Jackson Brigade, Inc.

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The Jackson Families Who Settled in Terre Haute, Indiana

From the papers of Jackson researcher Carl W. Hays

 

 

            There were at least three separate and distinct Jackson families who settled at or near Terre Haute, Indiana at a very early date. Of two of these, the head of the family was named Samuel. So far as known neither Samuel had a middle name. The first Samuel emigrated from western Virginia and was an uncle of Stonewall Jackson. The first record we find of him in Vigo County is for the year 1825. It is believed that he first settled for a time in Owen County, Indiana before coming to Terre Haute, if indeed he did ever actually live permanently in either Terry Haute or Vigo County. The second Samuel emigrated from Cincinnati, Ohio, arriving near Terre Haute about 1836. He settled near Cory, Clay County, Indiana, just outside the Vigo County line. The head of the third Jackson family was named John. He emigrated from England in 1787 and finally settled at Ft. Pleasant, Vigo County, Indiana. Many of the descendants of all three families are still living in Vigo, Clay and adjacent counties. Some have intermarried, so that it is impossible to trace their descent without definite genealogical information.  It is for that purpose that this material is being assembled.

            In addition to the above three heads of families we find other individual members who either settled, or were born in Vigo County before them, and who remained to establish homes and families. Among these are: Isaac B. Jackson, who was a farmer in 1810; John Jackson who was a farmer in 1823; James Jackson, born 1818; John H. Jackson, born 1823; and at least one Joseph Jackson.  It is believed that these were all grandsons of the first Samuel Jackson, above, through his sons Henry and John Reager Jackson.  It is likely that the ones bearing the middle initial “H” were sons of Henry, as that was a custom followed to some extent in this branch of the Jackson family. (Also, Samuel H. Jackson, who was born in Vigo County in 1823.)

            At present time there are the settlements of “Jackson Hill” in northeastern Sullivan County, and “Jackson” in southeastern Parke County, about equidistant from Terre Haute.

            To add to the confusion another Samuel Jackson was one of the founders of Spring Mill Village in what is now Spring Mill State Park, Lawrence County, Indiana.  He built a grist mill there in 1814, which was supplanted by a later one which is still standing in the park. He emigrated from Canada to the United States. His final resting place is in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. (Some accounts of him in “Indiana  Magazine” and in literature from the park.)

 

 

Probably prepared around 1940.