Elinor "Ellie" Jackson (born Eleanor Junkin) (March 6, 1825 – October 22, 1854) was the first wife of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. She died in

childbirth Childbirth, also known as labour and delivery, is the ending of pregnancy where one or more babies exits the internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section. In 2019, there were about 140.11 million births glob ...

a little over a year after their marriage.

Youth

Elinor was the daughter of the prominent

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

George Junkin Reverend George Junkin D.D., LL.D (November 1, 1790 – May 20, 1868) was an American educator and Presbyterian minister who served as the first and third president of Lafayette College and later as president of Miami University and Washingt ...

, who since 1848 was president of

Washington College Washington College is a private liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782. George Washington supported the founding of the college by consenting to have the "College at Chester" name ...

Lexington, Virginia Lexington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines ...

Marriage

In 1853, Elinor met Thomas Jackson, then a professor at the

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

, at her father's home in Lexington. Jackson was a frequent visitor to the Junkin home; the shy young professor and the old college president were united by common interests in theology and Presbyterian doctrine, and Elinor and Jackson both taught at the Presbyterian Sunday school in Lexington. Suddenly their friendship changed to love, and they became engaged. But Elinor's older sister

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular through ...

was very jealous of their relationship, and the engagement was broken off on her behest. It resumed again, however, with Margaret's reluctant blessing, and George Junkin married Elinor and Jackson in August 1853. Her sister Margaret was the second wife of VMI founder

John Thomas Lewis Preston John Thomas Lewis Preston (April 25, 1811 – July 15, 1890) was an American educator and military officer from Virginia. He was a primary founder and organizer of the Virginia Military Institute, and was one of its first two faculty members. ...

, who served with Thomas Jackson on the VMI faculty, and served on Jackson's staff during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

Death

The couple was extremely close, and through Elinor's influence Jackson's already strong faith deepened. In October 1854 Elinor was in labor, but the outcome was not happy. She gave birth to a

stillborn Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source. It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The ter ...

baby and died herself shortly thereafter due to pregnancy complications. Jackson was devastated by grief but his faith supported him. The couple had been living with her father, and Jackson continued to live there for several years until he began courting Anna Morrison, the woman that would become his second wife.Gwynne 2014, pp. 147-150.

Notes

References

Sources

* Arnold, Thomas Jackson (1916). ''Early Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson: "Stonewall" Jackson.'' New York, NY: Fleming H. Revell. * Coulling, Mary Price (1993). ''Margaret Junkin Preston - A Biography.'' John F. Blair. * Gwynne, S. C (2014). ''Rebel Yell. ''Scribner''. * Junkin, David X. (1871). ''The Reverend George Junkin, D.D.,LL.D. A Historical Biography.'' J.B. Lippincott & Co. * Robertson, Jr., James I. (1997). ''Stonewall Jackson.'' McMillan Publishing. * Robinson, Richard D. and Elisabeth (1975). ''Repassing at my side ...A Story of the Junkins.'' The Southern Printing Co. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Elinor 1825 births 1854 deaths Elinor Deaths_in_childbirth