Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 25 September 2005

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979

WILLIAM JACKSON, Overseer of the Mason Cemetery, Mason. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1830; his boyhood was passed on his father's farm and in the district schools received an ordinary education. He, with his parents, James and Ann (McDonald) Jackson, came to Ohio in 1836. They first located near Sharon, in Hamilton County, where they resided until 1842, at which time they removed to West Chester, Butler County, where they resided until 1855, in which year both died. William followed the fortunes of the farm during his early life. Aug. 24, 1852, he was married to Mrs. Altha A. Sharp, of Butler Co., Ohio. After his marriage, he removed to Darke County, where he resided five years on the farm. In 1857, he returned to Butler County, in which he resided till 1874, and during that time was engaged in manufacturing brooms. In the spring of the above year, he came to Mason, and, on account of his particular qualifications for overseer of the cemetery grounds, the people of Mason gave into his keeping the ground where sleep those who belong there. Just previous to his coming to Mason, the new cemetery was organized, and to his management and control is due the present beautiful sight that greets the eye of the visitor at every turn. The care of the grounds shows his adaptability for the position, as the Mason Cemetery is one of the best kept in the country, and for a certainty reflects much credit on Mr. Jackson. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born six children; two of them, Charles and William P., are tonsorial artists in Mason, and their business shrewdness is shown by the fact that they operate in different shops in either end of town, thus neutralizing and controlling the trade. The other children are James A., Archibald F. R., Sarah A. and Mollie (now Mrs. Brady). Mrs. Jackson had by her first husband three children, viz., A. L. Sharp, an attorney, in Bluffton, Md.; Calvin Sharp, killed at the battle of Witchata River, in the Indian Territory, in 1866; he belonged to the 7th U. S. C.; Xemenia, deceased.