Jackson Family
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Col. Stephen Jackson of Chesterfield Co., South
Carolina
Hon. Stephen Jackson
Died at Chesterfield Court House, at an early hour on the
morning of the 16th of November, Hon. Stephen Jackson.
Although for several months his family and intimate friends had
been admonished that the powers of his vigorous constitution
were declining, yet the illness which terminated his life was
sudden and of short duration. He was confined to his room
only a few days. Although he would never admit that he
was seriously ill, his friends and physicians were alarmed at
the very commencement of the attack. He was in Charleston
during the festivities of the Gala week, and exposed himself a
good deal. He contracted a violent and deep seated cold,
which, accompanied by a high grade of catarrhal fever, racked
his whole system to a degree that was too much for one who
glanced at the clergy...
[illegible]
Although he lacked but three months of being eighty years of
age, he was very erect, and moved with the firmness and agility
of a man of thirty. He was fond of out door sports, and,
as he remarked but a few weeks before his death, could ride
after a pack of hounds as long as a fox could run before them.
The deceased was the son of Henry Jackson, and a grandson of
Stephen Jackson of Revolutionary fame, who moved from Virginia
to South Carolina before the Revolution of 1776. His
mother, who was a sister of the late General J. W. Blakney,
lived to the age of ninety-four, and was able to ride about the
neighborhood on horse-back till within a few months of her
death.
Col. Jackson was in many respects a remarkable man.
Besides his powerful physical conformation, he was endowed by
nature with more than ordinary intellectual powers, which,
though added to some extent in development, were never
subjected to the influence of liberal educational privileges-
except so far as he supplied them himself. He had a
quick and active mind, was a close observer of men and
measures: and with just and discriminating powers, he generally
arrived at correct conclusions and always stuck to them with a
tenacity that smacked of Roman firmness. He was thoroughly
honorable and high toned, full of public spirit, loved his
country and State and was ever ready by word and deed to
promote the public weal. Col. Jackson during his long life had
the entire confidence of the people.
He never sought popularity, yet he was always popular; firmness
of purpose, promptness and energy of execution and independence
of the vague and fluctuating opinions of others, after he had
once deliberately formed his own, were among his predominate
characteristics. To these valuable traits, fitted rather
to secure the suffrages of the understanding rather to win the
sympathies of the heart, he added the warm and generous
affections which delighted in the intimacy of personal
friendship, and which found solace and joy amid the endearments
of home. He dearly loved his family, and was under all
circumstances true to his friends. Col. Jackson had
filled all the highest and most important offices of trust and
profit in the county of Chesterfield. He was Sheriff,
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, represented the
County several times in the Legislature; and was with Judge
Inglis and Judge McIver, a signer of the ordinance of Secession.
ONE WHO KNEW HIM WELL
Obituary published in "The Cheraw Reporter" 22 November 1887.
Obituary contributed by Albert Jackson and Elizabeth R. Goins
Picture contributed by Elizabeth R. Goins
Transcribed by Janie J. Kimble
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Stephen's burial location
This site owned by Janie Jackson Kimble. This page
was last updated November 9, 2007; link to burial added Sept
2011.