On December 5, 1832,
Jacob Starcher petitioned the General Assembly to give the town a
name and grant a charter to govern it. the request was granted
fourteen days later on December 19, 1832. The charter
designated the town 'Ripley' in honor of the Harry Ripley, a
minister who was drowned in Mill Creek. Trustees governed the
town until 1852 when a council and mayor were elected by
"qualified voters."
The town's post
office established January 31, 1832, had been named Jackson
Courthouse. The name was changed to Jackson on March 31,
1893. Finally on September 15, 1897 the name of the post
office and town became the same.
