Person Page - 478

William was hospitalized after a logging accident on March the 6th, 1995.⁶

Survivor(s): Shirley Middlebrook, Les Middlebrook, Basil Risteau, Ron Ristau and Hazel Ristau. Predeceased by her husband, Bill Risteau. Predeceased: Bill Risteau. Note that her second husband, Stan Fletcher, mentioned in the Delisle History is not referenced in this obituary. Possibly this marriage failed.⁷

JOHN H. JACKSON, a well-known farmer of Dearborn county, Ind., is a native of that county and was born May 15, 1854, his parents being Reuben C. and Isabelle Jackson, old and honored residents of the county. The paternal grandfather came to Indiana during the territorial days, cleared a farm and lived here all his subsequent life. He met his death by drowning in Tanner's creek. John H., who bears his grandfather's name, is the tenth of a family of thirteen children born to his parents. He received a common school education and after leaving school married and took charge of the home farm, which he now owns. It is a farm of two hundred acres of fine land and he carries on a successful business as a general farmer. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabelle Langdale, was a native of England but came with her parents to the United States when she was twelve years of age. Mr. Jackson is a solid Republican though not altogether a politician. He is a member of the Bright Lodge, Woodmen of the World. He was married in 1887 (sic) to Miss Mary E. Smith, a daughter of Jacob and Ann Smith, of Dearborn county, where her father is a successful farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson there were born two children, Clyde A. and Floyd S., both well educated and both living at home, though. Clyde is married. His wife keeps house for the family since the death of Mrs. Jackson, which occurred on August 29, 1902. Mr. Jackson is a man who enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors and has the confidence of all who know him as a man of unimpeachable integrity.¹²

John H. Jackson Answers Last Call
     John H. Jackson, one of Miller township's best known and highly respected residents, passed away at his home on Salt Fork, Thursday, March 21, after an illness of some weeks, at the age of 74 years.10 months and 6 days.
     A number of weeks ago, Mr. Jackson came to Lawrenceburg with his son, Floyd, and contracted a slight cold. Following this bronchial trouble developed and then pneumonia. This weakened him greatly and at his advanced age was unable to regain his strength.
     Mr. Jackson was the son of Reuben C. and Isabel (Langdale) Jackson. He was born in Miller township at the old Jackson homestead May 15, 1854 where he lived his entire life.December 18, 1878, he was married to Miss Mary E. Smith of near Guilford. To this union were born two sons, Clyde of Harrison, O, and Floyd, who lives on the old homestead on Salt Fork.
     Following his marriage he brought his bride to the old home place, made dear to him by childhood memories, and after her death on August 28, 1902, he continued here where the joys and sorrows of life had made this home a very sacred place to him and in his declining years he still continued to live here with his son, Floyd, until death called him to his home above. Mr. Jackson followed farming all of his life and was very successful at his chosen work, His farm of two hundred acres was well kept and well tended. He served as trustee of Miller township for six years and was a very capable and efficient official. He was a man of integrity and honesty and had the respect of all who knew him.
     Mr. Jackson was a member of the Presbyterian church at Bright and also a member of the Bright Lodge Modern Woodmen of America.
     Surviving him are his two sons, one sister, Mrs. Ruth Smith, of Sheldon, Ill., and eight grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. Two brothers, Thomas Jackson of La Habra, Calif., Ralph Jackson of Flora, Ill., and three sister, Mrs. Mary Miller, Mrs. Nancy Roe and Mrs. Mary James have preceded their brother in death.
     Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with services at the Homestead church, Rev. Carl Higgs of Bright assisted by Rev. Minter of Homestead officiating. Burial at Greendale cemetery.

     Cards of Thanks

     We desire to extend our sincere thanks to relatives, friends and neighbors, for kindness and sympathy extended us during the illness and after the death of our dearly beloved father, John H. Jackson. Especially do we wish to thank the ministers, the undertaker, the pallbearers, the donors of the flowers and the singers.
The Family.¹⁵

Later in life, John Jackson was Trustee of Miller Township for six years.

