Belated RIP Helen Viola Jackson

[silverscreenselect]

I can't believe that none of our history buffs caught this one, but she died on December 16 and the story first appeared on January 5, and the next day's news pushed things like this aside.

Jackson was believed to be the last surviving Civil War veteran's widow. Her husband, James Bolin, was 93 when she married him in 1936, and she was 17. She lived near Bolin's home and helped him out with chores. He married her so she could get his pension, since he didn't have any money to pay her with. Bolin died three years later, but Jackson never revealed the marriage until 2017 because she was concerned about her reputation. She also never remarried or applied for the pension.

Obviously, her account of this story is somewhat suspect since there doesn't appear to be any independent corroboration.

Age 101

https://people.com/human-interest/last- ... ny%20years.

[Bob78164]

I can't believe that none of our history buffs caught this one, but she died on December 16 and the story first appeared on January 5, and the next day's news pushed things like this aside.

Jackson was believed to be the last surviving Civil War veteran's widow. Her husband, James Bolin, was 93 when she married him in 1936, and she was 17. She lived near Bolin's home and helped him out with chores. He married her so she could get his pension, since he didn't have any money to pay her with. Bolin died three years later, but Jackson never revealed the marriage until 2017 because she was concerned about her reputation. She also never remarried or applied for the pension.

Obviously, her account of this story is somewhat suspect since there doesn't appear to be any independent corroboration.

Age 101

https://people.com/human-interest/last- ... ny%20years.

I believe the wedding was recorded in her husband's Bible. Her account was accepted by the Daughters of the Union Veterans, which conducted what appears to be appropriate legwork, including finding a contemporaneous witness affidavit. --Bob