Robert James Jackson, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 237-238 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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			ROBERT JAMES JACKSON, M. D.  

	Dr. Robert James Jackson, engaged in the practice of medicine in 
Rapid City, was born at Forest, Ontario, Canada, August 10, 1874, a son 
of John and Joan (Elliott) Jackson. The former, who was a native of 
Scotland, crossed the Atlantic to Canada when seventeen years of age 
and during the period of his manhood engaged in farming there. He died 
at the age of fifty-six years, passing away in 1893.  

	Robert James Jackson, who is one of a family of eight children 
and the fifth in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of 
his native town and in the normal school at Brandon, Manitoba. 
Following his graduation from the normal school as a member of the 
class of 1895 he devoted three years to teaching, but regarded this 
merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his 
desire to become a member of the medical profession. Accordingly, he 
entered the Michigan School of Medicine and was graduated with the 
class of 1902, at which time his professional degree was conferred upon 
him. He then came to South Dakota, settling at Yankton, where he 
remained for six months, and on the expiration of that period removed 
to Rapid City, where he has resided continuously since with the 
exception of extended visits to the central American republics, where 
he has important interests in coffee plantations. In addition to an 
extensive general practice he serves as surgeon for the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad. He was also for four years coroner of Pennington 
county and for eight years was physician for the United States Indian 
school at Rapid City.  

	On the 14th of September, 1903, Dr. Jackson was united in 
marriage to Miss Jua B. Goodwin, of Boston, Massachusetts. He belongs 
to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Elks lodge and the Masons. In 
politics he is a republican where national issues are involved but 
casts an independent local ballot. He was chosen the first mayor of 
Rapid City under the commission form of government, serving for two 
years, at the end of which time he resigned because of the demands 
which were made upon him in that connection and which he felt caused 
his professional work to suffer. His principal out-of-door recreation 
is trout fishing, but he never allows this to interfere with his 
professional duties. He has gained an enviable reputation as a 
physician and has also found time to cooperate in every movement 
looking to the advancement of the city and surrounding territory. Thus 
it is that he is not only regarded as one of the leading physicians but 
also as one of the valued and useful residents of western South Dakota.