Oliver Toussaint Jackson facts for kids
Oliver Toussaint Jackson (born April 6, 1862 – died February 8, 1948) was an American businessman. He was inspired by Booker T. Washington's autobiography, Up from Slavery. Jackson then created Dearfield, Colorado, a farming community for black Americans. Before this, he successfully owned several restaurants in Denver and Boulder.
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Early Life and Business
Oliver Toussaint Jackson was born on April 6, 1862, in Oxford, Ohio. His parents, Hezekiah and Caroline Jackson, were formerly enslaved. Oliver was one of six children. He received his education in Ohio and showed a strong business sense from a young age.
He began his career in 1876, working in restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio. He soon became a caterer. In 1887, Jackson moved to the Denver, Colorado area. He had heard stories about African Americans moving West. He continued his catering work there.
Two years later, he married Sarah "Sadie" Cook. By 1894, Jackson had earned enough money to buy a farm near Boulder. He also lived in Boulder. In December 1892, he opened the Stillman Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor. This cafe was known for being a very nice dining spot. In 1898, Jackson became a manager at Boulder's Chautauqua Dining Hall. He oversaw 75 employees there. Later, he ran a popular seafood restaurant in Boulder. It stayed open until 1907.
Founding Dearfield
Jackson's first wife either passed away or they divorced in the early 1900s. In 1905, he married Minerva J. Matlock, a schoolteacher. He then moved back to Denver. There, he worked as a messenger for Colorado governors. He helped John F. Shafroth become governor of Colorado in 1908. In return, Governor Shafroth appointed him as a messenger. Jackson would serve under four more Colorado governors.
Jackson read Up from Slavery (1901), a book by Booker T. Washington. He was deeply impressed by Washington's ideas about black land ownership. Jackson fully supported these views. He asked Governor Shafroth for help with his plan for a farming community for black Americans. Shafroth helped him use the Homestead Act of 1909. This act allowed people to claim land for farming.
In 1909, Jackson bought 320 acres of land in Weld County. He planned the community like Union Colony, which was founded in 1870. A year later, in 1910, Jackson's farming community was officially established. He named it Dearfield. Settlers came from Denver, Minneapolis, and Kansas City.
Challenges and Success
The first groups of settlers faced many difficulties. Some had to live in tents or holes in the nearby hills. There were constant shortages of fuel and water. The harsh winter conditions in the first year almost caused settlers to give up. All the water rights for the land had already been bought. This meant there was no water for irrigation. Early homesteaders had to carry water from a river nearly a mile away.
However, over time, the community began to thrive. They grew various crops like corn, melons, and squash. The prices for these crops rose sharply during World War I. By the end of 1917, Dearfield had 500 residents. Minerva Jackson served as the unofficial mayor. Oliver continued to work in Denver and promote the town. By 1921, Dearfield was worth $750,000 and had a population of 700. Jackson hoped to build a cannery and a soap factory to expand the town's success.
Decline of Dearfield
Over the next ten years, Dearfield faced several problems. Crop prices crashed after the war. Soldiers returning from WWI often did not want to live on farms. The weather also changed from wet to dry conditions. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl severely damaged Dearfield. These events forced Jackson and the settlers to sell their homes for lumber. By 1940, only 12 residents remained. Jackson stayed in Dearfield, hoping to find a young black man to help rebuild the community.
Death and Legacy
Oliver Toussaint Jackson passed away in the Weld County Hospital in Greeley, Colorado, on February 8, 1948. He was 85 years old. Dearfield became a ghost town after its last resident left in 1973. In 1995, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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