Biography of John Jackman, pages 710/711/712.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. 



John Jackman

Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages an as a 
usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of 
energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free, out-of-
door life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that 
independence of mind an self-reliance which characterizes true manhood 
and no truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch 
with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields.  It 
has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone 
and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation’s great 
warriors, renowned statesmen and distinguished men of letters were born 
on the farm and were indebted largely to its early influence for the 
distinction which they have attained. John Jackman, one of the best 
known farmers of Grant township, DeKalb county, Indiana. who is 
successfully operating a splendid tract east of Waterloo, was born near 
that city on Dec. 2, 1865, and is a son of Isaac M. and Jane (Whitla) 
Jackman, who are represented elsewhere in this work. John Jackman was 
reared on the home farm, where he remained until his marriage in 1899, 
when he transferred the base of his operations to the farm owned by his 
father-in-law, Mr. Wolfe, to the operation of which he has since 
devoted himself to the present time.  His place, which is one of the 
best farmed in the township, has been maintained at its former standard 
of fertility and improvement and because of his sturdy industry and up-
to-date methods he has achieved a prominent success as a farmer, 
enjoying a well-deserved position among his fellow agriculturists. On 
April 2, 1899, Mr. Jackman married Alice Wolfe, who was born on the 
farm on which he now lives, the daughter of George and Sarah (Lutz) 
Wolfe. George Wolfe was born in Stark county, Ohio, on September 9, 
1821, a son of John and Elizabeth (Zahner) Wolfe, the father a native 
of Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were among the first 
settlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they were married. They 
subsequently moved to Stark county, and there spent the remained of 
their lives.  Nine children were born to them, all of whom lived to 
maturity. George Wolfe was reared in his native county and was there 
married, on March 16, 1843, to Eliza Fisk, a native of New York. In 
1847 they moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, where Mrs. Wolfe died in 
August, 1855. He was again married on January 18, 1857, to Sarah Lutz, 
and his own death occurred on February 27, 1885, in his sixty-fourth 
year. He was a prosperous man in his business affairs, accumulating a 
fine farm and was prominent and influential in the civic and public 
affairs of the township, having served as justice of the peace for 
twenty-nine consecutive years, besides holding other local offices of 
trust and responsibility. Sarah Lutz Wolfe was born on August 11, 1828, 
in Stark county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Michael and Magdalena 
(Crawford) Lutz. She came here in May, 1848, with her parents who 
located in the northern part of what in now Grant township, east of 
Waterloo. Her father, who died on September 8, 1849, left to his widow 
the task of clearing and cultivating the farm, which was accomplished 
by her with the assistance of her children. She was an energetic and 
ambitious woman and worked hard to make a home and rear her children, 
in which she was eminently successful. She died in 1882, after a long 
life of usefulness. Her children were John, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, 
Samuel and Jacob. Of these the only survivors are Mrs. Sarah Wolfe and 
Mrs. Mary Sawvel, of Franklin township, this county.  Mrs. Wolfe now 
lives on the old farm west of Waterloo, and with her is her daughter 
and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jackman. To George and Sarah Wolfe were 
born two children, Florence and Alice, the former of whom died at the 
age of three years.  Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest supporter 
of the Democratic party, though he has been to busy a man to give much 
attention to public affairs. He maintains an abiding interest in the 
welfare of the community, his support being given without reserve to 
all movements toward the public welfare. He has been a successful 
farmer, following progressive and up-to-date methods, and has achieved 
a success that entitles him to recognition among the leading 
agriculturists of his township. He and his wife are among the most 
influential and popular citizens of their community, having long ago 
established reputations for uprightness, kindness and hospitality, and 
they are highly respected by all who know them. 

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com