DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; Biography: W. R. Jackson - j250

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Typed by Trudy Marlow
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           W. R. Jackson, planter of De Soto Parish, La,
         The parents of the subject of this sketch were of
         Scotch origin, and both, Rev. John W. and Mary
         D. (White) Jackson, were born in North Carolina,
         but the father died in Alabama, to which State he
         had moved at a very early day, his dissolution tak-
         ing place in 1836.  He was a minister of the
         Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a planter by
         occupation.  His wife died the same day, month,
         and year as did her husband, although they were
         seventy miles apart.  To them a family of ten chil-
         dren were born, only two of whom survive: Ann J.
         (wife of Andrew T. Shepherd). and W. R., the im-
         mediate subject of this sketch, who was born in
         Antauga County, Ma., September 13,1828, and at
         the death of his parents he was about eight years
         of age.  He remained in his native State until he
         had attained his majority, attending the public
         schools and receiving a common-school education,
         and his knowledge of planting was acquired on his
         father's old plantation in Alabama, which he left
         in 1851, and came to Louisiana, locating in De
         Soto Parish, near Mansfield, where he has since
         resided, nearly half a century.  He purchased a
         farm immediately after coming here, and has since
         given his attention entirely to planting.  From
         this State he enlisted in 1862, in Company B, Shel-
         by's battalion, which was afterward consolidated
         with the Crescent Regiment, and served until the
         final surrender as first lieutenant. He was in all the
         principal engagements in which his regiment took
         part, and made a true, faithful and efficient officer.
         Soon after locating here he was elected recorder of
         the parish, a position he faithfully filled for three.
         years, and after the war he was appointed to the
         same office under Gov. Wells and held the same
         two years.  He was also tax collector for one year,
         prior to the war, and he has been prominently
         identified with the public interests of the parish.,
         for years.  He has in his possession about 2,700
         acres of land, all of which is in De Soto Parish,
         and of this he has some 1,000 under cultivation
         on which he raises cotton, corn and other grains.
         Over his broad acres also roam large numbers
         cattle and sheep, and the hogs that he raises are
         of a fine breed, being the Jersey Reds.  He has
           done a great deal to develop the parish, and by
           industry and economy he is now living in comfort
           and ease.  He formerly owned many slaves, but
           of course lost these during the war, a severe blow
           to him, financially.  He was first married in 1859,
           to Mary Williams, and his second union which was
           in 1867 was to Miss Sarah L. Greening, neither
           wife bearing him any children.  He is a member
           of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for years
           was a Mason.  He was engaged in the mercantile
           business in Mansfield for twelve years, doing an
           immense business, but the most of his attention
           throughout life has been given to planting.  The
           firm was known as J. S. Jackson & Co., and occu-
           pied the store building that Wemple & Rives now
           occupy.