Biography of Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr.
Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr. was the sixth child of George Washington Wilson born 4 April 1879 in Newnansville, Alachua County, Florida, and Alice Jane Rawls Wilson born 2 December 1883 in Alachua, Alachua County Florida. Jesse was born 16 December 1914 in Alachua, Alachua County, Florida. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Alachua.
He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse north of their home at Perseverance School and Baptist Church, near Alachua, Florida. The Wilson children walked about two miles to school. The one-room schoolhouse provided an education for first through eighth grades and was taught by only one teacher. The 1945 Florida State census states that Jesse went to school through the eighth grade.
When he finished school he worked with his Dad on the home farm until he married one of the Clark Smith Baucum and Nettie Pogue Baucum daughters, Estelle Jeanette Baucum on 12 January 1935 at Trenton, Gilchrist County, Florida.
They made their home in a little cottage home on his grandfather, John Green Rawls home site just up the road from where he was born. Their first daughter, Barbara Jeanette Wilson was born there. He raised hogs and did some farming. After a few years they moved into the Rawls plantation home in the same area. Several children were born Shirley Mae Wilson, Jesse Gracy Wilson, Jr., and Mary Alice Wilson were born there.
After renting for about five years Jesse and Estelle decided it was time to purchase land and have a new home built. They purchased their land from Jesse L. Shaw on 13 May 1940.
He owned a 260 acre farm, and since all of the land was not farmable, they began clearing some of the land. He was an excellent farmer and provider well for his family. He was up at sunrise and quite often you could find him still in the fields when the sun went down. His crops included tobacco, corn, peanuts, cantaloupes, watermelons, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables. At times he rented other lands and planted sweet potatoes etc.
In the meantime several more children were born Margaret Louise, Laura Sue and Virginia Lee were born. We all attended school in Alachua. Estelle graduated from Alachua High as did most of the children. We all worked hard on the farm. In the Spring crops were planted and in the Summer they were harvested. Work never hurt anyone and was good for us.
In the fall of 1948 the beautiful farm home was destroyed by fire. The oil stove exploded in the kitchen, and since it was miles from a fire station the home burned completely down. They were able to save only a chair on the front porch. But, thankful nobody lost their life. Wow!! It was really hard on all of us. All the children were in school except Virginia. Estelle was concerned that Virginia was in the home, but she found her down with her Dad in the cane field. Family and friends helped during this difficult time with food, furniture, clothes and etc. A church in Gainesville came out Thanksgiving and brought a turkey and tons of food.
In a very short time a new home was built on the front part of the farm. Oak trees from the farm were cut and used in building the new home. There were beautiful oak floors throughout the home. The children enjoyed living closer to where the school bus picked them up. They no longer had to walk the mile they had to when they lived down on the back part of the farm.
Jesse continued to farm for many years until the small farmers' tobacco and peanut allotments were cut, severely reducing the income that could be made in those crops. Jesse had experience in butchering; since he and his brothers helped their dad slaughter hogs and make sausages. Therefore, it was only natural that he chose to become a butcher, and worked for Winn Dixie in Gainesville, Florida for many years. Since most of the children were gone Estelle went to work at Woolworth 5 and 10 in Gainesville. After many years they both managed a little store, Jesse the butcher and Estelle running the register.
A wonderful thing happened in our family! A family near our home invited us to come to church with them. At first just the kids went and rode in the back of the pick-up truck to church. Eventually all of the members of our family were saved at the Pine Grove Baptist church in Gainesville, Florida. The family friend that picked us up became a pastor.
Jesse had many hobbies. He enjoyed his hound dogs, fishing, hunting and even had a monkey for a short while. He, also, had a "de-skunked" pet skunk named "Punky." Wilson a meat cutter by trade, performed the "de'skunk" operation himself. It took him about twenty minutes. Jesse said a lot of people didn't think "Punky" would come through the "skunk" operation. He told them, "If he dies I'll say I'm just an intern. If he lives, I'll put in for my doctor's degree."
Jesse's life ended in a boating accident July 14, 1968 at the age of 53. Below are some articles about his death.
OBITUARY OF JESSE GRACY WILSON
MAN, DOG DROWN IN POND
BY JACK MORO
SUN STAFF WRITER
A 54-year-old rural Gainesville man drowned along with his pet hunting dog after his boat capsized early Sunday morning while he and a companion were fishing at Cubbert Pond between Archer and Bronson in Levy County.
The body of Jesse G. Wilson, a meat cutter and farmer who lived on Route 3, was recovered shortly after noon Sunday in about five feet of water some 200 feet from a boat landing at the pond.
Levy County Sheriff's deputy Dwight Bell said four boats were used in dragging the pond after the incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Members of the underwater unit from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office also took part in the search.
Deputy Bell said the 12 foot aluminum boat was found capsized about 100 yards from where Wilson's body was found. Wilson's hound dog was found in the water beneath the boat.
A native of Alachua, Mr. Wilson was a lifetime resident of Alachua County and was a member of the Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Estelle B. Wilson; a son, Jesse Wilson, Jr. of Hawaii; six daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause of Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, both of Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Alice Blok of Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Virginia Woods of Key West and Mrs. Margaret L. Roland of Hamilton, Bermuda; five brothers, Woodrow Wilson of High Springs, John N. Wilson of Baltimore, Md., Arthur J. Wilson of Miami, Aubrey Wilson of Alachua and Leroy N. (Ernest Leroy) of Opa-Locka; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, both of High Springs; and eight grandchildren.
The above was taken from the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida newspaper. Date unknown, however, it would have been after 14 July 1968, date of his death.
FUNERAL NOTICE OF JESSE WILSON
GAINESVILLE - Jesse Wilson, 53, died Sunday. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinegrove Baptist Church with burial in Newnansville Cemetery. Williams-Thomas Funeral Home is in charge. He is survived by the widow, Estelle; 6 daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Scott, Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Blok, Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda, Mrs. Laura Page, Gainesville, and Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West; a son, Jesse, Jr., Hawaii, 5 brothers, Woodrow, High Springs, John, Baltimore, Md., Arthur, Miami, Leroy, Opa-locka, and Aubrey, Alachua; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, High Springs.
Do not know the date this article appeared or the newspaper, but it is assumed the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida.
JESSE WILSON DROWNS IN LEVY COUNTY POND
Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon for Jesse Wilson, 53, of Route 3, Gainesville, who was drowned early Sunday morning in a pond near Archer.
He was a brother of Mrs. Hamp Clark, Mrs. Ormond Barber and Woodrow Wilson of High Springs and Aubrey Wilson of Alachua. There are three other brother, Leroy and Arthur of Miami and John of Baltimore.
Mr. Wilson and his brother-in-law, Dewel Balcom (Dewey Baucum), had been cat fishing and had taken the Wilson coon dog with them. Their boat overturned in the pond; Mr. Balcom (Baucum) was able to reach the shore but Mr. Wilson failed to make it. His body was found about noon Sunday. When the body of the dog was found it was tangled in catlines.
The service were held in Pine Grove Baptist Church and interment was in Newnansville cemetery, under direction of Williams-Thomas Funeral home.
Survivors are his wife Estelle and seven children, a son, Jesse, Jr. in Hawaii, and six daughters, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, Gainesville; Mrs. Mary Alice Blok, Panama City, Panama; Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West and Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda; and eight grandchildren.
The above article was taken from the High Springs Herald, High Springs, Florida. Date unknown, however it would have been after 14 July 1968 date of Jesse's death.
MAN DROWNS IN LEVY POND
By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE - A 53-year-old man drowned Sunday in a pond about 20 miles west of here in Levy County, the Alachua County sheriff's office reported.
The man, Jesse Gracey (Gracy) Wilson of Rt. 3, Gainesville, was fishing in Cubberly Pond near Bronson when the boat overturned about 3:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Shellie Downs, who investigated the accident with Chief Deputy Pete Smith of the Levy County sheriff's office.
The accident was reported about 5:45 a.m. by Wilson's wife. The body was recovered from the pond, about 12:50 p.m., Downs said.
