Biography:
Mr. John W. Jackson was born in 1869, the child of Henry and Rachel (Bruce) Jackson. He may have been their only child together.
He grew up around Westminster, attending school on Union Street, one of segregated schools in the County. In Maryland, public schools were established for African Americans about 1872, over seven years after the end of the Civil War and five years after the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to African Americans. The State of Maryland provided funding for these schools to the county in 1873. And in 1874, the Maryland State Legislature passed laws requiring that the same instruction would be provided to all children, regardless of race, although maintained separate school systems.
Mr. Jackson likely performed in a school exhibition in the spring of 1875, being about 6 years old at that time. Across the country, many schools for African Americans had white teachers. In Westminster, by 1880, the teacher at the public school for African Americans was Ms. Fannie E. Balls, an African American woman.
We have been unable to find records for Mr. Jackson after 1880, until his death in 1921. Even his death certificate remains elusive. It is not known if he married or if he had any children.
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