Rubin Jackson was born in 1851, at a time when no records were kept of slaves. He was named for his slave master, Jackson. He worked as a cow and water boy until he was large enough to work in the fields with the other slaves. 

After slavery was abolished, Rubin was in the northern section of Washington County, Georgia. Not knowing where to go and having nothing in particular to do, he drifted off down to Southwest Georgia. He was later employed as a lumber mill worker and farm hand by vari- ous white families. 

He worked under hard task masters, who at times would place heavy burdens on him knowing that the slaves could not bear them. On one occasion while stripping sugar cane for making syrup, he was struck over the head with a sharp bladed knife and nearly lost his life due to the amount of blood lost. This was done by one of the farm hands with whom he had previously had an argument. 

While attending one of the famous log rollings, which were held quite often by the white land owners to get their land cleared for farming and pasture, each man was to show his strength by carrying a large log as far as possible or to a certain place where it could be burned. After the contest all the men and women would gather at a certain place for food and drink, which accounts for the great feast among Negroes today. At these feasts there would always be music, dancing and singing. It was at one of these gatherings that Rubin Jackson (Father) met Sally (Sarah) Lamar Jackson (Mother), who at that time was 18 years of age and very attractive. 

They were only able to see each other from time to time because at that time boys and girls were not allowed to date on weekdays. However, they finally decided to get married.  

​

From the day of the marriage (of which there is no known record), things happened very fast. Their first son, Sam, was born next, their first daughter, Beulah, was born. Each year or two thereafter came a daughter or son until sixteen children were born, (only eleven grew to maturity).

​

After many, many hard years of work and some play, father moved from Washington County, Georgia to Johnson County, Wrightsville, Georgia where all the children came to know life and where some of them were born.

​

The children have all moved to various parts of the country including Atlanta, Georgia, Sacramento, California, and Philadelphia, Pa. Only two children live near the old home place