The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-16
ELIZABETH JACKSON.
0omesnmg About the Patriotic Mother "A
'sOld Hickory"

ABOUT the Patriotic Mother a
"Old Hickory"
Very little does history tell us O,
Elizabeth, the mother of Andrew Jack.
son, yet the little we know shows he,
worthy of place by the side of Mary.
mother OF Washington. When Andrew
was only five days old his father died.
at their home in North Carolina. A
month later Mrs. jackson, with her
three boys. removed to South Carolina.
about twenty miles north to where Ian.
caster Court House was afterward built.
Here Andrews young days were spent.
Mrs. jackson was poor in this worlds
goods, and was obliged to toll early
and late to provide for her family.
The two older boys helped all
they could, and obtained
scanty education at the district
school. Elizabeth jackson was deter
mined that one Of her children should
be consecrated to the ministry, and An
drew was chosen for that calling. He
was placed in the Waxham Academy.
and was making excellent progress in
his studies when the first mutterinps of
the revolution were heard Andrew
was only twelve years of age when the
royal troops, meeting with defeat at the
North, marched upon the more thinly-
populated South, and his older brother
joined the ranks and marched to battle.
When the intelligence came, soon after,
of the death of his brother. from sun
stroke, and Andrew saw his mother
overcome with grief he resolved at once
to give up all thoughts of the ministry
and devote himself to the service of his
country.
Shortly after this, when Andrew was
but little more than thirteen years of
age, he, in company with his brother
Robert, enlisted, and were very soon
engaged in battle. Their side hav-
ing met defeat, the two lads were
made prisoners, and received the
most brutal and degrading treatment
The officer in command drew sword
upon them both for refusing to per-
form some mental service, and Robert
received a wound from which he never
fully recovered.
Their mother, with her usual prompt
ness and resolution, travelled to them,
and after much intercessiOn succeeded
in obtaining their exchange. But in
the prison, where they had been con-
fined with two hundred and fifty others,
the smallpox had broken ont and both
sons had contracted the disease. Moth
ing could be done but to get them home.
In company with five released neigh
bors, Elizabeth jackson and her sons
began their march of forty miles. But
two horses could be procured, one of
which Mrs Jackson rode, without saddle
or bridle; and on the other Robert was
supported, for he was too sick and weak
to sit alone. Andrew walked the entire
distance barefooted, though broken out
with smallpox. A short time before
reaching their home a heavy rain set
in, drenching them to the skin. The
eruption disappeared from the skin of
the boys and entered their systems
Robert lived bet two days, and for many
weeks the life of Andrew vas despaired
of. AZ soon as Andrew had recovered,
cry for help came Fl ON their old
friends and neighbOrs, who were sick
and dying in the prison. ships at Charles
medicine, the common comforts of life
denied them-no wonder they died by
scores. Elizabeth Jackson was among
the first to respond TO the call, and with
four or five other women-taking what
few comforts they could with them
FASTENED to the relief of the sufferers.
For some days they ministered as best
they could to the needs of the prisoners,
saving many lives no doubt, and MAX
ing the last hours OF others as comfort
able as possible.
Before they could reach home Mrs.
Jackson was seized with fever, and
Frustrated as she was, from overwork
and anxiety, she speedily fell a victim
to the ravages of the disease. She was
buried just beyond the lines OF defense
which the Americans had thrown up
across Charleston Neck. Her grave is
unknown, but in her son Anorew she had
reared a monument that would better
perpetuate her name than the Hottest
one in marble.
From Elizabeth jackson her son An
drew had inherited detestation of wrong
and oppression, reverence for truth,
justice and freedom, and that deep
patriotic devotion to country which
formed the ruling elements of his char
acter, and fitted him for leadership
among free people. Truly a worthy
son of a mother who fell a glorious