< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO 1909 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to RETURN to LIST OF BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
 

C. F. Jackson	CALEB F. JACKSON.  Without invidious distinction, Caleb F. Jackson may be termed the foremost business man of Norwalk from the fact that his interests are most varied as well as extensive.  Starting out in life on a humble financial plane, he has steadily worked his way upward and his careful management, coupled with unfaltering industry and keen discernment, have brought him to the position which he now occupies.  Honored and respected by all there is no resident of Norwalk who fills a more enviable place in the commercial and financial circles of the city.  He was born June 25, 1854, upon the old Jackson farm a mile and a half south of Norwalk, upon the old state road.  His parents were Charles and Alberta (Fitch) Jackson and he is a great-grandson of Colonel Giles Jackson of Birkshire county, Massachusetts, who won fame as a colonel of infantry in the Revolutionary war and as a chief of staff to Major General Gates he penned the article of surrender at Yorktown and Saratoga.  The original articles of convention for the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, Oct. 16, 1877, signed by J. Burgoyne and Horatio Gates, are now in possession of C. F. Jackson at Norwalk, having been inherited by the "second son" for three generations.  Numerous other historical Revolutionary papers of great value are preserved to be handed down to the second son, Thayer Elden Jackson.  Charles Jackson, the father of our subject, was a prominent farmer of Norwalk township, who spent six years of his early manhood in the employ of Shepherd Patrick as a salesman in his general store at Norwalk.  Subsequently, he bought the Jackson farm homestead, which remained in the family for sixty years and his capable management of his business interests, placed him with the substantial agriculturists of Huron county.      Caleb F. Jackson attended the country school in Norwalk, district No. 3, until he prepared to enter high school in 1868.  He was graduated therefrom in 1871 on the completion of a complete scientific and classical course of study.  He had expected to study medicine, but the death of both parents left him the care of two sisters and a younger brother, a financial burden which made further study in school or college impossible.  At the age of seventeen years, he began work in the dry-goods, grocery and drug store of Wooster & Patrick as "boy of all work," entering their employ on the 13th of November, 1871.  Within, three months, he was made a salesman and promotions followed rapidly.  In 1873, he was head salesman in the drygoods department on a salary of a thousand dollars per year, which at that date was the largest salary paid any salesman in Norwalk - and he was not yet twenty years of age.  In January, 1874, at the age of nineteen and a half years, he formed a copartnership with L. C. Prescott and purchased a drug and grocery store at Flint, Michigan.  The firm of Prescott & Jackson possessed but twelve hundred dollars, but they had energy, determination and perseverance.  They assumed a debt of five thousand dollars and after two years, with all the indebtedness discharged, C. F. Jackson sold his interests to his partner and returned to Norwalk to enter the employ of C. E. Marsh & Company, as salesman and manager of the interests of Mrs. S. P. Pease in the firm.  His next advanced step was made in 1881, when he joined C. E. Marsh in organizing the firm of Marsh & Jackson for the purpose of opening a dry goods and carpet store at No. 11 West Main street.  Great financial success followed this venture for five years and in 1886 Mr. Jackson sold his interests to his partner and went to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  In that growing city, he established the "Jackson Black Goods Store" which became known throughout the northwest as specializing in every known article of dry goods, black or white.  Mr. Jackson  was sole owner of the Minneapolis business and in seven years, had sufficient capital to warrant the stocking of a department store, which he could foresee that at early date, was the coming mercantile establishment of this country.      In the winter of 1892-3 Mr. Jackson, in partnership with H. H. Hoyt of Norwalk, purchased from the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city, their church property at the corner of Main street and Benedict avenue.  In May 1893, the old church was demolished to make room for the beautiful five-story brick and brown zone building known as The Glass Block.  The building when complete, was leased to the Hoyt & Jackson Company, a corporation of which C. F. Jackson was the president, for a department store and was opened to the public Nov. 29, 1893.  This marked the beginning of a new era in mercantile affairs in Norwalk.  In that day the department store and was opened to the public November 29, 1893.  This marked the beginning of a new era in mercantile affairs in Norwalk.  In that day the department store was untried, except in the large cities and in Norwalk it was looked upon as a venturesome undertaking, which would probably result in failure.  Mr. Jackson's perceptions of the business future, were much keener than the old-school merchants and instead of failure, the business was a great success and for sixteen years has paid its stockholders splendid dividends every year.  In October, 1895, Mr. Jackson purchased his partner's interest in the Glass Block real estate and became sole owner of this valuable property.  He also secured Mr. Hoyt's interest in the mercantile company and immediately changed the corporate name to  The C. F. Jackson Company, which is so well known in the business world today.      Even after acquiring this valuable property, Mr. Jackson's ambition was not satisfied, for in 1902, he secured the first Glass Block Annex by the lease of a three story brick block adjoining on the west, thereby increasing the floor space and obtaining better facilities to handle the vast growing trade.  The business has been conducted on a cash basis with a fixed price and to these rules and the straightforward principles which have governed his commercial affairs, the success of Mr. Jackson is due.  In 1904, in order to utilize surplus earnings, Mr. Jackson bought for the company a business block at Findlay, Ohio, for one hundred and thirty thousand dollars and established at that point a second Glass Block department store larger and more beautiful than the original store at Norwalk.  His eldest son, Edward E. Jackson, was made vice-president of the company and general manager at Findlay.  The success of the store at that place has been beyond the expectations of even its proprietor.  In December, 1008, a second annex was added at Norwalk, comprising three floors with a frontage of sixty feet on Benedict avenue, giving the Norwalk store a total of ninety thousand square feet of sales room or nearly two and a half acres - a monument to the business foresight and executive ability of its founder.  In addition to the general management of these great mercantile establishments, Mr. Jackson is interested in numerous manufacturing and business enterprises to which he devotes a portion of his time.  He is president of the Norwalk Vault Company, vice-president of the Auto Buggy Company, treasurer of the Miller Anchor Company, vice-president of the Auto Buggy Company, treasurer of the Miller Anchor Company, a director of the Local Telephone Company, of the Interstate Ice Company and the Tinker Concrete Company, while in numerous other concerns, he is a stockholder, giving him diversified interests probably not exceeded by those of any other business man in Norwalk.  For two years he has been the president of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, a strong organization of business men, looking after the welfare and prosperity of Norwalk's business interests.      On the 11th of November, 1874, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Mary L. Stevens, of Norwalk and unto them have been born four children: Edward Everett, who was born January 2, 1876, and was married at Findlay, Ohio, September 1, 1905, to Miss Glenna Weil; Thayer Elden, born June 19, 1884; Kenneth Seymour, born July 9, 1886; and Hortence Ione, born Mar. 16, 1891.      Mr. Jackson is not only well known because of the extent and importance of his business affairs, but also by reason of his co-operation in many interests and measures which relate to the individual or public welfare.  He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree, to the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of the Maccabees and the National Union.  He is a member of the Ohio Sons of the American Revolution and was for many years a member of the Shakespeare Club, Norwalk's leading literary and social club.  He is likewise a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church and for many yeas has served on its board of trustees.  He has never become actively connected with politics or aspired to public office.  He is rather retiring in disposition, but most public-spirited and in a quiet and unostentatious way, has devoted much time and money to the public good.  He finds his pleasure in his elegant home and his close, enduring friends and he deserves in the largest degree the respect and confidence as well as the success, which have been accorded him. (CLICK HERE for picture of the Glass Block Company) Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. II - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 31
	MILO F. JOHNSON, a progressive and prosperous farmer of Norwalk township, was born in Peru township, July 21, 1859.  His birth occurred on the old homestead farm taken up by his grandfather, Marcus Johnson, in the early part of the eighteenth century, which property is yet owned by one of his daughters, Mrs. Della M. Linder.  He is a son of Luther B. Johnson, who was born on the 1st of November, 1822, in Elba, Genesee county, New York.  He came west to Ohio with his parents, when eighteen months of age, settling on the old homestead farm in 1824.  This continued to be his place of residence until 1888, when he retired from active life and came to Norwalk, where he passed away in April, 1904, at the ripe old age.  The wife preceded him to the great beyond in May 1895.  He belonged to the Universalist church and was a stanch republican in politics.  A successful and substantial farmer, he devoted his entire efforts to that line of activity, and, though quiet and unassuming in manner, was well known and honored for his strict integrity and his loyalty to the general good, doing all in his power to further the growth and upbuilding of the community in which he lived.  His family consisted of three children, namely: Milo F., of this review; Della M., who passed away in August, 1909; and Mrs. Alma E. Call, of Williams county, Ohio.      Reared on the old homestead farm, Milo F. Johnson pursued his education in the district schools of Peru township and spent the years of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof.  Upon attaining his majority, he decided to adopt as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, with the exception of three years, when connected with the Ohio Metal Company.  He has a finely improved place, equipped with good barns and outbuildings and all latest devices and equipments for facilitating the work of the farm.  He is progressive and up-to-date in his methods and has attained a creditable degree of prosperity in his agricultural pursuits.      On the 24th of October, 1888, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Sadie E. Nicholson, and they have become the parents of one daughter, Helen B., born Feb. 24, 1897.  Mrs. Johnson is the daughter of William Nicholson, of Mansfield, Ohio, and is one of a family of six children.  The father was born in England and came to Mansfield when twenty-three years of age.  He had been a grocer in his native land and continued to engaged in that line in this country.  He passed away in 1887.  His wife, who was also born in England, was brought by her parents to America when six weeks old.  Her father, Charles Hutchinson, on his arrival in the United States, came direct to Huron county where he settled on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Perry township which is still in the family.      Mr. Johnson's church affiliations are with the Presbyterians, and he has given stalwart support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He has served as township trustee for seven years and is still the incumbent in that office.  Mr. Johnson has not only been industrious, but has evidenced in his transactions those qualities which make friends, and, being upright in all of his dealings and interested in the moral and well as the financial welfare of the community, he enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. II - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 35
Ozias Joiner	OZIAS JOINER (portrait only, no other mention in Vols. I or II) Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. II - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 389 SHARON WICK'S NOTE:  An Ozias Joiner, ae 90, of Greenfield, was mentioned in the Firelands Quarterly 1888 Vol. IV, pg. 28 (within this county's of pages) as one of a large number of aged people ranging from 93 years old downward; not less than 200 that might be properly classed as old pioneers were on the grounds. ALSO Found in Page 220 of History of Fire Lands: Comprising Huron and Erie Counties published 1879.
	WILLIAM E. JOINER, who has the distinction of being the oldest assessor in Greenfield township and in fact in Huron county, was born in the house in which he now lives, Sept. 8, 1839, and is the son of Azias and Philura (Newberry) Joiner.  The father was born July 20, 1797, in Colerain township, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, where his father, William Joiner, was a school teacher.  In the spring of 1818 he came to this county from Cayuga county, New York, having made the greater part of the journey on foot.  He bought a tract of two hundred and fifty acres in Greenfield township and in 1825 returned to Connecticut to obtain the deed to his land.  He came back immediately and made this farm his home until his death.  In 1831 he married Miss Philura Newberry, who for almost half a century was his companion on the highroad of life, enduring the hardship of living in an uncleared forest, for Mr. Joiner had much work to do before he could cultivate his land.  Unto them were born three children: William E., of this review; Wallace O., born Mar. 22, 1842, a resident of Hillsdale, Michigan; and Mary, who was born Jan. 5, 1844, and died Oct. 10, 1871.  She was the wife of Watson T. Smith, also deceased.  Mrs. Joiner was called to her final rest Dec. 29, 1887, and her husband followed in a little more than a year, his death occurring May 16, 1889.  He was a man of fine education and a great reader, who had ever evinced a fondness for mathematics.  He was a public-spirited man as well and had held the office of township trustee.  In the affairs of life he had prospered, through hard work, careful attention to details, and good management.      William E. Joiner has lived on his present farm all his life.  He was permitted a longer school period than many youths of the country can enjoy, for he was twenty-three before he discontinued his lessons.  He took a course in double and single entry bookkeeping for he had looked forward to entering the commercial world and winning success and a reputation as an accountant.  It was his father’s wish, however, that he return to the farm and conduct its affairs - a wish in which the son acquiesced.  He has been fortunate in his agricultural experiments, his fields are models of careful cultivation and his crops reveal what hard work may do.  He has also entered into the life of the township.  He is known as the oldest assessor of Huron county having been first elected thirty years ago on the republican ticket.  He has since served sixteen years, and on the occasion of one election received all but one of the votes cast in his township.      On the 14th of September, 1865, Elder Hahurst pronounced the words that made William E. Joiner and Miss Emma L. May man and wife.  The ceremony was performed at North Fairfield, Ohio, and the union has been blessed with two children: Erminnie L., born Mar. 17, 1867, became the wife of Charles H. Swigard, a civil engineer, who has charge of the irrigation improvements in the state of Washington, but she died June 26, 1891.  They have one child, Minnie L., who lives with her grandfather, William E. Joiner.  Hattie, the second daughter, married E. H. Bouten and lives at North Fairfield, Ohio.  Mr. and Mrs. Joiner have also reared a niece, Dessie, the daughter of Watson F. Smith, who is now married to George Trimmer and lives at Peru, Ohio.      Mr. Joiner is a member of the Congregational church and takes a prominent part in its work.  A man of ability and unquestioned integrity, he has won a place in the hearts of the residents of his township, as was attested by the fact that there was but one dissenting vote at his election to the position he has held so long, and in fulfilling the duties of which he takes such a pride. Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. II - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 214

NOTES: