No history of Sacramento county would be complete without mention of the Jackson family to which Joseph E. Jackson belongs. He is a well known agriculturist here and a representative of a pioneer ancestry. A native of Iowa, he was born in Jackson county, that state, on the 6th of January, 1852, his parents being Harry J. and Catherine (Kennedy) Jackson. The paternal ancestors of our subject were English, while Mrs. Jackson was a native of Maine. In the year 1861, after a number of years' residence in Iowa, Harry J. Jackson brought his family to California, making the long and arduous journey across the plains with ox and horse teams. They were nearly six months in completing the trip and they suffered the usual hardships and trials incident to the journey, although they had no serious trouble with the Indians. They settled in Sacramento county, California, and took up their abode in what became known as the Jackson school district, which was named in honor of Harry J. Jackson, who donated the land upon which the schoolhouse was erected. He was among the earliest settlers of his locality and he bore an important part of the work of early development and improvement, assisting largely in laying the foundation of the present progress and prosperity of the county. He died July 28, 1886, respected by all who knew him, and he left his family not only a good ranch but also an untarnished name. His widow still survives him and now in her eighty-fifth year resides in Sacramento county, being one of the leading pioneer women of this part of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Jackson were born nine children: James T., who resides in Sacramento county; Mallet C., also a resident of this county; Henry W., of Sacramento county; Joseph E.; Katie E., the wife of William Johnston, of the same county; Nancy, the wife of E. F. French, of this county; and Jackson L., who is living in Colusa county, California. Harry J. Jackson had become well known throughout Sacramento county and was familiarly called Uncle Harry by his many friends, who were almost as numerous as his acquaintances. His life record proved, too, what could be accomplished by determination and earnest purpose, for he started out upon his business career without capital and as the years passed, through honorable business methods, he gained that success which is the goal of all endeavor.

Joseph E. Jackson remained a resident of Iowa until nine years of age and then accompanied his parents of their removal to California. He remembers vividly many incidents of that long trip. He was reared to manhood under the parental roof upon the home farm in Sacramento county and acquired his education in the Jackson school. His knowledge has since been greatly supplemented with practical experience, reading, and observation. He was early trained to the work of the ranch and gained a knowledge of the best methods of carrying on farm work that has proved of much value to him in his later years. In the fall of 1875 he located on the ranch which has since been his home, and here he has two hundred and ninety-three acres of land which is productive, owing to the natural richness of the soil and the cultivation which has been bestowed upon it. Twenty-five acres is planted to grapes and his vineyard is a very fine one.

On the 12th of December, 1881, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Katie C. Cutbirth, a native of Placer county, California, and a daughter of George R. and Lucy (Taylor) Cutbirth. Her father is now deceased, while her mother resides on Magnolia avenue, in Oak Park, a suburb of Sacramento. Mr. Cutbirth came to California with his family in 1862 from Indianapolis, Indiana, making the journey over the long hot stretches of sand and through the mountain passes until he arrived at Placer county, California, where he located and remained for a short time. He then removed to Sacramento county and here he died on the 17th of September, 1899. He was the father of five children who are yet living: Mary, who is the widow of William Burchard, late of Sacramento; Lincoln, who is living in Chico, California; Katie C., the wife of Joseph E. Jackson; Ida M., who resides in San Francisco; and William, who is living in Portland, Oregon. One daughter, Alice M., is now deceased.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson has been blessed with four children: Lucy B., now the wife of Frederick Sehlmeyer, who is living in Sheldon, California; Harry J.; Charles L.; and Hazel O. With the exception of the eldest all are yet at home.

Joseph E. Jackson holds membership with the Elk Grove grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Jackson school district. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and his interest in the general welfare has been evidenced by his co-operation in many movements for the public good. Having spent almost his entire life in Sacramento county, he has a wide acquaintance here and, moreover, has been a witness of the greater part of the growth and progress of this region as it has emerged from frontier environments and taken on the indications of advanced civilization. The work which his father inaugurated in behalf of this county in pioneer times he carries forward and he is to-day classed with the leading agriculturists of his locality.

Source: History of the New California - Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine