John V. Jackson, farmer, section 25, Union Grove Township, is a prominent citizen of Whiteside County, where he has been a land-holder since 1856. His parents, Aaron C. and Charity A. (Young) Jackson, were natives of New Jersey, and were married and settled in Ohio. They came thence about 1837, and purchased a claim in the township of Mt. Pleasant, which had been located in the previous year. The senior Jackson was an able and influential man, and was active in promoting the general welfare of the community. The township of Mt. Pleasant, which was organized in 1852, received its name from him. The farm on which he settled was situated near the city of Morrison, and included 160 acres of land, with 40 acres of timber. His local public life comprised his operations as president of a society of settlers to prevent claim-jumping, as Justice of the Peace, and as Supervisor. In 1842 he was elected Representative on the Whig ticket, and served two years in the Legislature of Illinois. In 1847 he was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention. He officiated as Postmaster at Morrison during the administration of President Lincoln. His wife died Sept. 5, 1855. His demise occurred June 10, 1879. Their children were 11 in number, and were born as follows: Daniel B., Flavius J., Susan L., John Y., Tryphena, Elizabeth, Silas, Phebe, Amanda and Lafayette; one child died in infancy.

Mr. Jackson was born September 14, 1829, in Knox Co., Ohio, where his father was a pioneer. He was about eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Illinois, and he passed the years of his minority in attendance at the district school and in farm labor. On reaching his majority he engaged in efforts in his own interest, working out by the month one year on a farm. In 1852 he went to California, making his way there overland, with the purpose of operating as a miner. He spent four years in that vocation, with reasonable success, although he was unable to work during the first winter.

He returned to Whiteside County in 1856, and purchased 120 acres of land on section 25, Union Grove Township. The prairie sod was still lying under the skies as it had lain through the centuries of the past, and was first broken by Mr. Jackson, by whom the farm has been put in first-class agricultural condition. It is now all under the plow, and five acres of timber belong to the estate. It has been supplied with an excellent class of building.

He was united in marriage to Cordelia Huntley, Dec. 17, 1857, at Morrison. She was born in Ogden, Monroe Co., N. Y., Feb. 11, 1830, and is the daughter of Erastus L. and Phebe (Eldridge) Huntley. Her parents were natives of New England, were married and settled in the State of New York, whence they removed to Michigan, where her father died. Her mother was born Jan. 15, 1803, in Sharon, N. Y. After the death of her husband she returned to the home and associations of her earlier years in the Empire State, where her life terminated, at Warsaw, Aug. 29, 1849. Her father, Seth Eldridge, was born Oct. 2, 1773, and died May 20, 1865, in Yates, Monroe Co., N. Y. March 11, 1826, she married Erastus Little Huntley, who was born Dec. 21, 1797, and died Nov. 14, 1848, in Hartland, Livingston Co., Mich. They had nine children. Following are their names in the order of their birth: Rebecca E., Henrietta S., Cordelia, Phebe A., John E., Erastus L., Edwin, Seth E. and Robert A.

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have no children. In 1869 they adopted Lillie M. Weaver, who was born May 28, 1864, in Mt. Pleasant Township.

Mr. Jackson is identified with the Republican party in political relations, and he has officiated through a long series of years in local positions of trust. He acted in the capacity of Magistrate nine years, as Commissioner eight years, and seven years as Assessor. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Contributed by Marji Turners Whiteside County History Portrait & Biographical Pg 317