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Note: Oliver T Jackson, better known as O. T. became the driving force behind the creation of a town named Dearfield in the windy grasslands of Weld County Colorado. It seems he arrived in the Denver area sometime around 1887 and on 9-5-1889 married his first wife Sadie C Cook. In 1900 along with his brother James he opened Jackson's Farm, a restaurant and farm in Boulder Colorado. During this time
Oliver was involved in the Democratic Pary and became friends with Governor John Shafroth, who appointed him his messenger, a job he held for five administrations. In approximately 1905 Oliver married his second wife Minerva. Oliver's dream to create an agricultural colony for black Americans began to unfold in 1910 when he filed a 320 acre homestead claim in Weld county which would become known as Dearfield although on the Census it was officially called Green.
As the small settlement began to grow the founding members forged friendly relations with their white neighbors and shopped at Wiggins and other nearby towns. The town would eventually become home to about 500 to 600 people and supported a school, two churches, a grocery store, and dance pavilion. Advertisements were posted in all the local towns and Denver area advertising a "fun get- away" just a short distance from Denver on Highway 34. With a gas station and lunchroom, free campground and cabins or a rooming house to stay in it was touted as a place to come relax, fish, hunt or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. Falling commodity prices, the dust storm and depression in the mid 1920's were the start of the downfall of Dearfield. Residents moved to larger cities or other states in an effort to make a living for their families. By 1940 Dearfield had twelve residents left and Oliver and his wife tried in vain to keep thier filling station running until they both were deceased. Dearfield now is considered a ghost town with few buildings remaining.
1880 OH Cuyahoga Cleveland 8
Jackson Oliver 18 OH VA VA servant
1900 CO Boulder 11
Jackson Oliver T 4-1862 38 m 10 OH VA VA caterer
Sadie C 10-1856 43 m 10 1-0 MI VA VA
James H 12-1850 49 m 28 VA VA VA caterer brother
Jennie 1884 16 MN OH MN niece
1910 CO Boulder Valmont 10
Jackson Oliver T 45 m2 5 OH US US messenger for govenor
Minerva 38 m1 5 0-0 MO VA MO
1920 CO Weld Green 1
Jackson Oliver T 55 OH OH US real estate dealer
Minerva 48 MO MO MO
1930 CO Weld Green 4
Jackson Oliver T 68 m 25 OH VA VA operator filling station
Minerva J 58 m 33 MO MO MO
Swann John 15 IL US US boarder
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