Jesse Franklin Washburn

WASHBURN JENNINGS MCKNIGHT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 22:28:43

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Jesse Franklin Washburn
By Loraine E Washburn

Jesse Franklin ‘Jess’ Washburn was born 16 January 1888, at the Jennings Hotel, at Hornick, Woodbury County, Iowa, the fourth child of George Lewellyn Washburn and Laura E Jennings. He grew up in Woodbury and Plymouth Counties in Iowa and Charles Mix County, South Dakota. He was married 31 October 1917 in Sioux City to Elsie McKnight, whom he had met while both were employed by his sister and her husband, James and Lillie Johndreau. For about two years he was employed on the Floyd Steinhauer farm near Climbing Hill, but in March 1919 the couple began farming for themselves on the Brink place, also near Climbing Hill.

In 1923 they farmed the Parkhill place for one year, and from there they moved to the John Burger place for one year. After this they lived on the Mendel Sluyter place for one year. They then moved to the Charlie Sluyter place, where they lived for several years. In around 1928 they moved to Hancock Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, where they farmed for about three years, after which they again rented the Parkhill place near Climbing Hill. In 1944 they bought a 160 acre farm in Grant Township about seven miles west of Anthon, where they continued to farm until ill health forced Jess to retire in 1953. At that time they purchased a home at 2312 South Oleander Street, Sioux City. Here Jesse died of bone cancer on 3 September 1953.

Jess was a carpenter and did masonry work in addition to farming. He was a member of the Order of Masons.

Elsie McKnight was born 11 March 1895 at Luton, Woodbury County, the daughter of Charles McKnight and Luella Shepheard. Her grandparents were William Henry Shepheard and Angeline Metcalf. Her great grandparents were Mendall Metcalf and Rachel Munks, who settled in Woodbury County in 1854 or 1855. Elsie worked as a baby sitter, household help, and as a kitchen aid in a hospital and later a nursing home in Sioux City after the death of her husband, retiring in about 1960. In retirement she found time to travel a little. She loved to read, and was especially fond of poetry. She also loved to crochet. She became a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Lawton, Iowa in 1966. She passed away in Sioux City on 13 January 1973. She and Jess are buried there in Memorial Park.

Jess and Elsie were parents of seven children and have many descendants in Woodbury County. Their children are Eva May, 1918; Alta Luella, 1921; Bernard R, 1923; Marian Lavonne, 1925; Wilma Irene, 1927; Jess Richard, 1929; and Lowell Wayne, 1932.