Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL February 8, 1881 SHE WAS VERY OLD Death of AUNTY JACKSON, a Colored Person of Normal, Aged One Hundred and Twelve. - At 11 o'clock yesterday forenoon, at the home of HENRY ESSEX, at Poverty Hall, Normal, Mrs. ANNA JACKSON, known as "AUNTY JACKSON," breathed her last. Mrs. JACKSON, at her death, was over 112 years old, and had a very interesting history. She was born a slave in Chester District, South Carolina. Her master's name was RABB, with whom she lived till she was about 10 years old, when one of Mr. RABB'S daughters married one JENKINS, and she and several other slaves were pre- sented to the happy couple as a bridal present. She then assumed the name of JENKINS. She grew up under the slave whip of Mr. JENKINS, and when grown was mar- ried to one of the JENKINS' slaves who was of the same name, as slaves in those days took the name of their master. Mr. and Mrs. JENKINS, while slaves, raised ten children, who were all sold off, and all of whom she HAS NOT SEEN SINCE. save one - MARY - in the last forty years. This one also married a slave, and still goes by the name of JENKINS. They were separated, and she was taken off into Missouri, where she was kept till freed. About 35 years ago Mr. JENKINS master and overseer had a difficulty, and the master caused JENKINS to strike his overseer with a hammer which was supposed would kill him, and his master then gave him his freedom to save his life, and he "broke" for the North, land- ing in Sangamon county, Ill. Two years later, as Mrs. JENKINS had grown old HER FREEDOM WAS GRANTED HER, and she went to her husband, who had abandoned the name of JENKINS and taken the name of JACKSON, and they at once came to Normal, where she has lived ever since. Her husband died at our poor farm in November, 1862. They were poverty stricken. She labored on the wash board for support, and in the spring of 1865 she sent to Missouri for her daughter, MARY, who has ever since cared for the old lady. Mrs. JACKSON picked IN THE FIRST COTTON FIELD cultivated in Chester District, South Carolina. When she was only nine or ten years old, her master brought the first cotton into the district in a sack, and she picked the seeds out of the cotton and planted them, and after that she experienced a great many hardships in the cotton fields. Mrs. JACKSON leaves one child, MARY, who is over 79 years old; several grand-children and a great many great grandchildren. She maintained excellent good health for a lady of her age, being seldom sick, and was always ready and willing to do what she was able to do. Since she was 100 years old she has pieced several quilts, and during the summer of 1879 - then 110 years old - she pieced a quilt, and took it to the fair and received the blue ribbon on it. A quilt was shown which she pieced only a few months ago, and which was extra- ordinarily well done. Four weeks ago she was out the last time and appeared sprightly and active, but she was immediately taken sick with a chill, and gradually grew worse till she died. She has been a professor of Christianity for seventy years, and at the last was perfectly resigned to die. She told several that she did not want to live any longer; that she knew she had a home in Heaven, and wanted to go directly home. She died happy. To say that one has lived 112 years in America may not be fully realized without a brief reflection back over the periods of our history in so many years. It dates back to 1768 - two years before the Boston mass- acre, five years before the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor, six years before the First Continental Congress in America, seven years prior to the dedica- tion of Faneull Hall, "the cradle of American liberty," nine years before the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and twenty-one years prior to the election of GEORGE WASHINGTON to the Presidency, the first President of the United States. Mrs. JACKSON was born while America only existed as United Colonies of Great Britain, and lived in the colony of South Carolina twenty-two years before it adopted the constitution and was admitted as one of the United States of America. ==========================================================================