San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
H. {. JACKSON
OLDEST ELK IN
WORLD HERE
Col. jackson Who Is 81
Makes Long Trip
Back From East.
RESIDENT OF CITY
He Was Stage Coach Driv-
er and Rancher in Days
of Old West.

San Antonio claims the oldest Eli
in the world just as he, the Oldest
Elk. claims San Antonio.
Col. II. +. Jackson, % years old,
stage coach driver in the old time West
and pioneer rsncher here, has come
back TO the city he left seven years
ago to go to Girard, Pa, to comfort
the last years of. his sister, Mrs.
Oakley. who died there last March at
the age OF 90.
With inconsistencies a spur, he ar
rived at the Elks' Club after long
train trip with no attendant, just in
time for the boys-they had not for
gotten him--to help celebrate his
9th birthday, December >.
Was Born in Vermont
To begin at the very beginning,
Colonel Jackson was born in Vermont
several years after the war of 1912
closed. Going west when young
man he drove stage coach out of
Denver. Colo. for years. During the
Civil War he joined with the Union
forces and gained his title OF colonel
while with the secret service.
Then he came to Texas and pur-
chased a large ranch in Wilson county,
which he managed for years.
Joins Elks at 81.
Colonel Jackson and his wife
realized enough on the sale ia move
TO San Antonio and retire. One of
the first things he did when he came
here was to join the Elks' Club, which
was then located on Commerce street.
He was 81 years old when he Joined.
The colonel knew that his reputa-
ton as the oldest ELK in the world
was established when he went as one
Of tie local delegates 10 the Elks
| convention in Portland, ten years ago.
when he vanquished several other con-
tenders. But, 10 and behold, the
national magazine 10 the Elks came
out with n story last summer that the
oldest Elk. % years old. had been
found somewhere ir the Middle West.
OF course, the club here could not
stand for that. The secretary wrote
the magazine that Colonel Jackson,
%, for several years a trustee of San
Antonio lodge, was still n life mem
Der. although then living in Pennsyl-
vania. When Colonel Jackson re-
turned he was shown the article which
reproduced picture Of the oldest
Elk"
why, ] remember him." he ex-
rln1rsah sWTkossa I
used TO snow him when l was driving
in Denver. He's from Vermont, too
Elks Met in Old Hall.
Colonel Jackson remembers well
when the Elks held their meeting in
the old hall on Commerce street, and
be remembers when the club moved
10 what is now the Army "Y." The
present quarters we're then the old
Travis Club.
1t was partly on account Of the
loss Of is wife, who now lies in Elk
rest. Dignowity cemetery. that Colonel
jackson decided to cave San Antonio
seven years ago and visit his aged sis
ter. his only other relative. He looked
after her place in Girard. doing near
ly every kind Of work. His activity
once nearly cost his life. While re.
pairing woodshed. where his sister
said a man Of his age had no business
TO be, Q fell from the roof and broke
leg. The doctor mad fears that it
would not heal properly. but eventually
ii did, and once more he resumed an
active life.
Then last March his 90-year-old
sister died. For a while he stayed |
about the place but the coming Of the
severe northern winter put him in |