The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 204 A portrait of Martin V. Jackson appears in this publication. MARTIN V. JACKSON. In the lamentable and tragic death of Martin V. Jackson, Yakima county lost not only a foremost agriculturist and the community a loyal and public-spirited citizen, but there were also many who mourned him as a steadfast friend, while to his immediate family he was ever deeply devoted. While he attained individual prosperity and occupied a substantial position among the people of his neighborhood, he also made valuable contributions to the general good and the sum total of his whole career must be counted of the greatest value to the state. Whatever he undertook he prosecuted with steadfast purpose and his energy and industry won for him the day. He had the intelligence of original thought and the audacity of new action and thus he became a leader in his particular vocation, setting a good example for present and future generations. Mr. Jackson came of most distinguished ancestry. He was born in Hinchinbrooke, Ontaria, Canada, May 12, 1864, a son of John Cogswell Jackson, who was born in New York and was a son of Jethro Jackson, the latter a nephew of President Andrew Jackson. Mrs. Jackson, the mother of our subject, before her marriage was Elizabeth Jane Cronk, a native of New York and a daughter of John Cronk, Jr., of New York, and a niece of John Cronk, Sr., who voluntarily served in the War of 1812. He was the last survivor of that conflict and in 1903 died at Albany, New York, at the age of one hundred and five years. On account of his distinguished connection with the War of 1812 and being the last survivor he was given a public funeral, John C. Jackson, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and as a pioneer made his way overland to Clear Lake, Iowa. Later he was located at Tarkio, Missouri, where he passed away. The family had returned from Canada when our subject was but a child. Martin V. Jackson, having removed with the family to Iowa, received his public school education in that state and after laying aside his textbooks at the age of seventeen left home and became connected with a surveying gang of the Great Northern Railroad. He was among the early residents of Washington, arriving in Kittitas county in the early '80s, and shortly thereafter he came to Yakima county, where he took up a timber claim on the Wenas. Later, in 1891, he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he proved up in 1896, and the certificate from the government with the signature of Grover Cleveland is still in the possession of his widow. The ranch is located five and a half miles southwest of Sunnyside. In October, 1904, Mr. Jackson brought his wife here. Their first home was a two-room cabin but the family residence is now one of the finest in the neighborhood. Mr. Jackson began work by clearing away tile sagebrush and as the years passed gradually brought his acres under cultivation. In 1903 he sold eighty acres of the homestead, retaining the remaining eighty acres, and this he cultivated until death claimed him. In 1911 He erected a handsome residence and in the course of time also built substantial barns. Modern machinery, in which he was ever interested, facilitated the work of the fields, and thus he became a leader in the development and upbuilding of his region. On the 17th of February, 1904, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Cora May Brussman, a native of Covington, Kentucky, and a daughter of Augustus F. and Eliza Ann (Linville) Brussman, who were born in Kentucky and Ohio respectively. The father was a son of Augustus F. and Margaret (Seidel) Brussman, both of whom were members of the Austrian aristocracy. They were given permission by the government to leave the country on account of the political troubles of 1849 and after arriving in this country Augustus F. Brussman. Sr., located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later removal was made to Covington, Kentucky, where he passed away. His son, the father of Mrs. Jackson now resides near Leasburg, Missouri, being a retired cigar manufacturer. Mrs. Brussman was a daughter of Kingston and Zerelda (Steers) Linville, the former born in Linville, Virginia, of an old southern family. Colonel Lewis, of Revolutionary War fame, was a great uncle of Mrs. Zerelda Linville, while Mrs. Jackson is also descended from General Van Wyck, aid-de-camp of General George Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born five children: Nettie Rosalind, Elizabeth Jane, Martin Henry, Stella May and John Cogswell. Mr. Jackson died August 19, 1911, being killed by falling from the roof of his house while he was engaged in shingling. The news of his death spread far and wide throughout the neighborhood and was received everywhere with the most sincere expressions of grief and sorrow. Many were the friends who mourned in him an honorable and upright man, while to his family his loss appeared irreparable. He was ever devoted to their care and welfare, being a most loving husband and father. In his home centered his greatest interest and all of his thoughts were given to making that home more pleasant for his loved ones. In fact, he was an ideal family man and yet he found time to make friends outside the home circle. These friends he retained because of his high character, being ever ready to extend a cheering word of sound advice or a helpful action to those whose pathways were beset by difficulties and obstacles. Mrs. Jackson has taken over the business affairs since the death of her husband and has proven eminently successful in the management of the property. She is giving great care to the rearing of her family in order to make them useful members of society and yet she finds time to do a man's work in looking after the interests of the place. She raises largely alfalfa and potatoes and has continued to improve the property, which is now one of the most valuable in the neighborhood and is widely known as the Fairview Ranch. The prominence of the family is indicated in the fact that she is mentioned in the famous Who's Who in America, a place in that volume being conceded to her on account of the many distinguished members of her family. She is an ex-president of the Riverside Woman's Club and has ever been socially active. She gives her allegiance to the Christian church, of which she is a faithful member. Mr. Jackson was also a devoted and helpful member of the Christian church, which he regularly attended and in which faith he passed away. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias and also to the Grange, of which he was a charter member, and was always concerned in all public improvements, many of which he brought about through his active help and cooperation. His political support was given to the democratic party but he was never an office seeker although he was thoroughly informed on the questions and issues of the day not only regarding local affairs but also in regard to state and national problems. In fact he was one of the best informed men in his district, whose advice was often sought and whose opinions carried weight. His memory lives as a benediction to all who knew aught of him and his name will ever stand in the history of the district as one of the sturdy pioneers who here assisted in laying deep the seeds of civilization. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.