Volume Five

Captain Mathias and Christine Jonas, circa 1890. When they first arrived in Jacksonport the family had to cut a road through the woods to get to their land.

The year 2004 was productive for the Jacksonport Historical Society, as volunteers once again contributed to the publication of our fifth book. In Volume Five you will have the opportunity to learn more about those who came to this area to settle and raise their families. You’ll read about families who came from Sweden, Germany, and France. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have given us a clue as to what life was like for their ancestors. We are thankful for their many hours spent researching, finding photos, and writing stories so that we have a glimpse into the past.

Today it is difficult for those of us whose ancestors can be traced back several generations to realize the struggles of clearing the land, building a house, and making a living while caring for a large family. It’s amazing how, those many years ago, they had the foresight to provide their children with an education as well as religious training.

Sadly, many of the individuals who could share their life stories are no longer with us, and their history is being lost. Let us appreciate the stretches of stone fences and the wide-open fields that were cleared in order to support their families. Each one of those stones in the stone fences was picked, loaded on a stone boat or wagon, and then unloaded by hand to build the line fences. Does it touch your heart to see these remnants of bygone days disappearing? We must be filled with gratitude for the rugged individuals who settled here in Jacksonport.