Reuben Christophy Jackson (1810-1887), father to John H., lived with them for 9 years when he died and was buried with his wife and family on Georgtown Ridge, Dearborn Co., IN.⁴

Among the first unexpected guests of my early home life on the Jackson Hill was an urgent call from Elizabethtown, Hamilton Co., OH. "Come over and get us." This was my first meeting with Bertha Belle Miller Guard (b.1869), Eva Mae Miller DeHart (b.1874), and Lou Ella Miller Irvin (b.1879) and their children. Ruth Alma Guard (b.1898) was a very pretty young teenager, too fat to run; then the two Irvin girls: Dorthy Bell (b.1903), perhaps also a little too plump, a blond; and her sister, Gladys (b.1899), an exceedingly lovely vivacious brunette; then the son Lowell M. (b.1899) of Eva and Allen DeHart (b.1870), a young slender lad. He and Gladys led in the race and these lively youngsters romped and played around and around the big house which today we know as the "House on the Hill."
     The fun began because there were too many for the spring wagon. The young man of the house met the situation by hitching the farm team to the hay wagon with a generous supply of hay to make it comfortable.
     Floyd Stanley Jackson (b.1881) started to E-Town in high glee to pick up his beloved cousins, the children of Father Jackson’s (John Harrison Jackson b. 1854) oldest sister, Margaret E. Jackson Miller (1843-1882). This was the first and only time I ever saw Bertha Miller Guard as she died early in her married life, as did her sister, Goldie Miller Sanders (1871-1903), mother of Vena Sanders Brown. How did I get onto this gloomy side of the picture? For this was indeed a happy party.
     It did not take a nice car or a fine home to have fun. I don’t know what I cooked, but I remember I did freeze ice cream and had the big table set; a little black cook stove, a big wooden box for a table or a large cabinet a very large one; I expect 4 X 6 with an oil cloth on top and I had to almost crawl inside to reach things to cook in, a curtain tacked across the front and the floors were covered with rag carpets.
     Another of my very early getting acquainted with my new relatives was in the fall of 1908 - the evening Mabel Grubbs and John Liddle were to be married. Mabel was very very dear to me. She was like a doll; the little sister of my very dearest school mate and seat mate and I had been in their home so much during our school days. Then in 1899, when Stella Grubbs was eighteen years old, “Angie” the lovely mother, was taken by death.
     Word had come that Aunt Mary Isabell Jackson James (b.1851) and Uncle Charlie W. James from Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. were coming to visit us on the noon train. I was very upset. I wanted so much to go to Mabel’s "Chivalry." Father, John Harrison Jackson, came home with empty seats, his sister and husband were not on the train; I was hilariously happy. There was another train at the Lawrenceburg Junction at 4 o’clock and Father had gone to meet that. I was sitting on the step where I could see the gate which led from the last bend of the road and turned into the yard. I was putting on my Sunday stockings which were neither silk or rayon and my Sunday shoes. Even with all my wistful thinking, I kept my eyes on the winding road and this time the seats were filled; really filled! Aunt Mary was large, I expect 200 lbs., but Uncle Charlie James weighed between 400 and 500 lbs.
     Nora Jackson never really swore. I did, however, say "gog-on-it" but I loved Aunt Mary, she was understanding. That word can mean so much, especially to a young wife who had come into a home where there was so much work. (During my young life on a farm I never did understand why my mother had to work all day. I would say, "Can’t you take the afternoon off?" but the most I remember, my Mother would wash her face, comb her hair smoothly back, put on a light clean wrapper, and lie down on the simple lounge for fifteen minutes.)
     To get back to my story, I will mention three things: Father, Aunt Mary, Uncle Charlie and myself, went to a funeral at Bright (I don’t remember whose). Father drove with the whip in his hands, and except for up and down the hills, the horses were kept trotting. Aunt Mary said “that is exactly like my father, the horses never dared walk; he was always in a hurry.” We did not tarry after the services. Dear Aunt Mary said, “I can see how much work you have waiting to be done at home.” Then the rest of the day she spent with me. After changing our Sunday best to a house dress, she followed me to the cellar where she chatted while I worked and patted the butter milk out and smoothed the sweet delicious butter. Then at supper, she bragged about my pumpkin pies; she always thought pumpkin had to be cooked hours. She said “Now Charlie, this pumpkin Nora didn’t cook very long at all and these pies are so good.” Now do you see why I loved Aunt Mary James? She too was a very pretty woman. Uncle Charlie would walk up and down the road fast just for exercise, and they broke the bed down. After all, there was over 600 lbs. of them to like or dislike and I liked them or her. I should say very very much They had two sons, Clifford (b.1875) and Loyd N. Jackson (b.1874).
     As I reminisce, I recall Aunt Nancy E. Jackson Rowe (1844-1911). I too saw her only once. She came to our wedding on September 5, 1906. I really saw her to remember at the breakfast table at my husband’s home on September 7th. I felt rather shy of her. She was not pretty like plump Aunt Mary; she was tall and proud, rather haughty, much given to boast. She married William H. Rowe, who was raised by the Blasdel family in the New Alaces community. They went to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. to live and they had only one son, Charlie. Uncle Will became quite wealthy for that day. Charlie Rowe (1866-1928) never married. He was worth $160,000 when he died in 1928. Our grandfather clock came from his estate.²³

