JILL JACKSON was born EVELYN COWAN in Independence, Missouri on August 25, 1913. Her mother died when she was 3 and she
was legally adopted at the age of 12. Her family moved to an Armour Boulevard address, but she was allowed to continue her
studies at Northeast High School. EVELYN didn't have much to show in her Sophomore year in 1927-28; but, her Junior year in
1928-29 was different. She was a member of the Alpha Literary Society and the Mathematics club. The 1930 Nor'easter yearbook
credits her with being the Junior Class Giftorian and a staff member for the "Courier". However, the 1929 Nor'easter shows
someone else as being Giftorian and doesn't show her as being a member of the "Courier" staff.
She hit the big time in her Senior year of 1929-30:
Senior Ballot - Girl Who Has Done the Most for NEHS
Senior Class Giftorian
National Honor Society
Alpha Literary Society
R.O.T.C. Sponsor Lt. Colonel
Student Council Executive Board
Courier Staff - 1st Semester
Dramatics Club
Christmas Play as "Peggy O'Mara"
"ALL-OF-A-SUDDEN-PEGGY," the annual Christmas play,
was received enthusiastically by the large audiences on Friday and Saturday nights, December 13 and 14. Lord Anthony, played
by Robert Bruce, was highly amusing in the characterization of a middle-aged English aristocrat. Lady Crackenthrope, an aristocractic
and unsympathetic English woman, was played with great feeling by Roberta Jane Thomas.
The characterization of Peggy, a vivacious girl, who
marries her mother off to Lord Anthony Crackenthorpe, so she might be free to marry Jimmy Keppel, was expressively played
by Ruth Spencer and Evelyn Cowan. Jimmy Keppel, the younger son of lady Crackenthorpe, was portrayed by Morton Steele, who
entered wholeheartedly into the play.
The great success of the play is due to the untiring efforts of the coach, Miss Helen Hobbs, and the cast."
1930 Nor'easter
She spent 2 years in Kansas City Junior College and at KMBC radio after school hours. She then left for Hollywood. She
was in 20 films from 1935-1953, including 7 Westerns and one Serial. Her film names were HARLENE WOOD, HARLEY WOOD and
JILL MARTIN. She starred with such actors as:
REX BELL, BOB STEELE, KERMIT MAYNARD, TOM TYLER and TIM McCOY. Her film credits also include appearances in 3 1937 THREE STOOGES
shorts: DIZZY DOCTORS, BACK TO THE WOODS and CASH and CARRY. Information concerning her film career can be found in the book,
"Republic Confidential - Volume 2 - The Players - 1992.
The second of her marriages was to FELIX JACKSON with whom she had two daughters; JANET, born 2-21-1941
and Harley, born 6-17-1942. They divorced on June 19, 1949. She then married SEYMOUR "SY" MILLER with
whom she wrote the song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me" in 1955. LARRY PARKS and
his wife BETTY GARRET stood up for them and baby-sat while they honeymooned.
The MILLERS won many prestigious awards. Among them were: Valley Forge Freedom Foundation's "George Washington Medal"
and "National Copuncil of Christians and Jews Award". Their song was used on two Hallmark cards and they wrote the theme song
for "People to People". This is an international freidnship groud that is located in Kansas City.
SEYMOUR MILLER died on Tuesday, August 17, 1971 at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. They were living
in Beverly Hills at the time. JILL died on April 2, 1995 in Honokaa, Hawaii.
NOTE: On her Social Security application, filed on January 9, 1937, she listed her name as HARLENE WOOD and
being unemployed. She listed her parents as being, CULLIE COLLINS WOOD and CORA HENSLEY WOOD.
Geneology is becoming increasingly big in America. People want to know and they have a right to know who their ancestors
were. But, sometimes names have been changed and spelling of names have been changed and this prevents people from knowing
who their relatives were. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that JILL was a second cousin to the Wright brothers, who are
also in my family tree on my mother's side.
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For other websites concerning JILL JACKSON, go to:
JILL's daughter JAN TACHE, runs the above site.
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The Western movie photos below are courtesy of the "b-westerns.com" website run by CHUCK ANDERSON. You can contact him
at:
oldcorral@comcast.net
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enter Jill Jackson in "search" box
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error on website credits Bill Jackson and not Jill Jackson
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Many thanks to FRANK REIGHTER, a "Three Stooges" researcher for providing her birth name and other information. You may
contact him at:
fereighter@aol.com_________________________
You may contact me at:
