Charles Elsworth Jessup

BRINSON, DEBORD, EVANS, HARRELL, JESSUP, OWENS, WRIGHT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/15/2004 at 10:58:42

C. E. Jessup, a representative of one of the pioneer families of this county, is farming in Lincoln township. His birth occurred in that township on the 18th of April, 1862, and his parents were Isaac and Melinda (Brinson) Jessup, both natives of Indiana. The father was born in Switzerland county on the 10th of May, 1824, and the mother's natal day was the 1st of January, 1824. They were married in the Hoosier state and in 1847 removed to Linn county, Iowa, but the following year came to Madison county and settled in Lincoln township, where Mr. Jessup entered forty acres of land from the government, paying the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He entered several other tracts, which he subsequently sold. He was a cooper by trade and as his sons grew up he left most of the work of the farm to them, as he preferred to follow his trade. He was probably the first cooper in the county and was an expert workman. At a certain time of the year he gathered hickory poles, which he used for hoops and which lasted him for about a year. He also split white oak staves and put them where they would dry, thus becoming suitable for use. The cooper's adz which he used has been presented by his son to the Madison County Historical Society. He also had a sorghum mill on his farm, which at first had wooden rollers, although he later installed cast rollers. He was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at Winterset in Company F, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on the 15th of July, 1862, and on the 28th of that month was transferred to the Invalid Corps. When he first came to this county there were but very few settlers, conditions were most primitive and prices for both labor and commodities were low. He found work at splitting rails at twenty-five cents a hundred, but on the other hand he bought meat at ten cents a pound. For eighteen months he carried corn on his back to the Buffalo mills, where it was ground, and then carried the meal home, where it was converted into breadstuff for the family. In that day wheat bread was almost an unknown luxury. Mr. Jessup was much interested in the establishment of good schools and gave the land where the Washington school was located. He passed away on the i4th of March, 1902, and was survived for several years by his widow, who died on the 28th of June, 1907. To them were born eight children, namely: Harvey, who lives in Oklahoma; Joseph Marshall, who passed away in Wisconsin; Mary Elizabeth, who died in infancy; John Milton, who died when a child of two years; Daniel H., a resident of this county; William O., who is farming in Lincoln township; George T., a farmer of Adair county; and C. E., of this review.

The last named was reared in Lincoln township and received but limited schooling. When twenty-three years of age he married and began farming on his own account. He has continued to follow agricultural pursuits and is cultivating an excellent farm comprising eighty-nine and three-fourths acres of fertile land on section 7, Scott township, and on sections 12 and 13, Lincoln township. He does general farming and his land yields him an income that is sufficient for his needs.

Mr. Jessup married Miss Ora L. Owens, who was born in Jackson county, Indiana, on the 20th of August, 1870, a daughter of James and Mary E. (Harrell) Owens, natives of Indiana, who in 1872 removed to this county. The father has passed away, but the mother survives. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup are the parents of seven children: Bessie, who became the wife of C. W. Wright and died suddenly at her home in California; Bertha, the wife of John Evans, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Pearl, now Mrs. Walter De Bord, of Winterset; Hazell Etta, who gave her hand in marriage to Chester Evans, of this county; and Opal E., Alvin and Meta, all at home.

Mr. Jessup is a republican in his political views and is loyal in his support of his party. He has in his possession various interesting relics of pioneer days, including a bedspread woven by his mother more than sixty years ago. Since 1848 the name of Jessup has been well known in this county and as all who have borne it have been men and women of fine character it is held in high esteem.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”