Mary Ellen "Ella" Smith Jackson (1855-1902) was born December 1, 1855 of Jacob and Ann Smith at their home north of Guilford, Dearborn Co., IN. She married John H. Jackson (1854-1929), December 18, 1878 and they made their home at the old homestead where Clyde (1879-1941) and Floyd (1881-1958), her two sons, were born and grew to manhood. It was here, where the happy years of her married life were spent, that she passed away at 11:30 P.M., August 29, 1902.

In her early womanhood, she taught school and brought to this task the same earnest endeavor to do the best that was ever her characteristic. For some years she had been a valued member of the Grange, where she contributed much to the success of the order by her cheerfulness and readiness to work at all times.

She had been a teacher in the Union Sunday School Class at Salt Fork School for a long time, where she exerted a happy influence over her class; as she did with all of whom she came in contact. Not only did this noble woman make the world brighter for us all, but she made the burdens of the world lighter for many. Only those, whose suffering and need were relieved by her hand, will ever know how much she did for humanity

Indeed, she reminds us of Dorcus of Joppa, when she died. "Peter, being in the city was called, and when he arrived, the weeping friends showed him the coats and garments which she had made for them. They said, ‘This woman is full of good works and alms deeds."

In the last years of her life, Mrs. Jackson became a member of the Presbyterian Church and Sunday School at Bright, Dearborn Co., IN. It was the privilege of the pastor to know upon her own testimony that she was trysting Jesus Christ as her Saviour and she died in that faith. She was of an exceptionally happy disposition when she met you in her home or in public. It was with a smile and the length of time you remained in her presence that you realized it was true womanhood manifested in an open countenance and a happy smile. Now has passed from among us a noble woman, one whose influence was ever felt for good and her whole life has been uplifting to all about her. As daughter, mother, and neighbor, she filled her place well.

On August 29, 1902, at 11:30 P.M., the mother and wife, Mrs. Ella Jackson was suddenly stricken and died. While through the summer she had not been well, her death came unexpectedly and left the father and sons overwhelmed with grief.³

Date Discrepancy:
The marriage date of John H. and Mary Ellen was listed in one location as December 18, 1875 and in two other locations as December 18, 1878. It is not known which is correct. LDS site states the year of marriage as 1878.³

THOMAS BENTON COTTINGHAM
Much credit must be given to those farmers who for a number of years have worked steadily away at their chosen field of endeavor, giving their best thought and energy to the difficult problems of agricultural life, and who at the same time have not been blind to the various needs of their community, but have made themselves felt as an influence for good among their fellows. Dearborn county has reason to be proud of the many true men she has produced, among whom is Thomas Benton Cottingham, a well-known farmer of Miller township.

T. B. Cottingham was born at Logan Cross Roads, Dearborn county, Indiana, on April 3. 1846. He is the son of Thomas and Sarah Mills (Stohmes) Cottingham, natives of Yorkshire, England, and Ohio, respectively.

