HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



Baptist minister, born in the same state, May 5, 1780, who died April 10,
1848.
Henry was one of a family of nine children, eight sons and one daughter.
He was
given a good education, attending both school and college. While still a
young
man, eager for adventure, he joined in the rush to California soon after
the dis-
covery of gold there in 1849, and was one of the few who improved their financial
condition bv the venture, as he returned with what was then regarded as a
small
fortune. In 1852, the year after his marriage, he came west, accompanied
by his
wife, and located at Elkhorn, Walworth County, Wis., where they resided for
a
year. They then moved to Stevens Point and after a short stay there came
to
Wood County, arriving at Grand Rapids in January, 1854, with their first
born
child Fannie. Mr. Jackson taught school for awhile at Elkhorn, an occupation
for which he was well fitted But it was not a remunerative profession, and
he
soon engaged in something better, becoming a partner in the mercantile and
lum.
ber firm of Jackson, Garrison & Worthington, who erected the first store
building
in Centralia. They also bought and operated the old Marcott mill, one of
the
first sawmills erected on the site of the city. Mr. Jackson soon became prominent.
He was the first postmaster of his locality and the first supervisor, and
it was he
who named the settlement Centralia. He was also the first alderman of the
city,
but died soon after his election to that office. He helped to recruit men
for mili-
tary service in the Civil War, and at the time of the Sioux outbreak in 1863
was a
tower of strength to the people, as his experience and adventures in the
far West
enabled him to keep cool in the face of danger and prevent a panic on the
part of
the people. In addition to his mercantile business he engaged in lumbering
on a
somewhat extensive scale, rafting logs down the river. Physically he was
a pow-
erful man with well developed muscles, and was regular and temperate in his
habits. He had a deep respect for religion and was an active worker in the
Masonic
order, being a charter member of Centralia Lodge, and also a Royal Arch Mason
and Knight Templar. His death, which occurred in June, 1875, was an event
regretted throughout the county. His wife Cornelia, who was born Dec. 14,
1829,
died Dec. 7, 1902. She was a member of Rainbow Chapter of the Eastern Star.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Jackson were the parents of three children: Fannie,
born
Oct. 24, 1853, who died in infancy Feb. 14, 1855; William Lewis, born July
16,
1855, who died in November, 1884; and Fred Henry, born April 3, 1857. Fred
Henry Jackson in early childhood attended a school which was located on the
site
of the present Wood County Grocery Co.'s store, his first teacher being Mr.
Tyler,
whose guiding professional principle was comprised in the ancient adage,
"Spare
the rod and spoil the child." He was subsequently graduated from the
Centralia
schools, and then went to Delavan, Wis., where he attended the Delavan High
School, returning home at the age of 18. On his father's death he entered
the com-
mercial world, took care of his father's estate, and then for two years was
employed
in the Emmons jewelry store, receiving $50 for his first year's work and
$75 for
the-second. He soon became well and favorably known and was called on to
serve
in public office, at different times being city clerk, city treasurer and
alderman.
He also served as assistant in the post office. In the intervals of other
work he
had found time to learn the printer's trade, and in September, 1879, became
con-
nected with the Centralia Enterprise, on which he worked for six or eight
years;
he was also foreman of the Marshfield Times, the Spencer Tribune, and also
the
Grand Rapids Tribune. He platted a part of the town site and for quite a
number
of years has been identified with the real estate business. In 1898 he went
into
the Bank of Centralia and a year later became cashier, which position he
held
until 1907. For many years he has been identified politically with the Republican
party and has been chairman of many committees. Fraternally he is a member
of the Woodmen of the World and the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Jackson was married
May 10, 1885, to Elizabeth Lessig, who was born in Pennsylvania, daughter
of
John M. and Elizabeth Lessig. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War,
and
after coming to Wood County, Wisconsin, operated brick and lumber yards at
Rudolph. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of three children: Juanita,
now
Mrs. Lee Rumsey; Dorothy, wife of Arthur A. Heger, and Marion, now Mrs. M.



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