Frederick Andrew Jackson, second of ten children born to Thomas Henry Jackson (1857-1930) and Cecelia Ellen Lawson (1867-1914), was born in Peel Township, Wellington, Ontario, Canada on June 11, 1894. Thomas Jackson was a farmer and he benefited from the help of eight sons with Fred being the oldest. He completed 8 years of schooling. This wasn’t to say he was uneducated, but a reflection of the standards for the time. Many entered the workforce after this period. High schools were beginning to emerge, but on the whole, were still uncommon. Higher education wasn’t necessary to be farmers; it was conventional wisdom of the land.^[a]

In 1911, Fred, age 17, worked as a farmer laborer for Samuel Ellison, an elderly man of Irish descent with his aged wife Rebecca and daughter Mary, in Perth Township.

On August 04, 1914, when Fred was 20, Canada entered the Great War. For the first two years, Canada relied on voluntary recruitment, but after severe losses at the Battle of Somme in 1916, enlistments began to dwindle. On August 29, 1917, an act was passed introducing the conscription of men between 20 and 45 years old.

Perhaps in a preemptive attempt to avoid the war, Fred left Canada and by 1915, had made his way to Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Montana. The Great War caught up with him there as the United States officially entered the war on April 06, 1917. Conscription registration began in the following month of May.

Although Fred was not a citizen of the United States, he still dutifully registered for the draft when “President Woodrow Wilson called on residents in the United States, citizen and immigrant alike, to loyally uphold all laws and to support all measures adopted in order to protect the nation and secure peace.”^[b]

Fred, 23 at the time of registration, was living with his maternal uncle Samuel Lawson’s wife, Dessie Lawson, in Great Falls, Cascade, Montana. He worked as a Trucker for the Great Northern Railway. A Jessie (likely Dessie) appears with him as his wife on the 1919 Great Falls City Directory although no marriage record has been found for the pair. The couple disappear during the 1920 census and Dessie isn’t seen again. Husband Samuel claims he was married on the 1921 Canadian census, but she isn’t listed with him. Nor is there any evidence that Samuel came to Montana with her.

Fred’s brief disappearance might be explained by work. As a trucker for the railway, work may have naturally taken him south where he next appears in Helena, Lewis and Clark County when he married Carrie Stitt, daughter of Aaron Stitt and Mabel, on December 19, 1922. Fred was 28 while Carrie was just 19, however, the marriage didn’t start smoothly.

Following word received from Helena, Fred and his bride-to-be were taken from the Great Northern train Monday night, 18 Dec 1922. Information was received to detain the couple, but no reason was assigned as to why. Tuesday morning, Helena’s chief of police wired Chief Murphy to release the couple and the marriage license was immediately procured. Fred was in such a hurry to get away from the court house with his new bride that he forgot to compensate the judge for his services.^[c][d]

The couple settled in Anacaonda, Deer Lodge County by1925 where they were swept up in the murder trial of Jessie Brown. Newly married bride, Jessie Brown, found herself on the receiving end of a violent husband shortly after marriage. After one incident in January, when husband Theodore Brown threatened to take her life, Jessie fled six blocks to the home of Fred and Carrie Jackson in only her night gown and robe to find refuge. Theodore tracked her down and demanded to know if Jessie was with them, and while Fred admitted she was, he refused to allow Theodore entrance.

Jessie fell ill with distress and the Jacksons summoned Dr. Noonan who ordered Jessie be put to bed at their home. She remained with them for three weeks until her condition worsened and she was sent to the hospital in February. Once more, Theodore tracked her down and attacked her at the facility. He nearly succeeded in throwing her out the window had Nurses Margaret Marcille and Helen Driscoll not intervened. Theodore screamed on his way out, “There’s four going to hell – Fred and Carrie Jackson and you and me.”

Jessie filed for divorce, but on Easter Sunday, the day before the hearing, Theodore came for her one final time. In an act of desperation and self-defense, she shot him in her haste to escape, killing him. The case quickly went to trial less than two weeks later where Fred testified as one of several witnesses. She was acquitted of charges.

Things quieted down for the couple and by 1929, they moved into what became the final home of Fred Jackson at 414 E Commercial Ave. He rented the home through the census years. In 1940 he paid $10 a month in rent, with an annual salary of $1400. Fred found steady work with Anaconda Copper Mining company (ACM). His position fluctuated between switchman, smelter and operator and as he moved into retirement age, he continued there as a janitor until 1960^[e].