Thomas Cottingham. Sr., was born in Yorkshire. England, in 1810. and at an early age emigrated with his parents to America. They settled near

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA. 709
Baltimore, Maryland. A short time after the death of the father, Thomas Cottingham Sr., came with his mother to Cincinnati. Here he received the rudiments of a common-school education and learned the blacksmith's trade by apprenticeship. Later removing to Dearborn county and settling on a farm at Logan Cross Roads, he built a shop and followed his trade as a blacksmith. The farm where he located was obtained from Alford Stohmes, his brother-in-law, for whom he assumed certain financial obligations. Thomas Cottingham was married to Sarah Mills Stohmes, a native of Delhi, Ohio, born in 1815. To this union were [born] nine children, as follow: Eliza, Charlotte, deceased: Alonzo. Sarah Amelia, Jacob, deceased; Thomas B., the subject of this sketch: Matilda, deceased; Louisa, deceased; and one child who died in infancy. The mother of these children, Sarah Mills (Stohmes) Cottingham, died on the farm, in Harrison township, in 1850, at the early age of thirty-five years. The father, Thomas Cottingham, Sr., after operating his ninety-acre farm in Harrison township and following his blacksmith's trade for a number of years, spent the last fifteen years of his life with a daughter, Mrs. Liddle, of Bright, Indiana. He died at the ripe old age of nearly eighty-seven years. He was an active Democrat, having served as trustee of Harrison township one term.

T. B. Cottingham, the subject of this sketch, grew up in Harrison township. Dearborn county, Indiana, and received a common-school education in the district township schools. He remained on the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he worked out at different places for himself. Reared a farmer, he chose his vocation as such, and, with the exception of three or four years in which he was engaged in the general mercantile business at Bright, Indiana, in partnership with W. S. Fagaley, he has followed farming all his life. After his marriage, in 1874, he continued in the mercantile business for about a year, and then sold his interest and bought a farm of seventy-five acres in Miller township. After living here for about six years he sold the farm and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he moved in 1881, and where he has continued to reside. Mr. Cottingham has a beautiful farm, kept in excellent shape, and, located on high ground, his place commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country.

On June 24, 1874, T. E. Cottingham was married to Louisa Langdale, a native of Miller township. Dearborn county, Indiana, who was born on January 29. 1844. She was the daughter of Robert Hill and Martha Colvin Langdale. To this happy union were born three children, Stanley L., de-

710 DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.
ceased ; Howard and Edna A. Howard married Elizabeth Renck and operates the home farm. They have three children, Agnes, Clayton and Albert S. Edna married J. D. Moore, and lives at Charleston, West Virginia, and they have three children. Rossebell, Louisa and Thomas Benton. Mrs. Louisa (Langdale) Cottingham died, May 1 (sic), 1911, a loving wife and devoted mother and loved by all who knew her.

Mr. Cottingham, as was his beloved wife, is an ardent member of the Christian church. He has been an elder in the church at Bright, Indiana, since its organization, and has always taken an active interest in its work. Mr. Cottingham is not affiliated with any lodges, and, although an active Democrat, he has not held public office. T. B. Cottingham, who is now practically retired, is a fair type of the prosperous and progressive farmer. He is a companionable man of cheery disposition, genteel and sociable. A man who stands for what he thinks is right and just, he is favorably known and looked upon as an honorable citizen.¹³

Survivor(s): Alta Mae Jackson, Ruby Rosetta Jackson and Stanley Bonham Jackson. Predeceased: Floyd Stanley Jackson.⁸

