Elbert Burton Jackson was born in 1873 and died at the age of 37 years. His father, Merritt Jackson generally farmed and raised livestock. During the 1880's and 1890's he ran a Government licensed distillery and an associated grocery. Merritt also hauled corn whiskey from Hendersonville to Asheville; he was convicted in court on two occasions for selling whiskey without paying tax. He almost lost his farm. Later he and his wife and most of the children went first to Inman, then Spartanburg,SC and finally Polk County,NC where they all worked in the cotton mills to pay off the fines. Sons, Elbert and General stayed on the farm and grew vegetables for those working in the mill. Elbert did not have an easy childhood.

It is not known exactly when he became wheelchair bound. He was a victim of what is thought to be progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disorder. The body tissue mistakenly attacks its own immune system. At that time in medical history the medical profession had no effective treatments and did not understand the disease. His spine was affected severely by the disease and his pain was very severe. It was reported by his children that his death was caused by the disease. In reflection one would wonder if it was a more sever autoimmune disease such as Lupus that took his life so quickly and at such a young age. In modern times these diseases are better controlled in most cases. It happens less frequently with such severity. From family research it is suspected that over a period of time, Arsenic insecticides were unwittingly used on the farm and in apple growing that are now known to effect the autoimmune system, causing immediate illnesses and generic mutations with generational consequences that cannot be reversed. We can say with certainty that Elbert Burton Jackson was the first in a long line of generational autoimmune disorders, most commonly RA, in our family medical history.

Sadly in any case, he did not live to see his children grow into adults. His youngest, Edna Jackson was born in January 1910 and he died shortly thereafter in July. He left a very strong lady, his wife, Mary Jane Elizabeth Ivey Jackson, to raise their five children: Ocie 16; Maude 14; Frank 12; Ina 4; and Edna, a newborn.

Delivered from his mortal pain may he forever rest in peace.