George Isaac Jackson ^{2 3 4 5 6}

   Another name for George was Isaac Jackson.^{7 10}

   FamilySearch ID: 9H5V-Z8J.

  Burial Notes:

Tombstone inscription: Isaac Jackson, died 15 Oct 1867, AGE 50 YEARS.

"Farewell dear parents, a fond farewell
Your sorrow and sufferings are oe'r
May we each so live
As to meet once more
On that beautiful heavenly shore."

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1860 in Delaware, Delaware, OH. ^{4 8} The 1860 census recorded in Delaware Township: Isaac Jackson, 36, living with wife Eliza, 34; Amanda, 15; Rhoda, 7; Mary, 5; William, 3; and Emma, 7 months.

2. Residence: Age: 36 in 1860 in Delaware, Delaware, OH. ⁸

3. Moved: Isaac moved by covered wagon from Delaware, Ohio to Etna Green, Indiana in 1865. Mary Elizabeth broke her leg just before they left., 1865, Etna Green, Kosciusko, IN. ⁴

4. Cause of Death: Isaac was murdered with a poison pie containing strychnine by Dr. Daniel Shaffer and wife Ann, 15 Oct 1867, Etna Green, Kosciusko, IN. ^{4 12} The following is reprinted from Peggy F. Rufner's page for G. Issac Jackson (see source citation) based upon stories recorded by Rolland Jackson, his great grandson.

Local Indiana newspapers reported Ike's murder. Yes, he was murdered. It is quite a story. The event started when Ike, with a load of corn was in line at the local mill or grain elevator. He was ahead of Daniel Shaffer, a local medical doctor. It was usual that the farmers took their dogs along to keep other dogs from nipping at the horses legs. Shaffer began berating Ike's dog and told Ike to pick him up or Shaffer's dog would whip Ike's dog. Ike said, "I guess not."

The fight was on. Jackson's dog won the fight. The enraged Shaffer then threatened Ike by saying that Jackson had better leave the county as it was not big enough for both men. ( It was once said by a local Etna Green man, " I would not be afraid of the devil himself if I had Ike Jackson at my side."

Ike and his daughters were digging potatoes the next day. On their way home Mrs. Shaffer called to them to come and have a drink and a piece of pie. Ike didn't think this was such a good idea after what had happened the day before, but he wanted to be polite. They all had a piece of pie which they thought was delicious, but it was until later that they remembered that the pie that Ike ate came from a different pie than what the children ate. After eating they continued on their way home. Ike remarked about the bitterness of the pie and commented that if the children's pie had been that bitter they would not have eaten it. Suddenly he complained of a terrible thirst, so they stopped at
another neighbors for water. Ike went into convulsions and died in the neighbor's yard. The children ran home to tell their mother.

An autopsy was performed the next day in the neighbor's yard. Everyone watched, but the children were forbidden to watch. Son William watched from the roof of the barn and George Washington raised such cain that they let him watch. The memory never left them. They were troubled by this for the rest of their lives.

On Jan 16, 1868 an item appeared in the Warsaw Indian Newspaper. It said that on the previous Monday (13 Jan) Dr. Shaffer and his wife were arrested for the murder of Isaac Jackson. When next the case appears in the court records on 11 Nov. 1868, Dan Shaffer had died. Ann Shaffer, his wife stated that she was forced to participate in the murder by her husband. The poison was strychnine.

5. Newspaper: The Northern Indianan: Dr. Shafer and his wife were arrested, 16 Jan 1868, Warsaw, Kosciusko, IN. ¹³ Dr. Shafer and his wife were arrested on Monday and lodged in jail, charged with having poisoned, Mr. Issac Jackson in October last. We heard of the circumstances at that time, but were refrained from making the matter public for the reason that the parties implicated, were entitled to a fair hearing in the matter, and we were not disposed to be instrumental in manufacturing public opinion, either for or against them. It seems, however, that the Grand Jury have found an indictment against them, and the case will now be tried in Court.

6. Newspaper: Northern Indianan: Another Murder Trial, Ann Shaffer in Court for Poisoning Isaac Jackson, 27 May 1869, Warsaw, Kosciusko, IN. ^{4 14} Page 2 column 3:

Another Murder Trial
Ann Shaffer in Court for Poisoning Isaac Jackson

One year ago last October Daniel Shaffer and his wife, Ann Shaffer, were suspected of poisoning Isaac Jackson, a man who at the time was digging potatoes on shares on the farm of Shaffer. At the following January term of the Circuit Court an indictment was found against Shaffer and wife for causing his death by poisoning, and they were immediately afterward arrested by Sheriff Cisney, and proceedings in the case have not been prosecuted until the present term of Court, when Ann Shaffer was arraigned to answer to the charge.

The particulars of the case are about as follows: At about the time stated, Jackson and his three children, two girls and one boy, were engaged on digging potatoes on the farm of Dr. Shaffer, in Etna Township. During the day they went to the house of Dr. Shaffer, to procure some water, while there Mrs. Shaffer gave each of them a piece of pie, after which they proceeded to the field to resume their work.

Jackson was immediately taken sick, and asked the children if they had tasted anything bitter in their pieces of pies. They replied that they had not. He complained of being very sick, and proceeded to the house and died in about fifteen minutes after reaching it. These are, in brief, the particulars in the case.

