T. J. Moss. I can see the family resemblance can you?

This is my son, David. He was born October 2, 1984 on my husband's birthday. So very sweet and good natured. He loved to laugh and travel. He died September 2, 1998. We love an miss him so much.

Jimmy and Barbara Jackson

George and Mary Jackson, my grandparents

My grandparents, George Washington Jackson Jr. and Mary Bell West Jackson. They were both, hardworking Texans trying their best to raise their families throughout, the Great Depression. My grandfather, George, was a free spirit they say, a little bit unconventional, and a very independent thinker. He had two great loves. The first, my grandmother, Mary. He had tattoed his fingers on one hand to say L-O-V-E and the other fingers on his other hand M-A-R-Y.

His other great love was music, especially the fiddle, which made him very popular working with local muscians to play his fiddle while the townsfolks danced and ate their BarB Ques.

As a little girl, I loved to sit by him and listen while he stomped his foot to the beat and played his fiddle. I can't say I remember him singing, but the music was the kind that you felt you couldn't stay in your seat, but had to get up and move your feet to the rhythm. I heard he could pick up just about any instrument and play it, although he couldn't read or write music. I do remember his playing the banjo, harmonica and blowing a beat in one of those big ceramic bottles. His music was pure American southwest folk - Texas, Louisianna, Arkansas, Tennessee hill music. He was often asked to play with various groups of musicians throughout Texas.

As a young man, he married Betty and together they had a son, George Junior. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last.

George would often would jump onto a moving railcar and go whereever it would take him. He'd stop and play his music until he felt it was time to move on again.

At one of his stops, as he played the fiddle he noticed a pretty little gal dancing. Her name was Mary. She would become my grandmother. She was a tiny lady, but very strong. Mary loved to dance. I doubt she missed very many a Saturday night dancing at the local hall-- didn't matter if she had a partner or not-- she loved to dance. At the local dance hall they met, George and Mary, just like that. Shortly thereafter they married and together jumped the railcars to go from town to town. Even after their first daughter, Billie and son, Jimmy were born they kept moving. I think after the third child, Roy was born, they decided to stop jumping moving railcars.

Together, they went on to raise, 10 children to adulthood. Around 16-17 years into the marriage, George Junior, now an adult, came by for a visit. Although growing up we didn't see much of George Junior, he was welcome in the family. Both George and Mary were very hard working folks. I don't think I ever saw my grandma just sitting a spell and resting. At the first streak of Texas sunlight in the morning she was up making pancakes for the children and grandchildren, until the last golden rays of sundown listening to George play his fiddle in the calm of the evening while the kids played checkers or chess. They also had a great love together, cheering the local high school football games. Both are now in heaven, George playing his fiddle while Mary keeps dancing.

If you'd like to hear his music see http://www.1001tunes.com/ or http://www.youtube.com/ and select Old time music by Arthur Smith such as "Cacklin' hen and rooster too", or "Down on the L&N railroad", or the "Orange Blossom special".

Anjalena Whittaker, the wife of Joseph Jackson is buried in Texas

TJ Moss

Solitute Plantation

This is aledged to be the home of Joseph Jackson's sister Emily Jackson and her husband in St Helena Parrish, Louisiana. The name of the plantation is Solitute. It is now owned privately.