Among the first unexpected guests of my early home life on the Jackson Hill was an urgent call from Elizabethtown, Hamilton Co., OH. "Come over and get us." This was my first meeting with Bertha Belle Miller Guard (b.1869), Eva Mae Miller DeHart (b.1874), and Lou Ella Miller Irvin (b.1879) and their children. Ruth Alma Guard (b.1898) was a very pretty young teenager, too fat to run; then the two Irvin girls: Dorthy Bell (b.1903), perhaps also a little too plump, a blond; and her sister, Gladys (b.1899), an exceedingly lovely vivacious brunette; then the son Lowell M. (b.1899) of Eva and Allen DeHart (b.1870), a young slender lad. He and Gladys led in the race and these lively youngsters romped and played around and around the big house which today we know as the "House on the Hill."
     The fun began because there were too many for the spring wagon. The young man of the house met the situation by hitching the farm team to the hay wagon with a generous supply of hay to make it comfortable.
     Floyd Stanley Jackson (b.1881) started to E-Town in high glee to pick up his beloved cousins, the children of Father Jackson’s (John Harrison Jackson b. 1854) oldest sister, Margaret E. Jackson Miller (1843-1882). This was the first and only time I ever saw Bertha Miller Guard as she died early in her married life, as did her sister, Goldie Miller Sanders (1871-1903), mother of Vena Sanders Brown. How did I get onto this gloomy side of the picture? For this was indeed a happy party.
     It did not take a nice car or a fine home to have fun. I don’t know what I cooked, but I remember I did freeze ice cream and had the big table set; a little black cook stove, a big wooden box for a table or a large cabinet a very large one; I expect 4 X 6 with an oil cloth on top and I had to almost crawl inside to reach things to cook in, a curtain tacked across the front and the floors were covered with rag carpets.
     Another of my very early getting acquainted with my new relatives was in the fall of 1908 - the evening Mabel Grubbs and John Liddle were to be married. Mabel was very very dear to me. She was like a doll; the little sister of my very dearest school mate and seat mate and I had been in their home so much during our school days. Then in 1899, when Stella Grubbs was eighteen years old, “Angie” the lovely mother, was taken by death.
     Word had come that Aunt Mary Isabell Jackson James (b.1851) and Uncle Charlie W. James from Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. were coming to visit us on the noon train. I was very upset. I wanted so much to go to Mabel’s "Chivalry." Father, John Harrison Jackson, came home with empty seats, his sister and husband were not on the train; I was hilariously happy. There was another train at the Lawrenceburg Junction at 4 o’clock and Father had gone to meet that. I was sitting on the step where I could see the gate which led from the last bend of the road and turned into the yard. I was putting on my Sunday stockings which were neither silk or rayon and my Sunday shoes. Even with all my wistful thinking, I kept my eyes on the winding road and this time the seats were filled; really filled! Aunt Mary was large, I expect 200 lbs., but Uncle Charlie James weighed between 400 and 500 lbs.
     Nora Jackson never really swore. I did, however, say "gog-on-it" but I loved Aunt Mary, she was understanding. That word can mean so much, especially to a young wife who had come into a home where there was so much work. (During my young life on a farm I never did understand why my mother had to work all day. I would say, "Can’t you take the afternoon off?" but the most I remember, my Mother would wash her face, comb her hair smoothly back, put on a light clean wrapper, and lie down on the simple lounge for fifteen minutes.)
     To get back to my story, I will mention three things: Father, Aunt Mary, Uncle Charlie and myself, went to a funeral at Bright (I don’t remember whose). Father drove with the whip in his hands, and except for up and down the hills, the horses were kept trotting. Aunt Mary said “that is exactly like my father, the horses never dared walk; he was always in a hurry.” We did not tarry after the services. Dear Aunt Mary said, “I can see how much work you have waiting to be done at home.” Then the rest of the day she spent with me. After changing our Sunday best to a house dress, she followed me to the cellar where she chatted while I worked and patted the butter milk out and smoothed the sweet delicious butter. Then at supper, she bragged about my pumpkin pies; she always thought pumpkin had to be cooked hours. She said “Now Charlie, this pumpkin Nora didn’t cook very long at all and these pies are so good.” Now do you see why I loved Aunt Mary James? She too was a very pretty woman. Uncle Charlie would walk up and down the road fast just for exercise, and they broke the bed down. After all, there was over 600 lbs. of them to like or dislike and I liked them or her. I should say very very much They had two sons, Clifford (b.1875) and Loyd N. Jackson (b.1874).
     As I reminisce, I recall Aunt Nancy E. Jackson Rowe (1844-1911). I too saw her only once. She came to our wedding on September 5, 1906. I really saw her to remember at the breakfast table at my husband’s home on September 7th. I felt rather shy of her. She was not pretty like plump Aunt Mary; she was tall and proud, rather haughty, much given to boast. She married William H. Rowe, who was raised by the Blasdel family in the New Alaces community. They went to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. to live and they had only one son, Charlie. Uncle Will became quite wealthy for that day. Charlie Rowe (1866-1928) never married. He was worth $160,000 when he died in 1928. Our grandfather clock came from his estate.¹³

Floyd Stanley Jackson (1881-1958), second son of John Harrison (1854-1929) and Mary Ellen "Ella"” Smith Jackson (1855-1902), was born March 4, 1881 on the old Reuben Christophy Jackson (1810-1887) Homestead, later named "The Valley Hill Farm."

He was married to Nora Elizabeth Bonham (1881-1963), daughter of John and Sarah Hargitt Bonham of Bright, Dearborn Co., IN. To this union was born four children: Stanley (b.1909), Alta Mae (b.1911), Ruby (b.1914), and Lowell (b.1923). All grew up and lived on the farm until they were married and moved into homes of their own, close to their Jackson Homestead.

Mrs. Nora Jackson, reared in a Christian home was converted during a revival at Bright M. E. Church and always remained a true Christian. One of the great desires of her life was to see her children all converted and living under the Love of Christ, as she had known it. She and Floyd both were members of the Bright Methodist Church where later the whole family belonged.

There are many pleasant memories in connection with this farm home; a beautiful spot where hospitality reigned. Relatives and friends were always welcome and enjoyed the bountiful meals.

Floyd’s Mother, Mary Ellen "Ella" Smith Jackson (1855-1902), was one of the 99 first cousins in the early John and Jane Smith Family, and today, we have Smith relatives as well as Jackson’s from New York to California.

I remember in 1928, at the Smith reunion, when we had 28 relatives at our home over the weekend and everyone had a bed and pillow to sleep on. What wonderful times we have had with our relatives over the years. The scenery from the hilltop farm home was beautiful with the winding, private, well kept road down the hill with the Salt Fork Creek at the bottom. It made a pretty picture long to be remembered.

Early on in life, Floyd suffered a fractured hip while playing ball at Salt Fork School. This gave him pain most of his life, but he loved his Dairy farm on the hill. In January 1923, Floyd received an Honorary Certificate from the Indiana State Dairy Association for having 10 or more of his Dairy Herd (Jersey cows) having produced at least 300 lbs. of butter fat or over in the 1932 yearly record. This was a herd of 27 Grade Jersey cows, with a pure bred male. In these days we all milked by hand. Even Grandpa John Harrison Jackson (1854-1929) helped milk and took as his job to keep the barn, stables, and lot clean morning and night.

Later in life or middle age, Floyd’s hip developed into intense pain (arthritis and rheumatism, they said) and he was forced to walk with a cane, but he was always cheerful and non-complaining.

Failing health compelled Floyd and Nora to retire and in 1949. They bought a house and moved to Bright, IN. As long as health permitted, Floyd went back to the farm most every day. It was rented to a neighbor boy and his family, Garlie Liggett for a few years; then the youngest daughter and her family, Ruby and Keith Hart, Kay and Carol Lee, moved into the home place for over 15 years until Keith too had to leave the hill farm because of his health.

Floyd and Nora celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their farm home in 1956. Ruby and Keith were still living there, and owned it. 300 acres then, and the families were all home; 4 children with their families, 10 grand children, and 4 great grand children.

Floyd was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was affectionately called Grandpa "Jack" not only by his own grandchildren but by many of the children of the Bright neighborhood. As a farmer, he was industrious and enterprising. As a citizen, he was intensely honest, upright and moral.

His last sickness was short. He suffered a passing out spell in the doctor’s office - first they thought he might have pneumonia, but later said it was a blood clot lodged in his lungs. However, he seemed to be recovering at home until Tuesday noon, August 26. He collapsed and died suddenly. His lungs seemed to fill with blood shutting off his breath completely.

Nora Jackson lived nearly five years longer and died of heart failure and diabetic shock, May 1, 1963, age 83 years.¹⁴

Survived by his wife, the former Nora Elizabeth Bonham. Survivor(s): Stanley Jackson, Alta Mae Hart and Ruby Hart. Predeceased by his parents: John H. Jackson and Ella Smith. Predeceased: Clyde Jackson.¹⁴