The stomach of the man, Jackson, was sent to Prof. Douglas at Ann Arbor, Michigan to analyze, and as we go to press his testimony, as well as that of Prof. Blaney of Rush Medical College of Chicago, is being taken. We only have this to say, that from testimony developed at the trial, there is much evidence of guilt in the case, than was first supposed by any of our citizens. The jury had not returned a verdict up to the hour we went press last evening.

Page 2 column 2:

The poisoning trail going on at the Court House during the past week has again proven the old addage, that "doctors disagree."

7. Newspaper: Northern Indianan: Ann Shaffer! She is Sentenced to the Penitentiary for Life, 3 Jun 1869, Warsaw, Kosciusko, IN. ¹⁵ Ann Shaffer!
She is Sentenced to the Penitentiary for Life

We last week, noticed through the columns of the Indianan, that this woman was on trial for murder, by poison of Mr. Jackson. The facts were about as stated in our last issue. The evidence, to our mind, was conclusive of the woman's guilt. Prof. Douglas of Ann Arbor Medical College, who analyzed the stomach of the diseased, testified that he, upon applying the proper analytical tests, found clear and well defined evidence of strychnine in the stomach, in quantities sufficient to produce death. The trial occupied the entire week, and grew in interest as it progressed, and towards its conclusion it was the subject of general comment among our citizens. The jury after occupying their room for twenty-four hours, brought in the verdict of guilty and imprisonment in the State's prison for life.

On yesterday morning the defendant's counsel made a motion for a new trial, which after argument on both sides, was overruled by the court.

We might add, that the jury who tried the case was composed of twelve as intelligent men as could have been found in the county, and was beyond the usual average in this respect, and their verdict is in consonance with the view of those who heard the evidence in the case. The wholesome example set by the court in this county during the past few years, in promptly dealing out justice to those who violate the law cannot be otherwise than productive of good. Let all understand that the laws of the land cannot be violated without bringing speedy, severe, and sure punishment and crime will diminish among us without a doubt.

8. Book: Kocisusko County Murders Trials Unsolved 1837-1954, 1999. ¹⁶
Chapter III
Isaac Jackson

The following account of the murder of Isaac Jackson has been written by Charlotte Siegfried. Her information for this story came from the May 27, 1869 Indiana also from family notes and stories passed down through the years. This story involves her Great-Great-Great Grandfather who had been murdered. The newspaper account in part is listed below.

Indianan dated May 27, 1869: One year ago last October Daniel Shaffer and his wife, Ann Shaffer, were suspected of poisoning Isaac Jackson, a man who at the time was digging potatoes on the share on the Shaffer farm. An indictment was filed against Shaffer and his wife for causing the death of Jackson by poison. Daniel Shaffer died and his widow was charged with the murder of Jackson. The particulars of the case are about as follows:
About the time in 1868 Jackson and his three children, two girls and a boy, were engaged in digging potatoes on the farm of Dr. Shaffer in Etna Township. During the day, they went to the house of Dr. Shaffer to procure some water, while there Mrs. Shaffer gave each of them a piece of pie, after which they proceeded to the field to resume their work. Jackson was immediately taken sick, and asked the children if they had tasted anything bitter in their piece of pie. They reported that they had not. He complained of being very sick, proceeded to the house and died in about fifteen minutes after reaching it.

The stomach of Jackson was sent to Prof. Douglass at Ann Arbor, Michigan, also consulted was Prof. Blaney of Rush Medical College of Chicago. Testimony at the trial revealed much more evidence of guilt in the case than was at first supposed by any of the citizens.

The Indianan reported on June 3 1869 the following: The evidence to our mind was conclusive of the woman's guilt. Prof. Douglas of Ann Arbor Medical College who analyzed the stomach of the deceased testified that, upon applying the proper analytical tests, found clear and well defined evidence of strychnine in the stomach, in quantities sufficient to produce death.

The jury after considering the evidence for 24 hours, brought in a verdict of guilty and she was confined to the State's prison for life. A motion for a new trial was denied. She served two years in prison and was released. She claimed that her husband forced her to put the poison in the pie.

From the family archives comes the following:

(Motive for murder)

Isaac had taken a load of corn to the mill to be ground. While sitting on his wagon waiting his turn, Shaffer told Isaac to take up his dog because Shaffer's dog would attach Isaac's dog and whip him. Isaac replied, "Well I guess not."

Shaffer's dog then attacked and was soundly defeated. Shaffer then told Isaac he should move out of the area because there was not room enough for both of them. This seems to be the motive for the murder.

On Oct. 15, 1867 Isaac (Ike) and his older children were digging potatoes. On the way home for lunch they stopped to get a drink from a neighbor's well. The housewife offered them some Cherry pie. Ike's piece was cut form a different pie than the children's. He told the children that the pie was so bitter that he only ate it to be polite. He said that if their pie had been as bitter as his they would not have been able to eat it. He soon complained of great thirst. Shortly after drinking a large amount of water he went into violent convulsions and died. He had been poisoned with strychnine which was a relatively new drug at that time.

This ends the family account.

9. Relatives To Research: Father could be George A. Jackson b.1795 , see Delaware Co. OH 1860 census. ⁴

George married Elizabeth Ann Fishburn on 6 Oct 1840 in , , OH.¹ (Elizabeth Ann Fishburn was born on 13 Apr 1821 in , Madison, OH,^{8 11 17 18 19 20} died on 18 Dec 1887 in Etna Green, Kosciusko, IN ^{4 17 19} and was buried in Etna Green: Etna Green Cemetery, Kosciusko, IN ^{4 17 19}.)