Bacon Chapel Neighborhood.

Some Historical Events

14 February 1902

Clarence, Mo.

Editors SHELBINA TORCHLIGHT

ANDREW MC BROOM

This old and respected citizen was born and raised in Smyth County, Virginia. In 1833 he, with his family, came to Missouri and settled on a tract of land on the southwest corner of which Bacon Chapel church stands. Mr. McBroom was a farmer, a member of Bacon Chapel, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen. He lived to a good old age and died many years ago. He left a worthy family of six boys and two girls. (Transcriber’s note: It would appear that the letter writer meant to say six girls and two boys, based upon the following paragraphs.)

P. G. MC BROOM

The elder son grew up on the farm. He has been a farmer all his life. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army and was with Col. Porter. At Kirksville he was captured and released by taking an ironclad oath. He came home, where he remained ever afterwards. He was a substantial member of Bacon Chapel, holding several positions in the church. Mr. McBroom moved to Oregon some twenty years ago and engaged in farming. He is a Democrat, a Master Mason, and one of the best men that ever lived in old Bacon Chapel neighborhood.

JACOB MC BROOM

Was the younger son and was also raised on the farm and followed farming all of his life. He lived at one time in Monroe County. Some twenty years ago he settled in Oregon. Jacob McBroom was not a religious man, but a good neighbor and citizen. He died in 1901.

One of the daughters of Andrew McBroom married a Mr. Morgan Barton, who, being a southern man, was driven into the southern army for safety. After the Kirksville fight he came home, believing if he would take the ironclad oath, he would be permitted to remain at home with his family. But to his surprise, he was sent to Alton prison where he was kept till disease fastened its fangs upon him and destroyed his life. Mr. Barton’s life was taken by his enemies by a slow but sure process.

A second daughter married Mr. Daniel Barton. This gentleman was a southern man but remained at home until a company of militia came to his house and arrested him and marched him a short distance from home and murdered him. Not being satisfied with the spilling of the lifeblood of an innocent man, they burned his house also.

A third daughter was the wife of Mr. James Barr and is one of the best women of Bacon Chapel Neighborhood.

A fourth daughter is Mrs. Austin and lives in South Mo. A fifth daughter is Mrs. Benjamin Carroll, living near the old homestead. A sixth daughter is Mrs. Gurdane, living in Oregon. All of these women are members of the M. E. C. S., Methodist Episcopal Church South, are devoted Christians and mothers of the best citizens of Shelby County.

THOMAS JACKSON

This worthy gentleman was born and raised in the state of Tennessee. In his early manhood he located in Indiana. In 1842 he came to Shelby County and settled east of Shelbyville, where he remained until in 1856. He then settled on a tract of land one mile north and two miles west of Bacon Chapel, where he improved a farm on which he lived the remainder of his life. He died many years ago at a ripe old age. Soon after he came to this neighborhood he made a profession of religion and joined Bacon Chapel. He farmed all of his life. He held many positions in church and society, such as steward in the church and school director. He was an honest, upright, good man. He left a worthy family.

PERRY JACKSON

Is the eldest son of Thomas Jackson, and was born in 1835. He has farmed all his life. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army and was with Col. Joe Porter in many of his engagements. He was in the Kirksville battle and was taken prisoner, and helped to dig the grave in which they placed fifteen of the bodies of the eighteen prisoners who were murdered after they had surrendered. They dug a trench six feet wide and long enough to contain six bodies, then the fifteen bodies were thrown in one on top of each other like so many cholera hogs and dirt enough thrown over them to barely hide the ghastly sight from public (view). After Mr. Jackson was released he returned home and has lived on the same farm ever since. Mr. Jackson is a Democrat and a member of Bacon Chapel. Perry Jackson is an upright, industrious, well-to-do farmer and is one of Shelby County’s best citizens.

MARTIN JACKSON

Is a second son of Thomas Jackson and was born and raised on the farm. A few years after he arrived at the age of manhood, he went to the state of Oregon where he has resided ever since. Martin Jackson is a Democrat and a member of the M. E. C. S., and is a worthy citizen of his adopted state.

THOMAS JACKSON JR.

Is a third son, who was also raised on the old home farm. Thomas Jackson Jr. remained on the old farm till he was about thirty years old, when he went to the far West. He corresponded with his relatives for many years but for several years he has ceased to write, and his relatives and friends know nothing of his whereabouts. He was an honest, upright, young man, and one of the worthy boys of old Bacon Chapel neighborhood.

ROBERT JACKSON

A fourth son and youngest child of Thomas Jackson was born and raised on the old home farm. He attended the public school in winter and worked on the farm during the crop season. When he was growing up, the common district schools did not offer the advantage for an education they do now. The term of school was not as long as now, and the system of study and teaching was more imperfect. A farmer boy had work to do all winter; and often their work required a day out of school and some times a whole week. A short term, outdoor work on the farm each day, and the time lost out of school, made it more difficult to obtain an education than now. Robert Jackson obtained his education under these difficulties. He married soon after he became of age and settled on a farm. He has followed farming till a few years ago he rented his farm and moved to Shelbyville. His farm he improved and it is a portion of the John F. Benjamin land. Robert Jackson, since he has been in Shelbyville, was at one time a contractor on public works and for some time has been a popular clerk in one of the leading business firms in Shelbyville. He is now under an appointment of the United States mail department in the Free Delivery System, which will be inaugurated in the coming spring. His route will be west from Shelbyville. Robert Jackson is a Democrat, a member of Bacon Chapel and is one of the worthy boys of old Bacon Chapel neighborhood.

THOMAS JACKSON

Is a son of Robert Jackson and was born on the farm where he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools and employed his spare time in studying till he was prepared for teaching, which profession he adopted and followed for some time. He is now employed by a business firm in Macon, where he lives and is working his way to the front as a businessman. Young Jackson is an industrious, upright, worthy, and promising youth.

J. H. Pollard