An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 324-325.

FRANCIS M. JACKSON, a well known and highly respected horticulturist and farmer
of the Hood River valley, resides about seven miles south from the town of Hood
River, and was born in Athens, Tennessee, on December 13, 1836. His parents,
John B. and Dorcas (Cox) Jackson, were pioneers in Tennessee. The father was
born in North Carolina, as were also his parents, and when sixteen he went alone
to Kentucky, where he married and whence he returned later to Tennessee. He was
a man of refinement and education, being especially skilled in mathematics and
music. He was professor in Monticello academy, Kentucky, and later taught music.
He finally published a musical work that netted him a nice profit. He was clerk
of McMinn county, Tennessee, for many years and died in Morristown, that state,
in 1858. His wife died in the same town in 1858. She was descended from an old
southern family. Our subject lived in Morristown from the age of six to
seventeen and received an academic education there. Then he traveled with ox
teams to Missouri, and in the spring of 1856 continued his journey on to
California, where he wrought for two years and six months at mining. Owing to
his father's death he then returned to the east and remained on the old place
for some time and bought a farm and some slaves. Owing to rumors of war, Mr.
Jackson did not return to California as he originally in-tended to do, and in
June, 1861, enlisted in the Fourth Battalion of Tennessee Cavalry, his command
being known as Peck's Light Dragoons. He had served only two months as private
when he was promoted to a lieutenancy. Previous to enlistment, he had assisted
to organize another company, but as there was not a probability of their being
allowed to go to the front, they were disbanded. His regiment was mostly in
Kentucky and upper Tennessee, and he served as first lieutenant until the Wild
Cat fight, General Nelson federal commander and General Zollicoffer confederate.
The captain of Lieutenant Jackson's company resigned and he was unanimously
elected to the position by acclamation. He was in Fisher Creek battle, near his
father's old home, in which conflict General Zollicoffer lost his life; our
subject's regiment was defeated and fell back into Tennessee. Captain Jackson
was in two fights near Vicksburg, but did not participate in the siege. He was
captured in the Black River battle and suffered eighteen months at the war
prison in Johnson's island near Sandusky, Ohio. Being exchanged, he visited at
his old home and then returned to his regiment and was acting colonel until the
close of the war. His commission was on its way for a colonelcy when the war
closed. Captain Jackson fought hard and long for the cause he thought to be
right and after the war returned to his old home only to find the war feeling so
strong that his life was in danger. His finances were ruined by the war and what
little he could recover he promptly used to liquidate debts he owed for slaves
bought on credit. When his debts were all paid, he had little left and so
started life anew. For the last two years in his town, Morristown, he was city
recorder and was nominated for mayor when he had decided to some west again. He
came to The Dalles via San Francisco and Portland, and soon after arriving took
the place where he resides at this time. Since then, the Captain has bestowed
his labors here with a good measure of success. He is skilled in horticulture
and also does some general farming. Captain Jackson is a man of integrity and
honor and his keen sense of justice and uprightness are known to all by virtue
of a worthy and commendable life.      

On June 8, 1859, at Morristown, Mr. Jackson married Miss Elizabeth L. Thurman,
the daughter of William M. and Mary (Bibb) Thurman. The mother of Mary Bibb was
Elizabeth Lewis, related to Captain Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame. Mrs. Jackson
was a member of the well known Thurman family, one of whom was candidate for
vice president with Cleveland. Her mother's mother was a member of the
Sutherland family, prominent in the south, of Scotch extraction, members of
which served in the Revolution, among which was Mrs. Jackson's grandfather. Our
subject has two brothers, David C., a captain in the confederate army, for many
years postmaster at Summitville, Tennessee, and, now farming; George W., a
preacher in Denton county, Texas. Also, he has one sister, Elizabeth S., wife of
S. M. Sawyers, a civil engineer of DeSoto, Kansas. Mrs. Jackson had one brother,
Preston C., an attorney in Bonham, Texas. She had four sisters: Martha C., who
dwells with our subject; Mary J., widow of J.B. Jones, of Fannin county, Texas;
Lucy V., single, in Texas; and Josephine, wife of Mr. Wood, in Fannin county,
Texas. Captain Jackson has five children living: Carrie L., wife of John H.
Gerdes, proprietor of Gerdes house in Hood River; William F., a farmer near
Moro, this state; John B., living with his father and owner of the adjoining
farm; David M., with his father; and Francis R., living on a homestead near his
father's home.      

It is of interest in this connection to state that our subject was a member of
the escort of Jefferson Davis up to the time of the capture. Mr. Davis left the
escort the day before the capture to visit his family. Our subject is a Democrat
in politics and for twenty-nine years he has been director of the district
school where he lives.      

He was the prime mover in the organization of the Pine Grove district and has
shown commendable interest in the building up of the country. He has twice been
nominated for county commissioner and, although running far ahead of his ticket,
still suffered defeat.



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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.