Jackson F. Box

Jackson F. BOX was born in Georgia on May 15, 1815. He is the son of Michael and Frances (JONES) BOX. The father is supposed to have been born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and is a son of Michael and Mollie BOX, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania, and some time after their marriage removed to Georgia. Michael Box, the grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier. Frances Jones was born in South Carolina, whence she removed with her parents to Georgia, where she was married. Her parents, William JONES and wife, were both born and reared in Virginia, whither they removed to South Carolina, and from there, as before stated, to Georgia. Michael Box, the father of our subject, emigrated westward in 1829. He crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and settled in McMinn County, Tenn. The family made the entire journey on pack-horses, and experienced the hardships common to the sturdy pioneers who left their homes in civilization for the wild western country. Upon reaching McMinn County, he purchased a tract of land and located, but prior to his death he removed to Rhea County. He and wife were the parents of ten children, viz: Harriet W., William W., Jackson F., James M., Michael D., Gilbert S., Jane, Thomas P., Francis and Josiah, deceased. Jackson F. Box's marriage with Elizabeth E. BALDWIN was celebrated on December 14, 1834. Mrs. Box is the daughter of William and Elizabeth BALDWIN, Virginians by birth, who when young, went to Tennessee and settled in Knox County, where they were married. After their marriage they settled in Rhea County, where Mrs. Box was born and reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Box have been born ten children, only three of whom, Frances E. (Mrs. John MORRISON), Robert S. and Sarah E. (Mrs. Alonzo HOWARD) are living. Those dead are John W., James J., William W., Thomas J., David Michael, Hugh L. and a baby unnamed. Mr. Box left Tennessee on April 29, 1843, and settled on Grand Prairie, Greene Co., MO., on June 7, 1843. Remaining there until December 1 of the same year, he again set out, and located where he now resides. He entered 240 acres of land, and soon after built a log house, which, at that time, was the finest in the neighborhood. Mr. Box has improved his property, and, after having given his children land, still has a farm of 120 acres. He helped to build the first church and school-house in his neighborhood. He has been an influential citizen of the county, and has witnessed its development from a wild state to its present prosperous condition. At the time of his settlement the country surrounding his home was an unbroken prairie, but since then a heavy growth of timber has sprung up. In early life Mr. Box professed religion and connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and two years later, when about eighteen years of age, he was licensed to exhort, which he continued until 1843, when he was licensed to preach. For the last forty-five years he has been engaged in ministerial work, and in that time has joined ninety-eight couples in marriage. During the late war he remained at home on account of his age, and took no part in the contest in any way.

From "A Reprint of Goodspeed's 1888 History of Lawrence County; Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed's Newton, Lawrence, Barry And McDonald Counties History; published by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., in 1888; Reprinted by Litho Printers Of Cassville, Missouri In 1973." as transcribed by Judy Johnson Reustle.



Notes from Ross Cameron:
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is not the name of a specific church building or congregation in Lawrence County. It was the denominational name of Methodist churches in the South after the Methodists split over slavery, probably in the 1840s as did many of the denominations in the South, including Baptists and Presbyterians. I think most if not all of these churches became United Methodist when the M. E. Church, North and South, united. [I'm not a Methodist historian so I don't remember the date, but probably very early 1900s.]
All of the Methodist Churches in Lawrence County in the 1800s were probably Methodist Episcopal Church, South, churches. These are discussed on pages 91-95 of Goodspeed's History, but Jackson Box is not named therein. The Mount Vernon Circuit was organized in 1847 when the Sarcoxie circuit station was divided into Mount Vernon and Carthage. Carthage was later divided into Carthage and Peirce City. The latter changed to Sarcoxie prior to 1877.
"The new Methodist Episcopal Church on Rock Prairie, near Judge Harshbarger's, was dedicated March 14, 1875." [Ozark Township -- Lawrenceburg - Halltown area.]
"In September, 1887, the church at Lawrenceburg was dedicated."
"Mountain Home Church, one-half mile from Lawrenceburg, held a revival in October, 1887, during which fourteen members were added. Elder, B. M. Neil."
"Mount Vernon Circuit comprises New Liberty, Shilo, Munsey, Mount Vernon, Oak Grove, Northfield, Onward, Verona, St. Elmo, McNeal. The official members are: . . . Church Secretaries -- . . . Robert BOX, . . .." Robert is Jackson's son.
He may also have preached at Methodist Churches in nearby Dade and Greene Counties, like Johns Chapel, south of Ash Grove.
The 1974 Lawrence County History (p. 163) says:
"The present Lawrenceburg Methodist Episcopal Church South was originally located 2 1/2 miles south of Lawrenceburg, and was known as the Liberty Church. A two-story building was located at the site of the present church, and the lower part was used for Sunday-School and Community meetings. The upper story was used by the Masonic Lodge [Rock Prairie Lodge No. 267]. This building was damaged by a wind storm, and in 1894, it, and the Liberty Church were torn down. Lumber from both building[s] was used in building the present building that same year."
And on page 162:
"In September 1887, the Methodist Church of Lawrenceburgh [old spelling, post office name changed in 1893 to Lawrenceburg] was dedicated having been moved from its former location which was between Paris Springs and Lawrenceburgh."
No specific references to which churches and when Jackson Box served in Lawrence County, but the Methodist records may say.
I have copies of published records of the Holston Conference in East Tennessee (available at the Library of Congress and other research or university libraries) of the ordination of my g-g-g-Uncle Moses Fowler Rainwater into the Methodist Episcopal Church [later, South] in the 1820s.


Notes from Jan W.:
Jackson F. Box had two daughters--my gg-grandmother Frances who married John Morrison, and Sarah who married Alonzo Howard. However, there was an unrelated Box family living in neighboring Polk County by 1860. Daniel Renfro Box moved with his family to the area via NC/TN. The family is fairly well documented, and even has its own newsletter for Missouri descendants. I don't have information on the daughters in that family and their spouses, but there are good places to find more information.
Research materials and contacts on the Daniel R. Box family can be found at the Box Family Genealogy Research Center at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/8006/
Another good source is the Box surname list at Rootsweb, and the Polk County GenWeb site. A tie in to Daniel R.'s family would be fun--I believe (but I could be wrong) that they are probably part of a big "Box" group that settled in NC and can trace themselves back to the 1620s in the Isle of Wight, VA.
Jan W.

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