The date this article appeared is unknown also, the newspaper, but it is assumed to be the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida. Date would have been after 14 July 1968 since this is the date Jesse died.
Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr. was the sixth child of George Washington Wilson born 4 April 1879 in Newnansville, Alachua County, Florida, and Alice Jane Rawls Wilson born 2 December 1883 in Alachua, Alachua County Florida. Jesse was born 16 December 1914 in Alachua, Alachua County, Florida. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Alachua.
He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse north of their home at Perseverance School and Baptist Church, near Alachua, Florida. The Wilson children walked about two miles to school. The one-room schoolhouse provided an education for first through eighth grades and was taught by only one teacher. The 1945 Florida State census states that Jesse went to school through the eighth grade.
When he finished school he worked with his Dad on the home farm until he married one of the Clark Smith Baucum and Nettie Pogue Baucum daughters, Estelle Jeanette Baucum on 12 January 1935 at Trenton, Gilchrist County, Florida.
They made their home in a little cottage home on his grandfather, John Green Rawls home site just up the road from where he was born. Their first daughter, Barbara Jeanette Wilson was born there. He raised hogs and did some farming. After a few years they moved into the Rawls plantation home in the same area. Several children were born Shirley Mae Wilson, Jesse Gracy Wilson, Jr., and Mary Alice Wilson were born there.
After renting for about five years Jesse and Estelle decided it was time to purchase land and have a new home built. They purchased their land from Jesse L. Shaw on 13 May 1940.
He owned a 260 acre farm, and since all of the land was not farmable, they began clearing some of the land. He was an excellent farmer and provider well for his family. He was up at sunrise and quite often you could find him still in the fields when the sun went down. His crops included tobacco, corn, peanuts, cantaloupes, watermelons, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables. At times he rented other lands and planted sweet potatoes etc.
In the meantime several more children were born Margaret Louise, Laura Sue and Virginia Lee were born. We all attended school in Alachua. Estelle graduated from Alachua High as did most of the children. We all worked hard on the farm. In the Spring crops were planted and in the Summer they were harvested. Work never hurt anyone and was good for us.
In the fall of 1948 the beautiful farm home was destroyed by fire. The oil stove exploded in the kitchen, and since it was miles from a fire station the home burned completely down. They were able to save only a chair on the front porch. But, thankful nobody lost their life. Wow!! It was really hard on all of us. All the children were in school except Virginia. Estelle was concerned that Virginia was in the home, but she found her down with her Dad in the cane field. Family and friends helped during this difficult time with food, furniture, clothes and etc. A church in Gainesville came out Thanksgiving and brought a turkey and tons of food.
In a very short time a new home was built on the front part of the farm. Oak trees from the farm were cut and used in building the new home. There were beautiful oak floors throughout the home. The children enjoyed living closer to where the school bus picked them up. They no longer had to walk the mile they had to when they lived down on the back part of the farm.
Jesse continued to farm for many years until the small farmers' tobacco and peanut allotments were cut, severely reducing the income that could be made in those crops. Jesse had experience in butchering; since he and his brothers helped their dad slaughter hogs and make sausages. Therefore, it was only natural that he chose to become a butcher, and worked for Winn Dixie in Gainesville, Florida for many years. Since most of the children were gone Estelle went to work at Woolworth 5 and 10 in Gainesville. After many years they both managed a little store, Jesse the butcher and Estelle running the register.
A wonderful thing happened in our family! A family near our home invited us to come to church with them. At first just the kids went and rode in the back of the pick-up truck to church. Eventually all of the members of our family were saved at the Pine Grove Baptist church in Gainesville, Florida. The family friend that picked us up became a pastor.
Jesse had many hobbies. He enjoyed his hound dogs, fishing, hunting and even had a monkey for a short while. He, also, had a "de-skunked" pet skunk named "Punky." Wilson a meat cutter by trade, performed the "de'skunk" operation himself. It took him about twenty minutes. Jesse said a lot of people didn't think "Punky" would come through the "skunk" operation. He told them, "If he dies I'll say I'm just an intern. If he lives, I'll put in for my doctor's degree."
Jesse's life ended in a boating accident July 14, 1968 at the age of 53. Below are some articles about his death.
