Written by Clair Jackson, 1939
Claus Jackson was born March 14, 1860, Vestre Totten, Norway. When a lad of 12, the family emigrated to America, settling at Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, later at Sparta, Wisconsin.
With his brother, Chris, on April 20, 1880, he came to Volga, Dakota Territory, where they worked freighting with mule teams, for Fred Hollinbeck, on the construction of the railroad from Volga to Pierre.
The Indians, watching suspiciously and adverse to the railroad being built through their reservation, were a real and threatening menace. Guards were on duty all night while the railroad builders slept.
Hearing about a new town being started north of Sanborn and wishing to start an enterprise of his own, on February 23, 1883, the two brothers came (by team) as far north as tile track of the new railroad (Sanborn, Cooperstown and Turtle Mountain Railroad) had been laid, to about the "Halfway House", called so because it was about halfway between Sanborn and Cooperstown. The Halfway House was a long shed-stable built in the fall of 1880, by the Cooper Brothers about 20 miles south of present Cooperstown. It was a stopping-off place for the Cooper freighters. It was a day's trip from Sanborn to the Halfway House with loads, but if the teams had no load they went through to the Cooper farm in one day. Until the train came to Cooperstown in the fall of 1883, a man stayed at the Halfway House to keep the fires going and to make coffee and fried bacon and eggs when the freighters put in an appearance. The front part of the Halfway House was used by the men, the back part for the mule trains.
Chris Jackson stayed at Thomas Stee's while Claus went to Cooperstown (by team) to buy a village lot.
Among the few buildings that he remembers in the embryo village at that time were Stair's print shop (in the vicinity of the present Masonic Temple); Knud Thompson's Pioneer Store (north side of Burrell Ave.); Dakota House, operated by Henry Retzlaff (where the present Martin Lunde, Sr., home now stands) where 50 or more men slept on the floor without undressing (too cold and no bedding); Andrew Johnson's meat market (north side of Burrell Ave.); and Davis' Livery Barn (north of the later Palace Hotel).
Mr. Jackson, after buying the lot, rejoined his brother, but returned again in April of the same year and established a business with Thomas Knudson of Sparta, Wisconsin.
Cooperstown Courier, November 28, 1886 "Mr. Claus Jackson was married to Miss Ida Hegg, Saturday evening, whereupon there was much merrymaking." Rev. O. D. Purinton officiated at the ceremony. Mrs. Jackson had come to Griggs County in 1885, from Decorah, Iowa. Their first home was above the present Allen's Jewelry Store.
Mr. Jackson recalls the blizzard of January 12, 1889, as the worst the state has ever experienced. Much anxiety was felt in the county for those who were thought lost.
Among these, some had gone to Cooperstown for groceries; others to Red Willow Lake for wood. It was reported in Cooperstown that Chris Jackson and Sheriff Michaels, who had started out for C. Frydenberg's had been lost. As soon as the storm abated, Claus Jackson, George Condy and John Jorgenson drove out to investigate. However, the two first named, after floundering around in the drifts for hours, had found refuge at Kjelson's just in the nick of time. Mrs. Carl Ohde, living west of Cooperstown, while returning from Henry Fenners' had frozen to death 30 rods from her home.
Mr. Jackson proved up on a homestead on Section 4 of 1-44-61 Township (Dover Township).
In 1892, Mr. Jackson started a machinery implement business. The first three bicycles, in 1893, he sold to Detliff Larson, Otto Retzlaff and one other.
Mr. Jackson was a sharp shot and great sportsman in earlier years.
In 1890, he was appointed deputy sheriff and in 1894, was elected sheriff, which office he held for two terms.
The snow drifts were so deep in the winter of 1896-97, that when walking along in Cooperstown, you were liable to walk on somebody's room. Tunnels were made in the business section. The youngsters slid on their sleds out of the courtroom windows.
Of an incident, he relates, "I left home on Tuesday and while out summoning jurors, the storm broke (the week of Thanksgiving) and I was forced to take refuge on Thursday, staying at Martinius Wallum's until Saturday morning when he drove me as far as Hannaford. The horses floundered and plunged in the drifts, so from there I struggled on foot to Cooperstown, reaching home at 11:00 p.m., but if I had another mile to go, I don't see how I could have endured it."
In 1899, Claus Jackson purchased Thomas Helland's share of the mercantile business of Aarestad-Helland and the family moved into their newly built home at Hannaford. Two years later he purchased Halvor Aarestad's share, and in 1906, built the concrete block building which still bears his name.
Mr. Jackson was a director and vice president of the First National Bank at Hannaford; president of the Board of Education from 1912-1921; served as village postmaster for 14 years (1899-1913); and at present is a member of the Village Board of Trustees (1933 and on).
In 1905, accompanied by Nels Markuson, Charley Gad, Alfred Olson, Robert Martin, John Larson and others, he attended the Lewis-Clark Exposition held at Portland, Oregon, and at the same time toured the Pacific Coast.
In 1936, the Jacksons were honored by a host of friends and relatives on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Five children were born to them during their residence in Cooperstown. They are Clara (Mrs. A. F. Kencke, Cody, Wyo.); Ella (Mrs. George Epler, Williston, North Dakota); Chester; and the twins, Inez and Mrs. Edna Markuson, Hannaford.
Mr. Jackson's paternal grandfather reached the age of 101 years; his father, 94; and his mother, 84 years.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 162