Death is but a kind and welcome servant who unlocks with noiseless hand life’s flower encircled door to show us those we love.

 Z.N. Jackson, whose death occurred at his home in Olathe, Kansas, September 17, 1912, was born in Meriwether County, Georgia, on June 12, 1832.At the age of twelve years he became a member, and later a deacon, of the Baptist church in Willeo, Cobb County, Georgia, where he held his membership until he came to Johnson County, Kansas, and settled on a farm in Monticello Township in 1868. He then transferred his membership by depositing letter his letter with the Monticello Baptist Church, In 1895 he moved to Olathe ad has since held membership in the Olathe Methodist Church, in which he as a trustee.

At the age of fours years he lost his father and became the ward of his mother’s brother, Rev, Henry Collins, who was a Baptist minister and who was his legal guardian until his maturity. It was this uncle’s Baptist church that he became a member. His occupation from childhood was that of a farmer. His opportunities for schooling were very limited, yet from his boyhood he developed a keen intelligence, by wide reading, that gave him a liberal education.

At the age of 19 he was married on Christmas evening to Fannie Oslin at her home on a farm at Willeo, Georgia, the boy’s uncle pronouncing the solemn vows of the marriage. To this union six children were given, and nearly sixty-two years of perfect marriage. He leaves his wife and four children: H.B. Jackson and Mrs J.T. Nichols of Olathe, and O.M. and E.R. Jackson of New York City,: also eight grandchildren and seven great children.

 This sketch of material facts of his life outlines a long period that was filled with many years of active and honorable usefulness. He was living on a little Georgia farm when circumstances on environment made him a soldier in the Southern army. In his absence the contending armies a battle on his farm and his fields were saturated with the blood of the soldiers of both armies. It was a strange trick of fate that took his wife into the Northern army as a nurse. They were thus separated by barriers that seemed insurmountable. It was a remarkable test of this man’s character, for he passed through this crucial trial with a courage and fortitude and sweetness of disposition, with an unbroken faith in the Divine promise that has made him an admirable and influential example of as a citizen for good Christian living. At the close of the war, happily reunited his family, they emigrated to the North, stopping two years in the state of Iowa, and then came to Johnson County, Kansas, where for forty-four years he has had the love and esteem of all. One of the happiest days of his last years was the celebration of his sixtieth wedding anniversary, surrounded by relatives and friends. His death was peaceful, as had been his later life, and he will live in the memory of those who knew him.

 The funeral was held at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. H.O. Holter. He was buried in the Olathe cemetery.

 Olathe Mirror, Sept 19, 1912