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This biography appears on pages 237-238 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915)
Dr. Robert James Jackson, engaged in the practice of medicine in
Rapid City, was born at Forest, Ontario, Canada, August 10, 1874, a son of John and Joan (Elliott) Jackson. The former, who was a native of
Scotland, crossed the Atlantic to Canada when seventeen years of age and during the period of his manhood engaged in farming there. He died
at the age of fifty-six years, passing away in 1893.
Robert James Jackson, who is one of a family of eight children
and the fifth in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of his native town and in the normal school at Brandon, Manitoba.
Following his graduation from the normal school as a member of the class of 1895 he devoted three years to teaching, but regarded this
merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his desire to become a member of the medical profession. Accordingly, he
entered the Michigan School of Medicine and was graduated with the class of 1902, at which time his professional degree was conferred upon
him. He then came to South Dakota, settling at Yankton, where he remained for six months, and on the expiration of that period removed
to Rapid City, where he has resided continuously since with the exception of extended visits to the central American republics, where
he has important interests in coffee plantations. In addition to an extensive general practice he serves as surgeon for the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad. He was also for four years coroner of Pennington county and for eight years was physician for the United States Indian
school at Rapid City.
On the 14th of September, 1903, Dr. Jackson was united in
marriage to Miss Jua B. Goodwin, of Boston, Massachusetts. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Elks lodge and the Masons. In
politics he is a republican where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot. He was chosen the first mayor of
Rapid City under the commission form of government, serving for two years, at the end of which time he resigned because of the demands
which were made upon him in that connection and which he felt caused his professional work to suffer. His principal out-of-door recreation
is trout fishing, but he never allows this to interfere with his professional duties. He has gained an enviable reputation as a
physician and has also found time to cooperate in every movement looking to the advancement of the city and surrounding territory. Thus
it is that he is not only regarded as one of the leading physicians but also as one of the valued and useful residents of western South Dakota.
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