Welcome...to the
Jackson County MN genealogy website!
Jackson County is located in southwest Minnesota and borders Iowa.
Homer Ed Carlson
1929-2013
Randy Wendel photo
My name is Randy Wendel (meet Randy), Rootsweb volunteer coordinator and webmaster for Jackson County, MN since May 2007, and lifetime member of the Jackson Co Hist. Society. I volunteer my time on behalf of Rootsweb to keep these pages updated. The Jackson County Historical Society does not have a website but is fully aware of this one which I maintain for Rootsweb and the GenWeb project. My goal is to keep this website regularly updated with Jackson Co genealogy and Jackson Co Historical Society information. I'm always interested in contributions to post on this website so please pass along any photos, person or family history/genealogy related items! Also note I live 150-miles from Jackson County (Bloomington MN) and the distance keeps me from regular on-site research activities or volunteer work at the historical society/museum. Therefore, the least I can do in any volunteer-capacity on a regular basis is maintain this web site.
Click here to email me with questions, submissions, etc.
I was saddened to learn of the passing of our friend, H. Ed Carlson in late April. I had sat down to lunch at work and made one of my regular daily checks on Facebook to learn Ed had passed away 5 days earlier...on the 19 of April. Ed was an interesting person and had an interesting life history. Ed and I spent some time at cemeteries on a few occasions and I always enjoyed his company. He spent a lot of time at the historical society and museum and somehow he managed to collect a lot of history of Jackson County of which he could often recall from memory. My trips to Lakefield have become fewer the past few years, and I always kept an eye out for Ed. I will miss him and not having the opportunity to see him when I visit the area. Ed, thank you for the memories. Ed's obituary may be read by clicking here.
"Winter" seemed to drag on, and for the most part, it did...almost through the end of April. I'm ready to get outside and work on projects...I have a few to do which involve continuing landscape work since last years new garage project. I need to install a ground patio and lay landscape rock for starters. One of my priorities will be to do some camping this year...of which we only did on 2 occasions last year. Need to break-away and enjoy life a little too.
I'm spending much time away from home during the week. I have regularly been staying nights in Wisconsin due to an ongoing project which will take me through at least mid-summer. I also spent a week in Schaumburg IL in mid-April. That stay occurred during the heavy rains which caused a sink-hole and several flooded homes and highways. In fact, I was there the day of the Boston Marathon bombing. I went out to eat at the end of the day and saw it all over the news while there.
The bakery in Lakefield has new owners. Younger pair/couple with some food industry background as well as originally from the area. Once they get things rolling and settled in, they talked about remodeling the storefront a bit to accomodate a few sit-down tables along with some coffee for patrons.
Summerfest is in June and I hope to be there as long as I can find a replacement to cover my on-call over that weekend. I really enjoy Summerfest and hanging out with the local people. Last year my father and I enjoyed the helicopter ride out toward the farm southwest of town and back. Flew right over Jeff Thiners' farm just out the west side of Lakefield. Wish I had his email address so I could send him the photos I took.
If you are within a short drive of the Jackson Co Historical Society and Museum, and have a little time you could spare, they could sure use your help! Why not consider dedicating 1 day out of the year (or just a Saturday morning?) to give back to your community and help preserve some history. Among any immediate items they need assistance with, there are MANY photos which need to be scanned so a digital file can be used to backup photos and documents and stored more safely. Imagine all paper-based items that would be lost if a fire or tornado destroyed them. Scanning items to digital format for safe keeping is important. Contact Mike 507-662-5505 and tell him you'd like to come in and lend a hand with something...he'll be very glad you did, and so will you!
Jackson County (24 counties in the United States are named Jackson County), established on May 23, 1857, was named after Henry Jackson, the first merchant in St. Paul and a member of the first territorial legislature. You will find Jackson County in the Southwest corner of Minnesota (43.6750 N, 95.1567 W). The county seat is Jackson. The historical society is located in Lakefield.
Henry Jackson was born in Abingdon, VA, in 1811. He acquired only a limited education as a youth, but ultimately became a good penman and accountant through diligent self-study. Of a somewhat roving nature, he went off to serve as an orderly sergeant in the Texas "Patriot War" of 1836-7, then returned to Buffalo, NY, where he married Angelina Bivins (1814 NY) in 1838. Soon after, they emigrated to Green Bay, WI, then to Galena, IL.
When his business failed in 1842, the family moved to St. Paul, where they rented a cabin from Pierre Parrant where the family lived temporarily. Jackson purchased 3 acres of land from Benjamin Gervais which was located in the area later bounded by Jackson, Robert, Bench, and 3rd Streets, which was then a high bank overlooking the lower levee. On this property, he built a log or pole cabin, and opened a small stock of goods suitable for the Indian trade. He soon did a prosperous business, and shortly thereafter became a community leader.
During his residence in St. Paul, he held several important offices. In 1843, he was appointed the first Justice of the Peace in St. Paul. In 1846, he was appointed as the first Postmaster, and in 1847, he was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly. He was later a member of the first Territorial Legislature of Minnesota, and was a member of the first St. Paul Town Council. In 1853, he and his family moved to Mankato, MN, where he played a role in founding the city. He died in 1857. Jackson Street in St. Paul, Mankato, and Jackson County, MN, were named for him. His real estate holdings were valued at $8,000 in 1850. He and Angeline had at least one child: William C. (1847 MN).
DATES:
SummerFest 2013 June 19-23. Theme: Down on Mainstreet
SummerFest Facebook page, click here
Jackson Co Fair 2013 Official web page, click here. Note fair starts a day early and ends a day early in 2013.
