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.

The Picnic

This is a photo of Pauline Shaw and Cleveland Pharis.

The oil boom had hit Texas in the early 1900's and the Pharis boys were all involved making good money working the pipelines. This gave them opportunities to travel a bit throughout the beautiful Texas plains. Cleveland, Jesse and Elzy all worked the field for their various companies. The Texas springtime is well know for the bold patches of bluebonnets as well as the pinks, yellows and reds of various other wildflowers. The temperature is so lovely and cool. The sun shining and the clouds drift by as the Pharis boys worked the oil fields in the prime of the oil boom with jobs aplenty and money aplenty to date one of the lovely, sweet ladies from the various small towns proping up all over the prairie.

It was when the boys landed in Burburnett that the Pharis boys were struck with their first blooms of love in the spring of 1929.

Elzy was the first brother to fall that year. He met and married Vera Emmett, and they were married February 7, 1929 in Burkburnett Texas.

Now, the two older brothers, Cleveland and Jesse as close as brother can be, figured they needed to check out the local town and see if there were any other cute young ladies to catch their eye. That is when they also caught the eyes of sisters, Ruth and Pauline Shaw. Now, these boys stood out of a crowd. They were tall, handsome and had that southernly, gentlemanly walk that makes a girl's heart flutter.

Of course, love always begins very innocently, some cute girls walking down main street, giggling with their purchase of fabric to make a pretty dress for the local dance or purhaps a bit of sugar to bake something nice at home. The Pharis boys certainly would have noticed these very sweeet, pretty young ladies. After eye contact, came a little flirting, something to drink at the soda fountain and soon a dance on a saturday night. Before you could say springtime-- the boys were smitten!

Ruth told Pauline one spring day, "Jesse has asked me to marry him!" Pauline, Polly as she was known, was so happy for her sister and asked her when she thought they'd get hitched. Ruth said, "I'm not sure exactly, but probably pretty soon. He asked if we'd meet them for lunch tomorrow and maybe we can set a date".

Polly said, "why don't you fry up some chicken, and I'll make a cake, then we can pack a nice picnic lunch for the guys. I know you love to drive the Model T and we can meet them near the Burburnett road crossing by the Pecan tree". Ruth said, "that sounds like a right fine idea and will give them a chance to spend the more time together".

Polly didn't like making chicken, but she could whip up the best cakes and with some nice fried okra, blackeyed peas and cornbread to go with it, the meal would certainly be special. The next day, after making their lunch and putting the food in a basket they loaded up the ol' car and headed for the cross roads to meet their beaus.

After eating lunch Polly and Cleveland, Rock as he was known, decided to rest under a Pecan tree for shade against the hot afternoon Texas sun. Rock told Polly, "You are the prettiest, and sweetest girl I've ever known". Polly, blushing said, "Well, your pretty nice yourself". Rock told Polly, "I guess you heard about Ruth and Jesse wanting to get hitched". Polly said, "Yes, I think they want to get married soon, before the summer heat". Rock then leaned over to Polly and said, "Well, wouldn't it be fun if we also got hitched at the same time?"

That is when he pulled out a little box and gave it to Polly. As she sat beside him, she opened the little box and saw a beautiful Ruby ring set in sterling silver. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Oh, yes," Polly said, "I love you so much and can't wait to begin our life together!".

"Ruth!, Ruth!" Polly said. "It looks like we're gonna have a double wedding!" Ruth and Jesse with, knowing smiles, beamed "How does May 21st sound?".

At the picnic, plans for a double wedding were formed and Cleveland and Jesse married Polly and Ruth in Burkburnett Texas on a beautiful spring, amid the wildflowers of Texas.