BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO "History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890. Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater. Pages 517-518. THOMAS B. JACKSON, a prominent citizen of Belmont, Belmont county, Ohio, and a gallant ex-soldier, was born at Centreville, Belmont county, August 9, 1836. He is the oldest son of John Jackson, who was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1809, and brought by his parents to Ohio when eleven years of age. He followed the trade of cabinet-maker at Centerville until his death, October 21, 1876. By his wife, Rosanna Pierce, of Williamsport, Penn., he had five children: Thomas B., Malvina, Geraldine, Mary, Vashti and John McM. The mother died August 28, 1852. Thomas B. enlisted at the age of twenty-five years in Company F, Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, October 25, 1861, under Capt. Amos Glover and Col. Moses R. Dickey, and served honorably four years and one month. He was with his regiment in twenty battles, and was under fire five times as often. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Stone River, where he was captured December 31, 1861, and confined in Libby prison twenty-one days. On being paroled and sent to Annapolis, he and John Piper and Lafayette Hess marched 200 miles over the mountains, took train and reached home in February, 1863, surprising those who had thought him killed at Stone River. Being exchanged he reported for duty joined his command in June, and was in the battle of Liberty Gap, Tenn., June 25, 1863, where his company lost ten killed and wounded and he was commended for bravery by his captain. He was at the battle of Chickamauga, and with his comrades withstood the terrible night charge of September 19, 1863. He was in Chattanooga during the siege, took part in the battle of Orchard Knob, was on the skirmish line in the battle of Mission Ridge, and was one of the first two men to reach the rebels' main works on the summit. He was next at Knoxville, Tenn., then at Strawberry Plains, where he re-enlisted as a veteran. After his furlough of thirty days, he returned to participate in the Atlanta campaign, and was in the memorable fights of Rocky Face Ridge, May 5-9, 1864; Resaca, May 12-16; Cassville, May 19-22; Pickett's Mills, May 27; the almost incessant battle at Kenesaw Mountain from June 9 to 30; Peachtree Creek, July 20, Atlanta, July 22; Lovejoy Station, September 2-6; Franklin, Tenn., November 30; Nashville, December 15-16. He then went with his command to San Antonio, Texas. En route he camped on Jackson's old battle ground below New Orleans, went by way of the Gulf to Indianola, and marched the night of July 10, 1865, to Green Lake, during which movement hundreds of men died for want of water. He was dis- charged at San Antonio, Texas, November 21, 1865, was paid off at Columbus, and arrived at home December 31, broken down in health. He determined to qualify himself for teaching, and took a commercial course at Lebanon, Ohio, receiving his diploma from A, Holbrook. He taught school some fifteen years in West Virginia and Ohio, and being a good mechanic, devoted much of his leisure time to cabinet making and carpentry. Being active in politics as a republican he received, in 1883, the republican nomination for auditor of Belmont county, but was defeated with the state ticket and much of the county ticket, on account of a prohibition amendment to the constitution being advocated by the party. Mr. Jackson subsequently engaged in office work, book-keeping and insurance, and on June 25, 1889, took out a patent on a fire place heater of his own invention, intended to secure the advantages of a hot air furnace capable of heating several rooms from an ordinary grate. Mr. Jackson is a member of the G. A. R. post at Barnesville. He was married October 11, 1871, to Henrietta E. Fletcher, and they have had two children: Florence W., and Clarence W. Mrs. Jackson and son are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.