Joseph was born in Peckham, England, to bootmaker Joseph Jackman, Snr, (21 July 1813 – 9 November 1908) and his first wife Lydia (c.1810 – 30 June family 1861), who with their family emigrated to the colony of South Australia on the Warren Hastings, arriving in October 1855[1] and opened a bootmaker's shop on Rundle Street.
The business moved in 1871 to much larger premises, which for many years was a major function centre in the city.
Situated at 48–50 King William Street, it incorporated a dance hall and banqueting room, as well as serving casual meals from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
It was renamed Grand Cafe in 1911 or perhaps earlier, and around that time its management was taken over by his sons Jim and Arthur.
[2] His other businesses in the city were: Joseph Jackman (c. 1844 – 10 December 1914) married Fanny Wheaton ( –1935) at Kapunda, later lived Payneham, died at Wattle Street Malvern.