Jesse Eugene Gordon (1871 - 1947)

Born 12 Feb 1871 in Dodge, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jane D (Walford) Gordon — married 28 Dec 1895 in South Dakota, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Dec 1947 at age 76 in Watertown, Codington, South Dakota, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: J J Jensen [send private message]

Biography

When Jesse Eugene Gordon was born on February 12, 1871, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, his father, William, was 25 and his mother, Ellen, was 20 [1]. He was the middle child of six, with two older brothers, Edwin and Frank, and three younger siblings, William, Ira, and Bernice. By 1880, at the age of 9, the family had settled on a farm in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, just east of Beaver Dam ^[1].

In 1883, Jesse’s family moved to the Dakota territory, leaving him behind. Jesse, at age 12, and possibly his oldest brother Edwin, then 15, may have stayed in Wisconsin with their grandparents or other family. He likely went to work, as the 1940 census indicates his last year of school was 6th grade ^[2]*. Unfortunately, there are no records that can locate Jesse again until age 25 when he married Jane “Jennie” Walford (Walvoort) on October 28, 1895 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, one county east of Fond du Lac County ^[3][4].

Jennie was born April 25th, 1872 in Fond du Lac and grew up and went to school in Metoman ^[5]. Her parents, Berend “Barney” and Johanna Geziena “Jane” Prangen were born in Holland and had both emigrated in 1845 to Wisconsin. They were married in 1858 in Alto, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin ^[6]. Jennie had 3 older sisters, Delia, Minnie and Hattie, and three younger siblings, Henry, Elizabeth and Benjamin.

Shortly after their marriage, in 1896, the newlyweds moved closer to Jesse’s family to South Dakota ^[7]. They settled one county to the west of Deuel, in Hamlin ^[8] and their first child Harry was born there on September 7, 1896 ^[9].

In 1900 at age 29, Jesse was employed as a farm laborer and he and Jennie had two children, Harry Benjamin, 3, and Jesse Eugene, Jr., 1. Jesse’s brother Ira was also living with them [90]. Twenty-three-year-old Ira was also recorded in that same year at his parent’s home in Deuel ^[10].

By July 1910, when he was 37, Jesse and Jennie now with 4 children had boldly moved far to the west, crossing the Missouri River and Sioux and Cheyenne Indian Reservations and settling in Perkins County, South Dakota. They owned their own land free of mortgage. They lived in a sod house. Harry was 13, Jesse, 11, Raleigh William, 9, and Hazel Jane was 7 ^[11]. With them to settle the land was Jessie’s younger brother Wilford “Will” and his family. Will and Florence also had 4 children: Earl, Ruby, Howard and Richard born in the same years as Jessie and Jennie’s children ^[12].

On March 27, 1911, Jesse was issued at 140.72-acre land patent in the south half of the northeast quarter and the lots 2 and three of section four in township sixteen north of range seventeen east of Black Hills Meridian (16.0N Range 17.0E Section 4, accession #185898) by South Dakota Lemmon General Land office, signed by President William H. Taft ^{[13] [14]}. Section 4 straddled the Cheyenne Reservation to the east and the land Jesse and his family were settling had been reservation land as recently as 1910.

Jennie’s brother, Ben Walford, also lived with them at some point after 1910. His first wife, Jennie, had died in 1908 ^[15]. He sent his two children to live with his older brother Henry and his wife Grada in Havana, SD ^[16].

The sod house on the Perkins homestead, ca 1911. From left Harry, Ben Walford, Jesse, Jennie, Eugene, Raleigh and Hazel. According to a letter written by Raleigh's son, Rev. Raleigh Junior Gordon, this photo was taken by Ted Bible who was the children's teacher and found among his possessions by his daughter who then then gave it to Raleigh, Jr ^[17].

This venture was short-lived, as along with being marginal agricultural area was a hotspot of native tensions, in the heart of Plains Indian territory in a time of a world poised for war. Will and Florence returned to Gary before the patent was even issued, to have their son, Wilford Jr. on March 3, 1912 ^[18]. Jesse and Jennie stayed until 1912 ^[19] and by 1915, Jesse, then 44, was recorded with his family in Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, a town about 35 miles northwest of Gary ^[20].

The following year, in 1916, the family was living in a mortgaged home at 1103 1st Ave NE. Harry, 20, and Eugene, Jr, 18, were going to school and Jesse was working as a driver for William A McKool. On the state census, Jesse marked his religion as “none” ^[21].

