Joseph Jackson
The father of the late Joseph Jackson, of Mt. Pleasant, John Jackson, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, December 8, 1775, and removed to Pennsylvania in 1812, three years thereafter to Cincinnati, and in 1819 to the Great Miami river, in Butler county, about two miles north of the Hamilton line. Here he conducted the flouring-mill long known as Jackson's, now Graham's mill. He was himself a millwright, and by and by built and ran a paper-mill at the same place and moved by the same power. This was also maintained until within a few years, when it was suspended. Mr. Jackson died October 30, 1857, at a farm a mile and a half from the mills, to which he had retired in his old age from the former business. His wife's maiden name was Annie Hough, also of a Virginia family. She was born September 25, 1778, and they were wedded in May, 1801 Their children were: Anna, born February 22, 1802, died June 5, 1846; Elizabeth, born April 29, 1804, died May 31, 1868; Rebecca, born May 1, 1806; Samuel, born November 8, 1808; Joseph, born December 4, 1809, died May 7, 1866; Thomas, born August 30, 1811; Mary, born March 28, 1815, died September 11, 1850; Amanda, born September 10, 1818, died June 8, 1880. Their third son was Joseph Jackson, the subject of this notice. He was born on the fourth of December, 1809, in Morgantown, Monongalia county, Virginia, and accompanied his family in their successive removals, learning at home his father's trade of millwright. About the time he reached his majority he left home, taking work at his trade in various places, as he could find it. In 1834, August 19th, upon his bride's birthday, he was wedded to Miss Nancy Riddle, daughter of Colonel John Riddle, the famous pioneer, near Cincinnati. For some years they resided at the mills of his father, in Butler county, and then removed, in 1839, to a farm one and a half miles south of Mt. Pleasant, in the neighborhood where the Cary sisters spent their earlier years. Upon this place the remainder of his days were passed in the improvement of a tract originally very poor, but which he made to blossom as the rose. Here he died May 7, 1866, and his remains repose in the beautiful cemetery at Spring Grove, adjoining the city of Cincinnati, He was not an active politician, and sought no public office or prominence of any kind. He was, however, for a number of years, president of the Cincinnati, Mt. Pleasant & Hamilton Turnpike company, and raised the road owned by it to a high degree of excellence and prosperity, so that, for the first and last time in its history, it paid some dividends to its stockholders. After his death Mr. J. F. Wright, an officer of the board of directors of the company, in the course of some remarks submitting a resolution in tribute to his memory, included the following eulogy, to which the resolution is appended: He was elected to the presidency of the company in 1853, and continued to serve uninterruptedly in that capacity until his death. For the greater part of the time during the same period he also served as county superintendent of the road. His unanimous annual reappointment to both positions is indubitable proof of the satisfaction given by his official acts. As president I know full well it was ever his desire to be impartial, just, and prompt in the discharge of the duties which his official station devolved upon him. His knowledge of mechanics and human nature, together with his unwavering integrity, eminently qualified him and made him the efficient superintendent that induces every voice now involuntarily to inquire: "Who can fill the place made vacant by his demise?"
Only those who were intimately acquainted with the man knew his virtues. He was a man of probity and integrity; he was a lover of truth, kind and merciful in all his relations and intercourse with men, and utterly incapable of practicing deceit. The dishonest man he avoided as he would a pestilence, holding no intercourse whatever with him unless unavoidable. In a word, for I must be brief, the community has sustained the loss of a good citizen and an honest man, its chief ornament. This board has lost an esteemed and valuable member, and an active and efficient officer. The loss to both is irreparable. * * * * In conclusion, I propose for adoption the following resolution as the sentiment of the board:
"Resolved, That we greatly deplore the death of our late fellow-member, Joseph Jackson, m whom we recognized the honest man, the genial companion, the steadfast friend, and the faithful and efficient officer; and that the family of the deceased have our liveliest sympathy in their deep affliction; and that as a memento of our regard and esteem for the deceased, this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting.
Nancy Riddle Jackson was born at the ancient Riddle homestead in Mill Creek, oldest daughter of Colonel John and Jane Marshall Riddle. Jane Marshall was the third wife of Colonel Riddle, who had five wives in the course of his long life. Nancy's natal day was August 19, 1811. She resided at home, receiving such education as was afforded by the schools of the neighborhood (then far out of the city, but now far within it), until she was married as above noted, when she followed the fortunes of her husband in his several removals. She still survives her consort, and resides in a delightful home in Mount Pleasant, on the Hamilton turnpike. The third year after her husband's death she left the farm, and removed to the residence still owned by her, a little west of the Mount Pleasant station of the College Hill railroad, and in the fall of 1877 took her present place in the village. Her daughter, Miss Nancy Jane Jackson, resides with her. Mrs. Jackson presents a remarkably healthy and vigorous appearance for one of her years, and is every way a worthy descendant of the sturdy old pioneer who helped to lay the foundations of civilization in the Mill Creek and Ohio valleys. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were, in order of birth, as follows: Nancy Jane, born May 28, 1835; Sarah Louisa, now Mrs. Cary B. Johnson, of Mount Pleasant, born January 10, 1837; George Washington, born January 27, 1839, also residing in Mount Pleasant, in the grocery and dry-goods business for many years; John Riddle, born August 15, 1841, died August 10, 1859; Mary Maria, now Mrs. George W. Rofelty, of Home City, Ohio, born February 15, 1849; Joseph, born August 17, 1851, died August 2, 1854.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881