Jackson's Mill
Encyclopedia
Jackson's Mill was a grist mill in West Virginia (near the present-day city of Weston
in Lewis County
, West Virginia
). The center of the Jackson estate stood in the peninsula formed by the confluence
of Freeman's Creek and the West Fork River
. Edward Jackson (1759–1828) built a home on a prominent knoll 100 yards from the West Fork, a two-story frontier-style log structure 40 feet by 20. On the other (east) side of the river, he built a sawmill and grist mill in 1808.
After Edward's death, Jackson's Mill was operated by his son, Cummins Jackson
, a paternal uncle of future Confederate
General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
(1824–1863). By 1826, Cummins Jackson's brother, Clarksburg
attorney Jonathan Jackson (1790–1826) had died of typhoid fever
, and his wife had struggled to support her children. In 1830, 6 year-old Thomas and his younger sister Laura Ann went to live with Cummins Jackson. The children's mother, Julia Neale Jackson
(1789–1831), died the following year, leaving her children orphaned.
Young Thomas helped around his uncle's farm, tending sheep with the assistance of a sheep dog, driving teams of oxen and helping to harvest the fields of wheat and corn. Formal education was not easily obtained, but he attended school when and where he could. Much of Thomas Jackson's education was self-taught. He would often sit up at night reading by the flickering light of burning pine knots.
The story is told that Thomas once made a deal with one of his uncle's slave
s to provide him with pine knots in exchange for reading lessons. This was in violation of a law in Virginia at that time that forbade teaching a slave to read or write, but nevertheless, Jackson taught the man as promised. In his later years at Jackson's Mill, Thomas served as a schoolteacher
.
In 1842, young Thomas Jackson received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
, New York
, and later became an instructor at Virginia Military Institute
. During the American Civil War
, he became a prominent Confederate General, and died in 1863 in the Battle of Chancellorsville
, following a "friendly fire
" incident.
The property at Jackson's Mill was deeded to the State of West Virginia in 1921. In modern times, the preserved grist mill of Cummins Jackson is the centerpiece of a historical site and museum at the Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning and State 4-H Camp
. The facility, located in Weston, West Virginia
, serves as a special campus for West Virginia University
(WVU) and the WVU Extension Service.
Weston, West Virginia
Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County, and home to the West Virginia Museum of American Glass.-History:...
in Lewis County
Lewis County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,919 people, 6,946 households, and 4,806 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 7,944 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
). The center of the Jackson estate stood in the peninsula formed by the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of Freeman's Creek and the West Fork River
West Fork River
The West Fork River is a principal tributary of the Monongahela River, 103 miles long, in north-central West Virginia in the United States...
. Edward Jackson (1759–1828) built a home on a prominent knoll 100 yards from the West Fork, a two-story frontier-style log structure 40 feet by 20. On the other (east) side of the river, he built a sawmill and grist mill in 1808.
After Edward's death, Jackson's Mill was operated by his son, Cummins Jackson
Cummins Jackson
Cummins Edward Jackson was a paternal uncle of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson . He owned and operated a grist mill at Jackson's Mill, Virginia ....
, a paternal uncle of future Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
(1824–1863). By 1826, Cummins Jackson's brother, Clarksburg
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area...
attorney Jonathan Jackson (1790–1826) had died of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
, and his wife had struggled to support her children. In 1830, 6 year-old Thomas and his younger sister Laura Ann went to live with Cummins Jackson. The children's mother, Julia Neale Jackson
Julia Neale Jackson
Julia Beckwith Jackson was the mother of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson.- Short and tragic life :...
(1789–1831), died the following year, leaving her children orphaned.
Young Thomas helped around his uncle's farm, tending sheep with the assistance of a sheep dog, driving teams of oxen and helping to harvest the fields of wheat and corn. Formal education was not easily obtained, but he attended school when and where he could. Much of Thomas Jackson's education was self-taught. He would often sit up at night reading by the flickering light of burning pine knots.
The story is told that Thomas once made a deal with one of his uncle's slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s to provide him with pine knots in exchange for reading lessons. This was in violation of a law in Virginia at that time that forbade teaching a slave to read or write, but nevertheless, Jackson taught the man as promised. In his later years at Jackson's Mill, Thomas served as a schoolteacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
In 1842, young Thomas Jackson received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and later became an instructor at Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he became a prominent Confederate General, and died in 1863 in the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, following a "friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
" incident.
The property at Jackson's Mill was deeded to the State of West Virginia in 1921. In modern times, the preserved grist mill of Cummins Jackson is the centerpiece of a historical site and museum at the Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning and State 4-H Camp
Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp Historic District
Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp Historic District, also known as West Virginia University Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning, is a historic 4-H camp and national historic district near Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia. The district includes 23 contributing buildings, 4 contributing sites,...
. The facility, located in Weston, West Virginia
Weston, West Virginia
Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County, and home to the West Virginia Museum of American Glass.-History:...
, serves as a special campus for West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
(WVU) and the WVU Extension Service.