Among the public-spirited citizens and progressive farmers of Washington County whose intelligently directed labors are valuable assets in promoting the agricultural development of northeastern Oklahoma is numbered J. W. Jackson, who resides on a highly productive farm situated on the Caney river, near Vera. He was born in Logan County, Kentucky, December 16, 1865, and his parents were George C. and Josephine (Anderson) Jackson, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in the Blue Grass state. The father established his home in Kentucky during the Civil war, in which he served until the close of hostilities as a lieutenant in the northern army, receiving a slight wound on the head while in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson came to Indian Territory in 1874 and settled at Coffeyville, Kansas, in which locality the father engaged in farming and also dealt extensively in the buying and shipping of stock, accumulating a substantial competence through the capable management of his business interests. There he passed away in 1888, but the mother survives at the age of seventy-six and is living with her daughter, Mrs. Annie Davenport.
For twenty-one years Mr. Jackson has resided in Oklahoma and when he first moved to his present place game was abundant here and the streams were plentifully supplied with fish. He is now operating a tract of two hundred acres, located on the Caney river, three and a half miles east of Vera, constituting the allotments of his wife and sons. He engages in general farming and upon the property there is a fine orchard of six acres, devoted to the raising of apples, peaches, pears and grapes. He breeds Poland China hogs and also raises mules, having a registered jack. He is a practical farmer who brings to his occupation a true sense of agricultural economics, never allowing a foot of his land to be unproductive, and during the period which he has operated this place he has lost but one crop, this being in 1911. In addition he rents eighty acres, which he is also cultivating.
He raises large crops of corn, which during the season of 1921 averaged sixty bushels to the acre, and this he feeds to his hogs, of which he ships an average of two carloads per year, while he devotes considerable attention to the growing of barley. Through unwearied industry and the most advanced methods he has brought the land under a high state of development, erecting thereon a good house and substantial outbuildings, while he has also added many other improvements, converting this into one of the most valuable farms in the state. In addition to his other crops he also raises large quantities of wheat and during the planting season he uses the tractor both day and night, employing the most modern farm implements in cultivating his land.
In 1895 Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Al. R. Jackson was united marriage to Mary M. McCallister, a daughter of John Wesley and Nancy H. (Hurt) McCallister, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Missouri. During the Civil war her father served as a soldier in the northern army and he became one of the early settlers of Indian Territory. He passed away in 1915 but Mrs. McCallister survives and is now living at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, with her daughter Josie, having reached the age of seventy-six. Mrs. Jackson was born near Tahlequah, this state, and is of Cherokee extraction. She there acquired her education and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons, George W. and Edward W. The former, born November 2, 1896, married Jessie Messer Smith and is now operating a farm situated near the home place.
He enlisted for service in the World war, being made a sergeant, and for twelve months was overseas. He acted as bugler and participated in many heavy engagements while stationed in France, being wounded in the head by a shell fragment. The younger son was born December 16, 1899, and is now a member of the Tulsa fire department, being on duty at station No. 4.
Mr. Jackson has advanced with the scientific progress of agriculture and by his prosperity in a modern enterprise conducted along progressive lines, has proved the value of system in promoting productiveness. He stands for all that is truly American in citizenship and during the period of his residence in Oklahoma has cast his ballot in favor of every measure having for its object the betterment of his county, state and nation, being especially active in support of the good roads movement.
His life has been a busy and useful one, and his worth as a man and citizen is generally acknowledged.