Jackson Ranch Church

The Jackson Ranch Church also called the Jackson Methodist Church was established in 1884 from land donated by Martin Jackson, the son of the settlers Matilda and Nathaniel Jackson. Previously, a church was built by the Jackson family of adobe and logs in 1874[1] or 1875, but it was washed away in a flood.[2] It began as a Methodist Episcopal Church and remained so for fifty years, until the minister retired. After that, it alternatively served as a Methodist and Lutheran Church. There is a cemetery at the church and another cemetery about two blocks away, the Eli Jackson Cemetery which was established in 1865 by Martin's brother Eli.

The cemeteries were deemed to be of historical significance. The Trump administration's border wall was projected to go through the cemeteries.

The land for the church and the two cemeteries came from the Old Jackson Ranch (the original 5,535 acre ranch and farm owned by Nathaniel Jackson). The Eli Jackson Cemetery is also called the Eli Jackson-Brewster Cemetery.[3]

Church and schoolhouse

On February 10, 1884, Martin Jackson donated land to the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church[4] for a wood-framed church building that would also be used as a schoolhouse.[2] The lot came from the Jackson Ranch that was established by Martin's parents,[2] Nathaniel and Matilda Jackson.[5][6] Located a mile from the Rio Grande, it was built with 14 pews for Sunday services, weddings, and funerals.[1][6]

For fifty years, the church was administered by the Methodist church. When the minister retired, the church was returned to the Jackson family. Over the years since, it has been a Methodist or Lutheran church until 1970 when it was closed due to lack of congregants. It was then managed by two daughters of Martin.[7]

Jackson family cemeteries

The family has two cemeteries, with a total of 150 graves, one at the Jackson Ranch Church and another two blocks away.[1][6] The one-acre Eli Jackson-Brewster Cemetery,[3] was established in 1865, the year of the death of Eli's father Nathaniel Jackson.[8] Eli and Martin were sons of Nathaniel Jackson.[3]

Texas designated the cemeteries as historical sites and the church and cemeteries have been often visited by family members and religious leaders, because of its historic role in the history of Texas.[6]

Historical significance

The Texas Historical Commission certified the Jackson Ranch and Cemetery in 1983 and the Eli Jackson Ranch in 2005.[9] A historical marker at the Eli Jackson Cemetery states of the role of Jackson family members within the community over multiple generations.[10]

The designation is important given that the Trump administration's border wall was begun just a few feet from the Eli Jackson Cemetery, which was named for one of Nathaniel's sons.[6]

References
  1. Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (February 19, 2019). "Must Reads: Border fence threatens family burial ground — and a slice of African American history". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  2. Swartzmiller, Dale; Fallin, Jos. "The Jackson Methodist Church and Cemetery in Jackson Ranch". Hidalgo County Historical Commission. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 2021-07-08 – via Special Collections & University Archives, Library, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2021).
  3. Swartzmiller, Dale; Fallin, Jos. "The Eli Jackson-Brewster Cemetery IN Jackson Ranch". Hidalgo County Historical Commission. p. 11. Retrieved 2021-07-08 – via Special Collections & University Archives, Library, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2021).
  4. "Deed Record Book D, page 249-251, The State of Texas, County of Hidalgo in Jackson Ranch". Hidalgo County Historical Commission. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-07-08 – via Special Collections & University Archives, Library, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2021).
  5. Contreras, Russell, Associated Press (September 16, 2020). "Story of the Underground Railroad to Mexico gains attention". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-07-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Sanchez, Sandra (September 1, 2020). "Texas cemeteries with ties to Underground Railroad in shadow of border wall construction". BorderReport. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  7. "Jackson Ranch". Hidalgo County Historical Commission. Retrieved 2021-07-08 – via Special Collections & University Archives, Library, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (2021).
  8. "Jackson Ranch". University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  9. "Restraining order filed in lawsuit to stop border wall construction near Eli Jackson Cemetery". KVEO-TV. January 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  10. "Eli Jackson Cemetery - Atlas Number 5507013730". Atlas: Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 2021-07-08.

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