BIOGRAPHY - L. JACKSON
L. D. Jackson is and has been connected with so many important interests of the county as to be recognized as one of its leading citizens, closely associated with those interests which have promoted its upbuilding and formulated its policy. He was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, September 17, 1864, and is a son of William and Delia Jackson, who were likewise natives of the same county and are still living there. The father has always followed farming, employing that as a source of livelihood. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born four sons and two daughters, namely: Charles A., a resident of Manchester, Indiana; L. D., of this review; Warren T. and Thomas J., both residents of Ford county; Tinnie, the wife of Joseph Kirkwood, of Osburn, Ohio; and Lulu, the wife of Nathan Griggs, of Manchester, Indiana.
As boy and youth L. D. Jackson became familiar with the work of the farm, aiding his father in the cultivation and improvement of the fields until after he had attained his majority. He attended the common schools and thus acquired a fair knowledge of the English branches of learning. When he had reached man's estate he rented one of his father's farms and for three years continued its cultivation, when he sought a home in Ford county, Illinois, and for three years cultivated rented land. During this period he carefully saved his earnings, and his wise expenditure and untiring industry brought him the capital that enabled him to invest in property. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 14, Brenton township, and began its improvement by tiling and adding other necessary and modern equipments. He has erected good buildings, has utilized the latest improved machinery in carrying on the work of the farm and has today a fine property, presenting a splendid appearance in its well tilled fields and substantial buildings. Mr. Jackson is also secretary of the Ford County Fair and Driving Association and a director of the Bell Union Telephone Company, No. 1.
In his political views Mr. Jackson is an earnest democrat and desiring the success of the party has labored in local fields for its advancement. Since 1899 he has served as assessor, being continued in the office through reelection. He is also a commissioner of the drainage ditch and for five years has been chairman of the democratic committee.
In 1886 occurred the marriage of L. D. Jackson and Miss Emma J. Judd, who was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1863, a daughter of Orin and Mary Jane Judd, who were likewise natives of that state but are both now deceased. Mrs. Judd was one of five children and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons, Orin W. and Charles E., the former now a pupil in the high school of Piper City.
Mr. Jackson belongs to that class of men who have realized that success is not an unattainable thing and also understands the fact that it is acquired only through diligence and indefatigable labor. He has worked persistently and his labors have been crowned with a measure of success that makes him one of the substantial agriculturists of his part of the county.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 410-411.
