part of his land and planted orchards. He supported the democratic ticket and took an active interest in public affairs, serving as a director of the Pine Grove school for twenty-nine years and, in association with Jerome W. Winchell and David Turner, organizing the first school district in the Hood River valley. Mr. Winchell donated a tract of land on which the schoolhouse was built. He was twice nominated for the office of county commissioner but was defeated, though running ahead of the balance of his ticket. On June 8, 1859, at Morristown, Tennessee, he married Miss Elizabeth L. Thurman, who was born in Virginia, August. 4, 1839, and died June 17, 1885. She was a daughter of William M. and Mary (Bibb) Thurman and was a member of the same family from which sprang Allan G. Thurman, the democratic nominee for vice president in Grover Cleveland's second campaign. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were laid to rest in the family burial ground on the old homestead and the graves, which are under a grove of fine old pine trees, are suitably marked. John B. Jackson received his educational training at the Pine Grove school in Odell district and remained at home until he was twenty years old, when he went to eastern Oregon, where he spent about six years. On his return to Hood River valley he took up a homestead adjoining his father's place, about seven miles south of Hood River. His land was densely covered with timber and brush, and he has performed a vast amount of labor in clearing the land, probably having cleared and drubbed seventy acres of land altogether in the valley. He has twenty-two acres planted to pears and apples, the remainder of the land being devoted to pasture and timber, though he raises some corn for his hogs. He has made many substantial improvements on his place, and it is now one of the valuable and productive ranches of the valley. On August 16, 1905, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss May B. Perry, who was born in Ellis, Kansas, and is a daughter of W. V. and Ida Perry, both of whom are now living in Hood River. Mr. Perry came to Oregon in 1902 and bought a fruit farm in the Hood River valley, which he later sold to his son and, having retired from active pursuits, moved to Hood River. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born three children, namely: Bernice May, who is now attending Willamette University at Salem, where she is majoring in history and English; Edna Grace, who is a graduate of the Hood River high school and is now at home; and Frances Marion, who is a senior in the Hood River high school. Mr. Jackson has taken a deep interest in the public affairs of his locality and has served nine years as road supervisor and helped to organize the new Pine Grove school. He has been successful in his business efforts, is a man of sterling integrity and fine personal qualities, and throughout the valley he is held in the highest regard. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.