In researching a composer of a song in the 1911 J. L. White Sacred Harp, A. O. Jackson, I was not only able to identify him, but also Mattie Pope of the 1902 W. M. Cooper Sacred Harp, who I had previously failed to identify.
Jackson, A. O. Andrew Orestes Jackson was
born August 20, 1888 at Glenwood, Alabama. He was the son of Andrew Jackson and
Mary Ann Richburg. He graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1916
with a Bachelors of Science degree,[i]
served in World War I, and afterward married Martha Matilda “Mattie” Pope (1889–1947)
on September 7, 1919 in Luverne, Crenshaw County, Alabama. They were active in singing
conventions in this area. Mattie is credited with arranging The Blessed Lamb in the Cooper Revision
of The Sacred Harp. She taught music, including piano. A. O. Jackson
served on the “Examining Committee” of the Sweetwater Musical Convention (1912),
Secretary of the Luverne Annual Singing (1924), and in other offices A. O.
worked at several occupations, but primarily as a teacher. He advertised as a
piano tuner in Luverne in the mid-1920s. They lived in Luverne, Mountain Creek,
and Montgomery in Alabama, and Miami in Florida (and perhaps other places).
After Mattie’s death, A. O. Jackson married Germa Blanton in 1949. He died April
30, 1982 in Brooks County, Georgia. A. O. and Mattie are buried in the Laurel
Hill Cemetery in Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia.
504 The
Love of God
Pope, Mattie. Martha Matilda “Mattie” Pope was the daughter of George William Pope and Sarah Missouri Head of Crenshaw County, Alabama, born January 29, 1889. She arranged The Blessed Lamb, a song already in The Sacred Harp on page 454, when she was about 13 years old. The greatest part of the arrangement of this tune is the change of the initial section from 3/4 to 2/4 time. There are a few note changes as well. Minnie Floyd added the alto part. In her youth, Mattie was active in the singings in Crenshaw County. She served as secretary of the all-day singing at Luverne in 1908 (as well as other years). W. M. Cooper was among the “prominent visiting singers present.” Mattie taught music in school, and taught private piano lessons. She married fellow Sacred Harp singer A. O. Jackson at Luverne, September 7, 1919. They lived in Luverne, Mountain Creek, and Montgomery in Alabama, and Miami in Florida (and perhaps other places). Mattie died in Miami, Florida. A. O. and Mattie are buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia.
454 The Blessed Lamb (arranged)
Jackson, A. O.
U.S.
Censuses 1900-1950
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176908845/andrew_orestes-jackson
“The Sweet Water Singing Convention,” Crenshaw County News, Thursday, August 8, 1912, p. 4
“Singing Convention at Campground,” The Luverne Journal, Thursday, July 29, 1915, p. 8
“Luverne Annual Singing,” Crenshaw County News, Thursday, June 5, 1924, p. 1
“For Piano Tuning,” Crenshaw County News, Thursday, July 3, 1924, p. 3
Pope, Mattie
U. S. Federal Censuses, 1900-1940
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176908826/martha-matilda-jackson
“News of Luverne,” The Montgomery Advertiser, Tuesday, June 9, 1908, p. 2
“Pope-Jackson At Luverne,” The Luverne Journal, Thursday, September 18, 1919, p. 1
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