The whole family was baptized on April 22, 1917 in the Presbyterian Church in Watertown^[22], and Harry and his first cousin Forrest (Frank and Barbara’s third son) enlisted with the South Dakota Army National Guard on April 27 and May 19, respectively. In May, Harry and Forrest were sent to Lexington, South Carolina for training in Company A, 127th Machine Gun Battalion, 34th Division. Forrest’s brother Clifford and Jesse and Jennie’s son Eugene, Jr. enlisted a few months later on June 5th and September 12, 1917, respectively^{[23] [24]}.

Jesse’s brother’s Ira and Will registered as required by the Selective Service a day after the Armistice on September 12, 1918 ^[25]. Jesse and his older brothers were over 45, so not required to register.

By August of 1919, both Harry and Eugene were back at home living with Jessie and Jennie and their sister Hazel, a student, at 1103 1st Ave, NE in Watertown. Jesse was working as a laborer in a mill. Along with their four adult children at home, they let out a room to Loverne Young, a laborer from Nova Scotia, who at 17, was the same age and a student with their daughter Hazel ^[26]. Harry was working as a salesman in a clothing store. Eugene was a tailor in the clothing store and Raleigh was a dentist and worked for the post office ^[27]. By 1920, Eugene was working as a carrier at the post office and Raleigh was a clerk ^[28].

Despite the death of his father, Frank, on January 28, 1922 in Gary, South Dakota [2], 1921 and 1922 were happy and busy years for Jesse and the Gordon clan.

On March 16, 1921, Harry married Fern Madeline Nelson. Then on May 7th, Hazel married James Hendren. Eugene married Alma Waba on July 11 followed closely by Raleigh who married Lucy Glidden on July 23 ^[29]. Harry and Fern had their first child Shirley in February 1922 [3]. Also in 1922, Hazel and James with Nellie Mae and Raleigh and Lucy welcomed Wayne Keith ^[30].

In 1925 Jessie and Jennie were still living at the same house. Jessie indicated on the state census that they were Presbyterians ^[31]. In 1926, Jesse was working as a teamster. Eugene and Alma lived with them and Eugene was working as a presser in a steam laundry. Harry was a postal carrier. He and Fern lived at 809 3rd St. NE. Raleigh worked with Harry as a carrier. He and Lucy lived at 219 1st Ave. SW. Frank and Barbara’s son Clifford was also living in Watertown with his wife Sadie. He was working as a driver for Yellow Cab Taxi ^[32].

On October 19th, 1926 Jennie died at the age of 54. She was buried at Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery [4]. After Jennie’s death, Jesse went to live with Raleigh and his family on 4th Street and was still living there in 1930 with Raleigh his wife Lucy and their 3 children Wayne, Raleigh Jr. and Donald ^[33]. Later the family moved to 500 2nd Street and welcomed another child, Beverly born in 1935 ^[34]. Jesse wasn’t working in 1939 or 1940. Raleigh was a postal clerk working 40 hours a week and had worked steadily in 1939. Both Wayne, at 18 and Raleigh Jr, 14 were working. Wayne was a janitor at church and Raleigh Jr was a grocery store clerk. They like their father had worked steadily through 1939 and both had received a high school education. Son Donald was still in school ^[35].

In 1942, Harry, then 45, Eugene, 43, and Raleigh, 41, served in World War II ^[36][37]. Raleigh's eldest son, Wayne, then 22, and Harry’s oldest son, Jack, 19, were also drafted ^[38]. World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945.

In April 1944, Jesse’s brother Will died in Deuel County and in August of 1947, his older brother Frank died in Portland, Oregon. Edwin, the eldest, had died in 1939 in Washington [5]. Jesse continued to live with Raleigh’s family until his death on December 9, 1947. He was 76 years old and is buried in at Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery in Deuel County, South Dakota [6].

