Dan's Impressions of Jackson Reunion 2002

Jackson Brigade, Inc.

Dan's Impressions of Jackson Reunion 2002
Jackson's Mill, Lewis County, West Virginia
August 3, 2002

On Saturday August 3, 2002, the Jackson Brigade Reunion 2002 was held at Jackson's Mill, West Virginia at the site of the boyhood home of Civil War General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. Jackson's Mill is near Weston in Lewis County. You can read about the Jackson's Mill historic area which is now the WVU Jackson's Mill State 4-H Conference Center at http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/depts/jmill/jmh_area.htm.

Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 AM John M. Jackson and his wife Lek registered about fifty Jackson Descendants at the Jubilee Pavilion, Jackson's Mill. We met partly to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Jackson Brigade.

Jeanne Carter presenting a Living History Program
on Laura Jackson Arnold, Stonewall's sister.

At 10:30 AM, Jeanne Carter presented a Living History Program on Laura Jackson Arnold, Stonewall's sister. Jeanne did great in the role of Laura Arnold Jackson relating her life, her interactions with her famous brother Thomas ("Stonewall"), her experiences with soldiers living in her home during the Civil War and her nasty divorce trial initiated by her husband Jonathan Arnold.

Some of the Jackson Gang listening to Jeane.

Some of the Jackson Gang listening to Jeanne Carter.
Sitting at front table is Paulette and Joe Waterman, Lek Jackson.
At back table starting on right this side is Jake Jackson, Tom Sayre, Michael Kellar
(direct descendant of Laura Jackson Arnold), Sarah Jackson, Katie Jackson.
Standing is Jane Hilder, then sitting on other side of table is Colleen Minardi,
Timothy Jackson and then in bright pink is Pam Jackson.

Scotty Hyde and Jeanne Carter
Jeanne is holding hat box which contained letters by Laura.

At 11:30 AM as part of the Memorial Service, Dan Hyde read the names of 26 Jackson descendants who had died in the last several years. His son, Scotty Hyde, age 12, played Taps on his Trumpet.

Nancy Jackson, on right, reads certificate to honor Mary Lois Jackson
for her 10 years service as Treasurer of Jackson Brigade

At noon, we sat at the picnic tables for a potluck picnic lunch. Mary Lois Jackson had cooked a delicious ham and also several turkey breasts. Along with the dishes that each family brought, we had a feast! Huge selection of desserts including Jackson Brigade 10th anniversary cake!

Some of the Jackson Gang applauding Jeanne Carter.
Frederick J. Williams (descendant of John Jay Jackson) is the one clapping.
Ann Michell, Paulette and Joe Waterman on the other side of table.
Mary Jane Hyde in back on left. Timothy Jackson is sitting at the back right.

In front from left to right: Katie Jackson, Sarah Jackson and Brent Jackson.
In back from left to right: Daniel Minardi and Domonic Minardi.

Following lunch we had our business meeting of the Jackson Brigade. Nancy Jackson, our president, described the lack of progress in the plans to renovate the Historic Jackson Cemetery on Pike Street in Clarksburg. She has been frustrated by the City bureaucracy and politics.

She reported that the Jackson Brigade Board had formed a Cemetery Comittee chaired by Dan Hyde to prepare guidelines to administer the Cemetery Fund. Roy Michell is also a member. Dan is looking for other members to join the committee, especially, people in the Clarksburg, WV area.

Mary Lois Jackson gave the treasurer's report. John M. Jackson as editor of our Jackson Brigade Quarterly and publications reported that an index of the first ten years of the Quarterly would soon be available. Also, several new books published by the Jackson Brigade were going on sale today. Dan Hyde gave a report on the Jackson Brigade Web site. Over 300 pages on the Jackson family history are now available by way of the Internet.

John M. Jackson as chair of nominating committee announced the new officers: Nancy Jackson - president, John C. Jackson - vice president, Linda Brake Meyers - treasurer, Ann Fissel - secretary; Katy Williams - member-at-large; John M. Jackson - editor, and Dan Hyde - web master.

Nancy announced that the next Jackson Reunion would be early August, 2004, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. John M. Jackson and Ann Fissel are co-chairs.

The remainder of afternoon, people socialized and looked at the many family histories and pictures which individuals brought to share.

Banquet Table decorated by Nancy Jackson's painted watermelon pots and outhouses.
On left Ann Michell and standing Roy Michell. At far end of table Scotty and Mary Jane Hyde.
On right side of table from back to front: Joe and Paulette Waterman, Lek and John M. Jackson

Saturday Evening at 6:30 PM, we had a great banquet dinner at the Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants Library in Horner, WV, three miles southeast of Weston. We had a yummy meal of West Virginia style baked steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, runner beans and onions, apple sauce, and coleslaw. Joy Stalnaker, Betty Nickelson and Irma Curtis of HCPD were the cooks.

Joe and Paulette Waterman

Scotty Hyde and his Mom Mary Jane Hyde

While we were finishing up our dessert of apple crisp, and watermelon, Scotty Hyde played four selections on his trumpet.

Deloris Stinespring as Mary Todd Lincoln

After dinner, Mary Todd Lincoln was portrayed in a Living History Program by Deloris Stinespring. Deloris was great in her characterisation of Mary Todd Lincoln. We went away with a fuller understanding of the troubles that Mary Todd Lincoln had for years after her husband President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Tom Sayre, Timothy Jackson and Dora Ashton (who audited the books for us) listening to Mary Todd Lincoln.

Colleen Minardi and her mother Mary Lois Jackson listening to Mary Todd Lincoln.

Roy and Ann Michell listening to Mary Todd Lincoln.

After the evening's program, many new and old friends shook hands and gave hugs as we left for home. A great day!

Roy and Ann Michell with John M. Jackson at Nancy Jackson's home

Dan Fissel in Nancy Jackson's livingroom.

Ann Fissel, our secretary, in Nancy Jackson's livingroom.

Nancy Jackson cleaning up in her kitchen after a weekend of a lot of hard work.
Because of her efforts the Jackson Brigade Reunion 2002 was a huge success!

On Sunday August 4, Nancy Jackson provided a tour to Pringle Tree and Clarksburg for several of our out of town guests.

Page maintained by Dan Hyde, hyde at bucknell.edu Last update August 6, 2002

No guarantee on the accuracy of the data found on this web site is given or implied by the site owner. As with all family research, the researcher should strive to obtain primary documents for necessary proofs. Furthermore, permission must be obtained from the original submitter of information on this site before publishing any information found here.