Fred and Carrie’s marriage broke down and Carrie filed suit against Fred. Although summoned, Fred did not show up for the hearing while Carrie appeared, represented by George W Padbury Jr. The judge ruled in her favor by default, restoring her maiden name and the marriage was dissolved on December 15, 1933. No children were born to them. Fred remained at the 414 E Commercial address while Carrie moved out. In 1937, Carrie remarried Curtis Burnett. She died November 25, 1990 in Grand Traverse, Michigan.

In 1935, Fred found himself once again in court as a witness, this time in the death of William Simpkins. On the night of August 8th, at about 10pm, Fred, James Matthews and Earl Rodgers were returning home from work on Smelter Road when Simpkins, a fellow employee of ACM, appeared crossing on the road. With low visuals, the group didn’t see Simpkins until he was about 10 feet in front of them. In an attempt to avoid a collision, Rodgers, the driver, and Simpkins unfortunately swerved in the same direction. Simpkins was struck and taken to St Ann’s hospital where he died four days later. An inquest followed and the incident was deemed as an unavoidable accident.*^[f][g]

This wouldn’t be Fred’s last mention in the news. Twice in October of 1936 he was fined. Once for speeding through a school zone, October 15th, fine of $5 and $15 for causing a disturbance, October 30th.*^[h][i] 1938 he had a slight car collision with J. Hurst of Mill Creek due to the slippery street conditions. No injuries were reported.

Sometime around 1938, Fred possibly took in boarders; David Lewis, his wife Anna nee Mundy, and toddler Ruth Marvel. David and Anna were married August 23, 1937 in Anaconda. Two months after their joyous day, they were involved in a serious accident. At about 6:30pm, on October 03, 1937, driver Fred Evans lost control of his vehicle when it struck a rough stretch of road. The car careened off the highway, rolling over twice before landing on its side in Ten-Mile creek, about four miles west of Helena. Miraculously, Fred Evans and 13-week-old Ruth escaped uninjured, while David and Anna were taken to St John’s hospital. They were attended by Dr. S. A. Cooney who determined their condition was not serious. David suffered a cut on the back of his neck and Anna, along with multiple cuts and bruises, injured her back.

Fred and David both received city assistance in a fuel supplement of $4.55 in 1938, both still at the 414 E Commercial address. It is unclear how long David stayed at the residence as only Anna was listed there on the 1939 city directory, information collected from the previous years. Anna filed suit of divorce against David, January 26, 1939, on the grounds of mental cruelty.

Divorce was granted and a few months later, Bernice Ann, ^[j]was born on April 11th. Although Fred is listed as father on Bernice’s birth certificate, she would have been conceived while Anna was still married to David, but in Fred’s household.

Fred and Anna married in a quiet afternoon service, on November 07, 1939, performed by Rev Thomas H Roddey of the Methodist Episcopal church in Anaconda. Mrs. H Ervine served as matron of honor and Ora Dennis as best man. Immediately following the service, the couple left on a wedding trip to Morrison Cave near Whitehall. Fred was 46 at the time while Anna was 25.

Anna Elizabeth Munday was the daughter of Thadeus Mundy Sr (1877-1956) and Frances Smith (1884-1924), the last interracial Montana couple married before it was outlawed in 1909. The law was finally repealed in 1953. A native of Helena, Anna was born December 24, 1913, the seventh out of ten children.

Fred and Anna settled into married life and went on to have a total of eight children together: Katherine Louise, Fredericka Arlene, Andrew Frederick, Thomas Henry, Cecelia Frances, John Joseph, Gerald Patrick, and Thaddeus Michael. She, too, received the standard 8 years of schooling.

Friday night, May 23, 1941, Anna was involved in a second auto-accident. She was on her way to Anaconda when at the top of MacDonald pass, she collided with Clarence Va Diest of Helena. Highway Patrolman, Hug Potter, filed a reckless driving charge against Va Diest while Anna’s brother, William Lafayette, took her to St Peter’s hospital. He had been driving behind her at the time of the accidents. She sustained cuts about her head, but was released after being treated by Dr R. Wynne Morris. Both cars were badly damaged.