Among the first unexpected guests of my early home life on the Jackson Hill was an urgent call from Elizabethtown, Hamilton Co., OH. "Come over and get us." This was my first meeting with Bertha Belle Miller Guard (b.1869), Eva Mae Miller DeHart (b.1874), and Lou Ella Miller Irvin (b.1879) and their children. Ruth Alma Guard (b.1898) was a very pretty young teenager, too fat to run; then the two Irvin girls: Dorthy Bell (b.1903), perhaps also a little too plump, a blond; and her sister, Gladys (b.1899), an exceedingly lovely vivacious brunette; then the son Lowell M. (b.1899) of Eva and Allen DeHart (b.1870), a young slender lad. He and Gladys led in the race and these lively youngsters romped and played around and around the big house which today we know as the "House on the Hill."
     The fun began because there were too many for the spring wagon. The young man of the house met the situation by hitching the farm team to the hay wagon with a generous supply of hay to make it comfortable.
     Floyd Stanley Jackson (b.1881) started to E-Town in high glee to pick up his beloved cousins, the children of Father Jackson’s (John Harrison Jackson b. 1854) oldest sister, Margaret E. Jackson Miller (1843-1882). This was the first and only time I ever saw Bertha Miller Guard as she died early in her married life, as did her sister, Goldie Miller Sanders (1871-1903), mother of Vena Sanders Brown. How did I get onto this gloomy side of the picture? For this was indeed a happy party.
     It did not take a nice car or a fine home to have fun. I don’t know what I cooked, but I remember I did freeze ice cream and had the big table set; a little black cook stove, a big wooden box for a table or a large cabinet a very large one; I expect 4 X 6 with an oil cloth on top and I had to almost crawl inside to reach things to cook in, a curtain tacked across the front and the floors were covered with rag carpets.
     Another of my very early getting acquainted with my new relatives was in the fall of 1908 - the evening Mabel Grubbs and John Liddle were to be married. Mabel was very very dear to me. She was like a doll; the little sister of my very dearest school mate and seat mate and I had been in their home so much during our school days. Then in 1899, when Stella Grubbs was eighteen years old, “Angie” the lovely mother, was taken by death.
     Word had come that Aunt Mary Isabell Jackson James (b.1851) and Uncle Charlie W. James from Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. were coming to visit us on the noon train. I was very upset. I wanted so much to go to Mabel’s "Chivalry." Father, John Harrison Jackson, came home with empty seats, his sister and husband were not on the train; I was hilariously happy. There was another train at the Lawrenceburg Junction at 4 o’clock and Father had gone to meet that. I was sitting on the step where I could see the gate which led from the last bend of the road and turned into the yard. I was putting on my Sunday stockings which were neither silk or rayon and my Sunday shoes. Even with all my wistful thinking, I kept my eyes on the winding road and this time the seats were filled; really filled! Aunt Mary was large, I expect 200 lbs., but Uncle Charlie James weighed between 400 and 500 lbs.
     Nora Jackson never really swore. I did, however, say "gog-on-it" but I loved Aunt Mary, she was understanding. That word can mean so much, especially to a young wife who had come into a home where there was so much work. (During my young life on a farm I never did understand why my mother had to work all day. I would say, "Can’t you take the afternoon off?" but the most I remember, my Mother would wash her face, comb her hair smoothly back, put on a light clean wrapper, and lie down on the simple lounge for fifteen minutes.)
     To get back to my story, I will mention three things: Father, Aunt Mary, Uncle Charlie and myself, went to a funeral at Bright (I don’t remember whose). Father drove with the whip in his hands, and except for up and down the hills, the horses were kept trotting. Aunt Mary said “that is exactly like my father, the horses never dared walk; he was always in a hurry.” We did not tarry after the services. Dear Aunt Mary said, “I can see how much work you have waiting to be done at home.” Then the rest of the day she spent with me. After changing our Sunday best to a house dress, she followed me to the cellar where she chatted while I worked and patted the butter milk out and smoothed the sweet delicious butter. Then at supper, she bragged about my pumpkin pies; she always thought pumpkin had to be cooked hours. She said “Now Charlie, this pumpkin Nora didn’t cook very long at all and these pies are so good.” Now do you see why I loved Aunt Mary James? She too was a very pretty woman. Uncle Charlie would walk up and down the road fast just for exercise, and they broke the bed down. After all, there was over 600 lbs. of them to like or dislike and I liked them or her. I should say very very much They had two sons, Clifford (b.1875) and Loyd N. Jackson (b.1874).
     As I reminisce, I recall Aunt Nancy E. Jackson Rowe (1844-1911). I too saw her only once. She came to our wedding on September 5, 1906. I really saw her to remember at the breakfast table at my husband’s home on September 7th. I felt rather shy of her. She was not pretty like plump Aunt Mary; she was tall and proud, rather haughty, much given to boast. She married William H. Rowe, who was raised by the Blasdel family in the New Alaces community. They went to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. to live and they had only one son, Charlie. Uncle Will became quite wealthy for that day. Charlie Rowe (1866-1928) never married. He was worth $160,000 when he died in 1928. Our grandfather clock came from his estate.²²

Floyd Stanley Jackson (1881-1958), second son of John Harrison (1854-1929) and Mary Ellen "Ella"” Smith Jackson (1855-1902), was born March 4, 1881 on the old Reuben Christophy Jackson (1810-1887) Homestead, later named "The Valley Hill Farm."

