Elinor Junkin "Ellie" Jackson

[hanna260]

So, after doing a thread about Laura Jackson Arnold, I figured why not move right down on the line. Pick up Rebel Yell to read about Jackson and encounter all these fascinating lady characters, huh? So- Ellie Jackson- generally not as talked about as Jackson's second wife, Mary Anna or at least not as much as I've encountered. She was born March 6th 1825, and was his first wife. She died in childbirth, both her and the baby, at the age of 29, on October 22nd 1854. Her death just devastated Jackson, absolutely devastated him; he had to take a tour of Europe to heal himself and I imagine, get away from all the memories.

So- usually, most people focus on her death. That's all she is: death. And I don't know: she must have been more than that. So, that's why I created this thread: to talk a bit about her life. Rebel Yell calls her very irreverent, funny, vibrant. She was outgoing, loved to tease, particularly the stiff Jackson, and had a great sense of humor. She was passionately devoted to her sister, Maggie Junkin Preston, the famous poet, and her sister resented the attention she paid to him, fearful she would be left an old maid at 32.

Of course, when you talk about Jackson, all you hear about is religion, faith, piety, but according to Rebel Yell, she was the one that deepened his religion, and brought God into his life. She, herself, was intensely devout and according to her sister, "had more to do with the extraordinary piety in which Jackson is associated than has ever been told." Here's a picture of her: you don't see the humor but I do see a gentleness in her eyes, I don't know, she just looks charming to me.

So here's to Ellie Junkin Jackson. Your life was much too short and much too tragic, but I hope that we can honor the woman you were. May you rest in peace.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Oh, I think you hear about what a big softy Jackson was too. His letters to and about his daughter and his last idyll with his wife show us a man who had a carefully guarded soft streak. SO at odds with the Jackson of the forced marches who had no patience with stragglers faint from heat and exhaustion- but it was there.

One of the nicer things about Thomas is you do not get the impression he ' buried his heart ' with his first wife as you so often read. Of course he was shattered- you just see him move on eventually to his new marriage and another woman he apparently cherished. It's nice.

Incredible sometimes, you read the bios of these men- how many wives they had through life. Not one divorce, it'll be all disease and childbirth. so awful.

 

[donna]

Thanks for posting. You never hear much about her.

 

[18thVirginia]

Interesting story, hana. It's always good to know something about the women whose names we often hear.

 

[donna]

We at first had hard time finding her grave when we went to cemetery to see Stonewall Jackson's grave.. She buried in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, Va. She has memorial on Find A Grave.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21911

 

[Stony]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[hanna260]

Here's the letter he wrote to his sister when she died- from a source I posted up in the Laura Arnold thread.

"Nov. 14th 1854 My dear sister
You must excuse this short letter and also my not having written to you at an earlier day, for my eyes have become so bad as to make me very careful with them. You wrote to me that should your health not prevent your coming to see me that I might have expected your arrival several days since. I went to the Hotel to see whether you had attempted such a journey. Though I would like to see you, and appreciate your very sisterly affection, yet I would not like for you to attempt coming over such a road, with all its harassments, so do not attempt it. When my next vacation will enable me to leave (which I cannot do now without neglecting my duties) I trust that God will again permit me to see your face.

My Dear Ellie thought to pass over the stage route from here to Beverly was a hard undertaking for her. After she returned home she was pleased with her visit. She has now gone on a glorious visit though through a gloomy portal. Her companion are of the glorified Host. I look forward with delight to the day when I shall join her. Religion is all that I desire it to be. I am reconciled to my loss and have joy in hope of a future reunion where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. I am much obliged to you for you kind desire to come and stay with Ellie.

Your affectionate brother, Thomas."

http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=8399

There's a lot of pain that you can read in between the lines despite the hopeful words. I know I said that I want this thread to be a celebration of her life, not just her death, but it just devastates me that two people so in love could be wrenched apart from each other, and because of the level of care and medicine, that it happened so often- far too often. He lost the woman he loved- and indeed found another, Mary Anna- who he also loved greatly, but I bet, despite the words of God and hopeful reunion, she was always there in a piece of his mind.

 

[hanna260]

Okay, here's something about her life. Her honeymoon- which Jackson loved, and which they were accompanied by Ellie's sister, Maggie- also a fascinating woman- she was a wonderful writer, counted many influential poets as her friend, and as written above was intensely jealous of Ellie's and Jackson's relationship, but reconciled herself to it because she wanted her sister to be happy, and eventually became good friends with Jackson after Ellie's death when they turned towards each other. They enjoyed talking and chatting, and Rebel Yell claims that they fell in love but couldn't marry because of their religion-which stated that it was wrong to marry the sister of your wife.

But here's the letter.

"To me my wife is a great source of happiness. She has those requisites of which I used to speak to you, and sends her love to you. Tell Mrs. [Hillie] that I have not yet learned the result of the application; but that it shall be followed up until some answer shall be obtained.
In my last letter, I spoke of being in Philadelphia. We remained there from Saturday until Monday, when we proceeded to West Point where I was delighted with my easy associations: The beautiful plains, the frowning ruins of Fort Putnam, the majestic river, and magnificent scenery all conspired to enhance my happiness which had already been of a high order. The ladies1 also were much pleased with it.

After remaining there until about 12 o'clock next day, we resumed out route for Niagara Falls. This of all natural curiosities is the most sublime and imposing which has ever come under my observation. We put up at the Cataract House, which is on the American side, and the next morning crossed over to Goat's Island which separates the Falls into two parts, that point on the East of the Island is called the American Falls and that on the West side the Canadian. The latter is much the larger, by reason of the greater quantity of water which passes down on this side of the island. The Canadian falls are called the horseshoe falls from their resemblance to a horseshoe, the toe being up stream. When looking at this wonder of nature I desired to be left to my own interrupted thoughts, it lulls the mind and forbids interruption, it calls on the mind for its entire and undivided contemplation. More of this in my next. Remember me very kindly to Mr. A. the family and all enquiring friends & relatives."

http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=8039

Niagara Falls today.