Changes

==Business activities==

==Business activities==

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As a young man, Jackson enlisted in the [[United States Army]] and was assigned to an all-black unit. He was assigned with the Buffalo Soldiers to Fort Concho in [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] in Tom Green County in west Texas. At the time, San Angelo was known as a "resort for desperate character," at which sixteen saloons sold an average of 19.4 gallons of [[whisky]] per male resident annually.<ref name=jackson>"George B. Jackson, Black (or African-American) Businessman, Rancher, and Entrepreneur," Lecture by Suzanne O. Campbell, former head of the West Texas Collection at Angelo State University, at the annual meeting of the West Texas Historical Association in [[Lubbock]], April 2, 2011.</ref>​  

As a young man, Jackson enlisted in the [[United States Army]] and was assigned to an all-black unit. He was assigned with the Buffalo Soldiers to Fort Concho in [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] in Tom Green County in west Texas. At the time, San Angelo was known as a "resort for desperate character," at which sixteen saloons sold an average of 19.4 gallons of [[whisky]] per male resident annually.<ref name=gjackson>"George B. Jackson, Black (or African-American) Businessman, Rancher, and Entrepreneur," Lecture by Suzanne O. Campbell, former head of the West Texas Collection at Angelo State University, at the annual meeting of the West Texas Historical Association in [[Lubbock]], April 2, 2011.</ref>​  

By 1875, Jackson was discharged from the Army at Fort Duncan on the [[Mexico|Mexican]] border in Eagle Pass, Texas. He began operating a saloon and brothel in San Angelo. In an event typical of the rough frontier town, Josephine Thompson in 1879 stabbed buffalo soldier Albert Ford to death in Jackson's saloon. Twice annually, Jackson paid $25 to police to protect his operation of the brothel. The police typically charged prostitutes $2.50 twice per year for "vagrancy." Otherwise, the business flourished without police interference.<ref name=jackson/>​

By 1875, Jackson was discharged from the Army at Fort Duncan on the [[Mexico|Mexican]] border in Eagle Pass, Texas. He began operating a saloon and brothel in San Angelo. In an event typical of the rough frontier town, Josephine Thompson in 1879 stabbed buffalo soldier Albert Ford to death in Jackson's saloon. Twice annually, Jackson paid $25 to police to protect his operation of the brothel. The police typically charged prostitutes $2.50 twice per year for "vagrancy." Otherwise, the business flourished without police interference.<ref name=gjackson/>​

Suzanne Campbell, the former director of special collections at Angelo State University in San Angelo, retired after more than two decades of service in 2018. She is writing a book on Jackson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelo.edu/content/news/16110-happy-trails-to-you-celebrating-suzanne-campbells|title="Happy Trails to you": Celebrating Suzanne Campbell's 22 Years of Service|publisher=Angelo.edu|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

Suzanne Campbell, the former director of special collections at Angelo State University in San Angelo, retired after more than two decades of service in 2018. She is writing a book on Jackson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelo.edu/content/news/16110-happy-trails-to-you-celebrating-suzanne-campbells|title="Happy Trails to you": Celebrating Suzanne Campbell's 22 Years of Service|publisher=Angelo.edu|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

==Political career==

==Political career==

By 1884, Jackson was selected as a petit juror in San Angelo, at a time when blacks in most of the former [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] were being disfranchised and thus disqualified from jury service. In 1885, the white-controlled school system appointed Jackson as a trustee of the black public school; the system was [[Segregation|segregated]]. He purchased ranch land at a bargain some thirty-five miles west of San Angelo and leased out his holdings.<ref name=jackson/>​

By 1884, Jackson was selected as a petit juror in San Angelo, at a time when blacks in most of the former [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] were being disfranchised and thus disqualified from jury service. In 1885, the white-controlled school system appointed Jackson as a trustee of the black public school; the system was [[Segregation|segregated]]. He purchased ranch land at a bargain some thirty-five miles west of San Angelo and leased out his holdings.<ref name=gjackson/>​

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Active politically, Jackson in 1894 was chosen to address the Republican State Convention in the capital city of [[Austin]]. He assailed the lowering of the [[tariff]]known as Wilson-Gorman in the [[Grover Cleveland|Cleveland]] administration. Jackson called for higher tariffs to protect West Texas sheep and goat ranchers.<ref name=jackson/>​

Active politically, Jackson in 1894 was chosen to address the Republican State Convention in the capital city of [[Austin]]. He assailed the lowering of the [[tariff]]known as Wilson-Gorman in the [[Grover Cleveland|Cleveland]] administration. Jackson called for higher tariffs to protect West Texas sheep and goat ranchers.<ref name=gjackson/>​

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He started a Republican organization in San Angelo, together with six whites and one [[Hispanic]] man.<ref name=jackson/> In 1894, the Republican candidate, George H. Noonan of San Antonio, was elected as [[U.S. Representative]] from the district that included Tom Green County. A native of [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New Jersey]], Noonan was the first Texas Republican elected to Congress after the end of [[Reconstruction]]. He served one term and was unseated in the [[general election]] of 1896 , when Democrats cemented their political power in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000131|title=''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''|publisher=bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=October 18, 2019}}</ref> The ''San Angelo Standard'' newspaper declared the politically connected Jackson to be "the wealthiest colored man in Texas."<ref name=jackson/>​

He started a Republican organization in San Angelo, together with six whites and one [[Hispanic]] man.<ref name=jackson/> In 1894, the Republican candidate, George H. Noonan of San Antonio, was elected as [[U.S. Representative]] from the district that included Tom Green County. A native of [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New Jersey]], Noonan was the first Texas Republican elected to Congress after the end of [[Reconstruction]]. He served one term and was unseated in the [[general election]] of 1896, when Democrats cemented their political power in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000131|title=''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''|publisher=bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=October 18, 2019}}</ref> The ''San Angelo Standard'' newspaper declared the politically connected Jackson to be "the wealthiest colored man in Texas."<ref name=gjackson/>​

In 1894, Jackson was chosen to address the Republican state convention in Austin, and in 1897, he was appointed by President [[William McKinley]] as customs inspector in Presidio in southwestern Texas.​​ In 1897, Jackson traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], to attend McKinley's first inauguration. The new administration appointed Jackson as customs inspector in Presidio, a small community on the [[Mexico|Mexican]] border west of what is now [[Big Bend National Park]]. Respected for setting aside racial differences in his dealings, Jackson developed friendships with whites and [[Democratic Party|Democrats]].<ref name=jackson/>​

In 1894, Jackson was chosen to address the Republican state convention in Austin, and in 1897, he was appointed by President [[William McKinley]] as customs inspector in Presidio in southwestern Texas.​​ In 1897, Jackson traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], to attend McKinley's first inauguration. The new administration appointed Jackson as customs inspector in Presidio, a small community on the [[Mexico|Mexican]] border west of what is now [[Big Bend National Park]]. Respected for setting aside racial differences in his dealings, Jackson developed friendships with whites and [[Democratic Party|Democrats]].<ref name=gjackson/>​

==Personal life==

==Personal life==