Life happens and so time passing goes unnoticed. With a large family to look after, Fred fell out of touch with his family in Canada. In 1951, sister Mary James of Lansing, Michigan and brother Cecil Jackson of Stratford, Ontario, Canada placed an ad in the Courier Missing Person Bureau looking for their eldest brother, Fred. He was last heard of by them in 1939 working on a train. While the information wasn’t all correct about Fred, it is a reflection just how long the family had been without contact. It is unknown if his family ever heard from him again. Fred likely never saw the post as it ran in the Pennsylvania newspaper, New Pittsburg Courier.

As early as 1941, Fred’s health began to show signs of weakening. The newspapers recall multiple admissions to the hospital. It started as just a few days at a time to weeks.^[k] As Fred’s health declined, Anna became more active in the care of her family and community. She volunteered as part of the PTA and was a Ladies Aide Worker with the St Paul church.

Fred died at home July 05, 1961 at the age of 67 due to carcinoma of the bladder, also known as Bladder Cancer, a condition he suffered from for two years. On July 10, 1961, at 8:45am, a funeral procession formed at Finnegan funeral home and proceeded to the St Paul church for a requiem mass. Internment took place in the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Anaconda. Pallbearers were Sim Dapree, Leo Johnson, T Earl Rogers, Ira Smith, Wyatt Jones Herbert Evans and Arthur Wallace. Fred was a member of Mill and Smelter men’s union, and a supporter of the Catholic High School Booster. ^[l]

Although Fred remained in Montana for the rest of his life, it is possible that he never naturalized to become a legal citizen. All censuses from 1930-1950 list his birth as being in Montana, thus no naturalization or immigration dates were given. This could have been a strategic move to avoid having to go through the paper work and legal headache. Afterall, who was really going to push for verification in those early years?

Beginning September 27, 1906, the US naturalization law imposed a fee structure that encouraged the transfer of naturalization to Federal courts. In general, naturalization was a two-step process that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a "declaration of intention" (aka first papers) to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" (aka second papers). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship (also called certificate of naturalization) was issued to the new citizen. By declaring his birth in Montana, he could avoid suspicion. Also, he didn’t file for a social security number in 1951 when it was first implemented, this would have required a birth certificate and proof of citizenship.

At the age of 47, Anna was made a widow with her youngest child, Thaddues, being 6 years old. Education must have been important as nearly all the children were known to have gone on to university. As her children grew wings of their own on sot out their own destinies. She remained like a lighthouse, shining bright for her children to return to. Family reunions were held and in 1966, while on leave from the state hospital, Anna was blessed to have all ten of her children present.

Anna’s health declined and she died December 10, 1967 at the age of 53 of adenocarcinoma of the lung with metastasis, also known as stage 4 Lung Cancer, at the State Pulmonary Disease Hospital, in Galen. She had been a patient there for seven months. Like her husband, the Finnegan funeral home took care of arrangements and her requiem mass was held at St Paul church December 15th, followed by internment in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Anna had worked at St Ann Hospital as a nurses’ aid. Son Thomas was appointed as the administrator of his parent’s estate.

Fred and Anna’s children carried on their parent’s legacy with their character and commitment to the community:

Ruth Marvel (1937-2004) married twice: John Anderson in 1964 and Albert Brasher before 1970. She became a licensed practical nurse and operated a day care home.

Bernice Ann (1939-2011) married Robert Williams. She was a nursing supervisor in the Glide, Oregon hospital.

Katherine Louise (1940-2020) married Theodore Davenport in 1962 and William Hubbert after 1966. She worked in the surgical department of Lansing General Hospital, Michigan and was also the head nurse of the Chemical Dependency Unit of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco, Washington.

Fredricka Arlene (1941) married Freddie Johnson. She worked as a technician at the state hospital in Warm Spring, Montana and as a data analyst with Lansing Model Cities, Michigan.

Andrew Frederick (1942) married Mary J. He was a member of Lansing Fire Department.

Thomas Henry (1944) married Jeanette. He was employed as an electrician in Lansing, Michigan. Notably, in 1960 as a Star Scout, he won a 10-day expense paid international encampment of Boy Scouts. He joined the US Armed Forces and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky after serving a tour in Korea.

Cecelia Frances (1945) married Lawrence Davenport. She worked as an accountant at Tuskegee Institute.

John Joseph (1946) married Mae Henderson in 1971 and Brenda Davis in 1979. He attended University of Marquette, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later joined the US Armed Forces, Fort Riley, Kansas and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Gerald Patrick (1948) married Loi.

Thaddeus Michael (1955) married Charlie Salgot. Thaddeus is famously recorded as the 50th baby born in November setting a hospital new record for any month, a true baby boomer.