Jesse Wilson was born on March 27, 1842 in Gibson County Indiana to James and Eliza Wilson. He was one of six Wilson children. Jesse’s siblings were Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Reuben, Eliza, and Eli. Jesse grew up on the Wilson farm surrounded by a large extended family of Wilsons, Knowles (his grandmother Comfort Wilson’s family), and Emmersons (his mother Eliza’s family).

Jesse was actively involved in the family farming business in Gibson County Indiana for the first 20 years of his life. On May 16, 1862 his father James notes in his daily diary that “Jesse left today to work for himself.” It was only three months later that James made an entry in his diary on August 27, 1862 writing that “A company of volunteers left Cynthiana today for camp at Princeton. My son Jesse is in the company.” Jesse had joined the Union Army to fight in the “great rebellion” or as we know it today the Civil War. Jesse was in the 80th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers. James makes notes of Jesse’s activities in the war over the next three years until Jesse returns home from the war on July 9, 1865. James noted on October 8, 1862 that the 80th participated in the Battle at Perryville. On November 6, 1863 James noted that they had heard a rumor that the 80th had been badly cut up. And on May 26, 1864 James writes that we have just received the particulars of the 80th Indiana Volunteers involvement in the battle of Resaka Georgia on the 14th of the month.

On his return from the war in the summer of 1865 Jesse settled back into the family farming business. On October 28, 1866 Jesse married Mary Adeline Allison. Jesse and Adeline had five children while living in Indiana. They were Wesley, Jane although she dies a month later, Mary, Jerome, Walter and James Emmerson. Several years later after moving to Kansas Iva May and John Logan were born into the family.

On May 14, 1878 James Wilson deeded over his Indiana farm to his son Jesse. Sometime after this date Jesse moved to Kansas. James writes on April 17, 1881 that he had received a letter from Jesse in Kansas saying that he had sold out and was moving to Siloam Springs Arkansas. On August 6, 1881 James notes another letter from Jesse stating that he was living out doors in a tent in Siloam Springs. James also writes on this day that he would like to hear of Jesse locating himself in some good place and then follow some honorable and profitable business. Only a few months later James notes in his diary on November 20, 1881 that he had received another letter from Jesse saying that he was in Kansas and stating that he was in trouble. James wrote in his diary “I am sorry to hear it.” Apparently Jesse had moved back to Kansas and at some point things turned around for him as he had purchased two 40 acre parcels of land just outside of Elk City, Kansas where he settled his family living off the produce of the land and selling enough to supply his family with the necessities of life.

Jesse died on June 24, 1930 having been proceeded in death by Mary Adeline on January 27, 1926. Several of Jesse and Mary Adeline’s children continued living in the Elk City, Kansas area. Jesse and Mary Adeline are buried in the Elk City cemetery.