Helen Viola Jackson, Last Known Widow Of A Civil War Veteran Dies At Age 101

Helen Viola Jackson believed to be the last Civil War widow passed away on December 16, 2020, at her Missouri nursing home at the age of 101. Maudie Hopkins of Arkansas who passed away in 2008 was believed to be the last known Civil War widow left in the United States until Helen Viola Jackson shared her story in 2017.

But Jackson of Marshfield, Missouri departed after living a remarkable life. In December 2017, she told the world her own astonishing tale that she had kept as a secret for over 80 years.

Jackson had received several laurels during her lifetime. She had served as grand marshal in her hometown's annual Independence Day Parade. She also received an honorary high school diploma from Niangua High School in the class of 1937. In fact, a play about her life titled The Secret Veil that was written in 2019 was performed at the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival.

The tale as told by Jackson

Helen Viola Jackson was only 17 when she got married to 93-year-old James Bolin in the year 1936.

According to the military records, Bolin had signed up for his military service at the age of 18. He fought with both the 13th and 14th Cavalry during the war. He was a friend of Jackson's family. So her father had sent the teenage Jackson to assist Bolin in his old age.

James Bolin then urged that they enter wedlock since he was unable to pay for her service. "It was during the Depression and times were hard. He said that it might be my only way of leaving the farm," she recalled. Through marriage, she could claim his Union pension then.

Jackson agreed to the marriage on one condition. She suggested that she wanted to continue living with her family on the farm also do not want to change her name after marriage. Bolin agreed and they remained married until his death on June 18, 1939.

Jackson never claimed her late husband's pension because Bolin's step-daughter had threatened to ruin her reputation if she did so, "All a woman had in 1939 was her reputation", she said.

"I didn't want them all to think that I was a young woman who had married an old man to take advantage of him," Jackson added. She also never remarried and had no children.

Also Read: Abala Bose, The Early Indian Feminist Who Worked to Bring Respect & Work to Widows

A secret marriage

Jackson quoted her reasons for her keeping her marriage a secret while speaking at the 2018 Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival, which she co-founded.

"How do you explain that you have married someone with such a difference in age," she said. "I had great respect for Mr Bolin and I did not want him to be hurt by the scorn of wagging tongues."

The marriage took place in the presence of a few people only at his Niangua home on September 4, 1936. The wedding has been recorded in Bolin's personal Bible. This Bible is now a rotating exhibit on Jackson that has travelled to several museum locations around the state.

James Bolin had five children with his first wife, the late Elizabeth Davenport Bolin. While Jackson was one of the 10 children of James Washington Jackson and his wife Thursa Arizona Shelby Jackson. They used to farm near Niangua and it was then when the family began to assist old Bolin.

In an interview with Our America Magazine, Jackson said that Bolin was very kind and really cared for her. He always wished her to have a good future.

Also Read: Meet Padala Bhudevi, An Inspiring Woman Who is Working to Uplift Lives of Widows

Picture Credit: Reporter Door