Children of Jesse Eugene Gordon and Jane “Jennie” D. Walford

1. Harry Benjamin (1896–1955) m. Fern Madeline Nelson (1899-1995). Children:

a. Shirley Jeanne (1922–1990)

b. Jack (1927–2002)

c. Alan Richard (1931–1986)

2. Jesse Eugene, Jr. (1898–1956) m. Alma Waba

3. Raleigh William (1901–1973) m. Lucy Altha Glidden Children:

a. Wayne Keith (1922–1991)

b. Raleigh (1925–2009)

c. Donald Leroy (1926–2003)

d. Beverly (1935–1995)

4. Hazel Jane (1903–1983) m. James Hendren (or Hendrew) Children:

a. Nellie Mae (1922–)

b. Vivian Gene (1924–2009)

c. June (1930–)

d. Sharyn (1940–)

NOTES

• There are two dates in the records for Jesse's arrival in South Dakota. He indicated on the 1915 South Dakota census that he arrived in 1879. This predates the arrival of his parents and the rest of his family which all agree on the date of 1883. On the 1925 South Dakota state census, Jesse's arrival is recorded as 1896. Whether he travelled with his parents or on his own may never be known, but his marriage to Jennie in October 1895 makes it likely that he lived at least during their courtship closer to her family in Fond du Lac County, WI, than to his parents almost 200 miles away in Deuel County, SD. There are no records of Edwin ever living in South Dakota.
  • Again, the date Jesse and Jennie actually moved to South Dakota is in question.
    • Raleigh's son, Rev. Raleigh, Jr. became a Baptist Minister and settled in Altoona, Iowa with his wife, Thora. He had in his possession many family photos and included them in a letter sent to Jackie and Virginia Gordon (Harry's son and wife). It is from this letter that we learn that they lived in a sod house from 1908-1912 and that Jennie's brother, Ben Walford, lived with them.

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census. Census Place: Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin; Roll: 1423; Page: 339D; Enumeration District: 021
2. ↑ Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940/i. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.Year: 1940; Census Place: Watertown, Codington, South Dakota; Roll: m-t0627-03852; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 15-24
3. ↑ Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Index, 1808-1907 [database on-line].
4. ↑ South Dakota, U.S., State Census, 1925 [database on-line]
5. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census. Year: 1880; Census Place: Metoman, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Roll: 1426; Page: 355D; Enumeration District: 051
6. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census. Enumeration District: 0129; Description: Altamount Township, Clear Lake Township, Clear Lake Town, Havanna Township
7. ↑ South Dakota, U.S., State Census, 1925 [database on-line]
8. ↑ United States of America, Bureau of the Census. iTwelfth Census of the United States, 1900/i. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854
9. ↑ Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: A1, 2110-C; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Surname Range: Gibbs, Willis Maxwell-Gosney, William C
10. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census. Census Place: Gary, Deuel, South Dakota; Roll: T624_1479; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0162; FHL microfilm: 1375492
11. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census. Year: 1910; Census Place: Barthold, Perkins, South Dakota; Roll: T624_1487; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0095; FHL microfilm: 1375500
12. ↑ Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.
13. ↑ Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.
14. ↑ U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015, Washington D.C., USA; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes
15. ↑ U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]
16. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census. Census Place: Havana, Deuel, South Dakota; Roll: T625_1717; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 128
17. ↑ interview with Carroll, Kathleen Gordon, descendant
18. ↑ South Dakota, U.S., Birth Index, 1856-1917. South Dakota Department of Health; Pierre, South Dakota; South Dakota, Birth Index, 1856-1918
19. ↑ interview with Carroll, Kathleen Gordon, descendant
20. ↑ Watertown, South Dakota, City Directory, 1916. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line].
21. ↑ Watertown, South Dakota, City Directory, 1916. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line].
22. ↑ Presbyterian Historical Society; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1907; Book Title: Session/Register 1902-1923; Accession Number: V Mi46 W319
23. ↑ U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939
24. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
25. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
26. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the fi
27. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
28. ↑ Watertown, South Dakota, City Directory, 1919. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]
29. ↑ South Dakota, U.S. Marriages, 1905-2017
30. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Census Place: Watertown, Codington, South Dakota; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 2341955
31. ↑ South Dakota, U.S., State Census, 1925 [database on-line]
32. ↑ Watertown, South Dakota, City Directory, 1926. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]
33. ↑ iFifteenth Census of the United States, 1930/i. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.Year: 1930; Census Place: Watertown, Codington, South Dakota; Page: 42B; Enumeration District: 0024; FHL microfilm: 234
34. ↑ Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940/i. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.Year: 1940; Census Place: Watertown, Codington, South Dakota; Roll: m-t0627-03852; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 15-24
35. ↑ United States of America, Bureau of the Census. iSixteenth Census of the United States, 1940/i. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. Year: 1940; Census Place: Watertown, Codington, South Dakota; Roll: m-
36. ↑ U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985
37. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for South Dakota, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 25
38. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L667-2NQ

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57353605/jesse-eugene-gordon