He was married to Nora Elizabeth Bonham (1881-1963), daughter of John and Sarah Hargitt Bonham of Bright, Dearborn Co., IN. To this union was born four children: Stanley (b.1909), Alta Mae (b.1911), Ruby (b.1914), and Lowell (b.1923). All grew up and lived on the farm until they were married and moved into homes of their own, close to their Jackson Homestead.

Mrs. Nora Jackson, reared in a Christian home was converted during a revival at Bright M. E. Church and always remained a true Christian. One of the great desires of her life was to see her children all converted and living under the Love of Christ, as she had known it. She and Floyd both were members of the Bright Methodist Church where later the whole family belonged.

There are many pleasant memories in connection with this farm home; a beautiful spot where hospitality reigned. Relatives and friends were always welcome and enjoyed the bountiful meals.

Floyd’s Mother, Mary Ellen "Ella" Smith Jackson (1855-1902), was one of the 99 first cousins in the early John and Jane Smith Family, and today, we have Smith relatives as well as Jackson’s from New York to California.

I remember in 1928, at the Smith reunion, when we had 28 relatives at our home over the weekend and everyone had a bed and pillow to sleep on. What wonderful times we have had with our relatives over the years. The scenery from the hilltop farm home was beautiful with the winding, private, well kept road down the hill with the Salt Fork Creek at the bottom. It made a pretty picture long to be remembered.

Early on in life, Floyd suffered a fractured hip while playing ball at Salt Fork School. This gave him pain most of his life, but he loved his Dairy farm on the hill. In January 1923, Floyd received an Honorary Certificate from the Indiana State Dairy Association for having 10 or more of his Dairy Herd (Jersey cows) having produced at least 300 lbs. of butter fat or over in the 1932 yearly record. This was a herd of 27 Grade Jersey cows, with a pure bred male. In these days we all milked by hand. Even Grandpa John Harrison Jackson (1854-1929) helped milk and took as his job to keep the barn, stables, and lot clean morning and night.

Later in life or middle age, Floyd’s hip developed into intense pain (arthritis and rheumatism, they said) and he was forced to walk with a cane, but he was always cheerful and non-complaining.

Failing health compelled Floyd and Nora to retire and in 1949. They bought a house and moved to Bright, IN. As long as health permitted, Floyd went back to the farm most every day. It was rented to a neighbor boy and his family, Garlie Liggett for a few years; then the youngest daughter and her family, Ruby and Keith Hart, Kay and Carol Lee, moved into the home place for over 15 years until Keith too had to leave the hill farm because of his health.

Floyd and Nora celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their farm home in 1956. Ruby and Keith were still living there, and owned it. 300 acres then, and the families were all home; 4 children with their families, 10 grand children, and 4 great grand children.

Floyd was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was affectionately called Grandpa "Jack" not only by his own grandchildren but by many of the children of the Bright neighborhood. As a farmer, he was industrious and enterprising. As a citizen, he was intensely honest, upright and moral.

His last sickness was short. He suffered a passing out spell in the doctor’s office - first they thought he might have pneumonia, but later said it was a blood clot lodged in his lungs. However, he seemed to be recovering at home until Tuesday noon, August 26. He collapsed and died suddenly. His lungs seemed to fill with blood shutting off his breath completely.

Nora Jackson lived nearly five years longer and died of heart failure and diabetic shock, May 1, 1963, age 83 years.¹⁵

Survivor(s): Helen Lutz Jackson and Rosella Kinkead.¹²

Survivor(s): Melvin Hart, Stanley Jackson and Ruby Hart Lutz.⁴

Look up 1950 census for Alta Mae Hart.

Survivor(s): Stanley Jackson.¹²