OBITUARY OF JESSE GRACY WILSON
MAN, DOG DROWN IN POND
BY JACK MORO
SUN STAFF WRITER
A 54-year-old rural Gainesville man drowned along with his pet hunting dog after his boat capsized early Sunday morning while he and a companion were fishing at Cubbert Pond between Archer and Bronson in Levy County.
The body of Jesse G. Wilson, a meat cutter and farmer who lived on Route 3, was recovered shortly after noon Sunday in about five feet of water some 200 feet from a boat landing at the pond.
Levy County Sheriff's deputy Dwight Bell said four boats were used in dragging the pond after the incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Members of the underwater unit from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office also took part in the search.
Deputy Bell said the 12 foot aluminum boat was found capsized about 100 yards from where Wilson's body was found. Wilson's hound dog was found in the water beneath the boat.
A native of Alachua, Mr. Wilson was a lifetime resident of Alachua County and was a member of the Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Estelle B. Wilson; a son, Jesse Wilson, Jr. of Hawaii; six daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause of Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, both of Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Alice Blok of Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Virginia Woods of Key West and Mrs. Margaret L. Roland of Hamilton, Bermuda; five brothers, Woodrow Wilson of High Springs, John N. Wilson of Baltimore, Md., Arthur J. Wilson of Miami, Aubrey Wilson of Alachua and Leroy N. (Ernest Leroy) of Opa-Locka; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, both of High Springs; and eight grandchildren.
The above was taken from the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida newspaper. Date unknown, however, it would have been after 14 July 1968, date of his death.
FUNERAL NOTICE OF JESSE WILSON
GAINESVILLE - Jesse Wilson, 53, died Sunday. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinegrove Baptist Church with burial in Newnansville Cemetery. Williams-Thomas Funeral Home is in charge. He is survived by the widow, Estelle; 6 daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Scott, Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Blok, Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda, Mrs. Laura Page, Gainesville, and Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West; a son, Jesse, Jr., Hawaii, 5 brothers, Woodrow, High Springs, John, Baltimore, Md., Arthur, Miami, Leroy, Opa-locka, and Aubrey, Alachua; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, High Springs.
Do not know the date this article appeared or the newspaper, but it is assumed the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida.
JESSE WILSON DROWNS IN LEVY COUNTY POND
Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon for Jesse Wilson, 53, of Route 3, Gainesville, who was drowned early Sunday morning in a pond near Archer.
He was a brother of Mrs. Hamp Clark, Mrs. Ormond Barber and Woodrow Wilson of High Springs and Aubrey Wilson of Alachua. There are three other brother, Leroy and Arthur of Miami and John of Baltimore.
Mr. Wilson and his brother-in-law, Dewel Balcom (Dewey Baucum), had been cat fishing and had taken the Wilson coon dog with them. Their boat overturned in the pond; Mr. Balcom (Baucum) was able to reach the shore but Mr. Wilson failed to make it. His body was found about noon Sunday. When the body of the dog was found it was tangled in catlines.
The service were held in Pine Grove Baptist Church and interment was in Newnansville cemetery, under direction of Williams-Thomas Funeral home.
Survivors are his wife Estelle and seven children, a son, Jesse, Jr. in Hawaii, and six daughters, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, Gainesville; Mrs. Mary Alice Blok, Panama City, Panama; Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West and Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda; and eight grandchildren.
The above article was taken from the High Springs Herald, High Springs, Florida. Date unknown, however it would have been after 14 July 1968 date of Jesse's death.
MAN DROWNS IN LEVY POND
By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE - A 53-year-old man drowned Sunday in a pond about 20 miles west of here in Levy County, the Alachua County sheriff's office reported.
The man, Jesse Gracey (Gracy) Wilson of Rt. 3, Gainesville, was fishing in Cubberly Pond near Bronson when the boat overturned about 3:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Shellie Downs, who investigated the accident with Chief Deputy Pete Smith of the Levy County sheriff's office.
The accident was reported about 5:45 a.m. by Wilson's wife. The body was recovered from the pond, about 12:50 p.m., Downs said.
The date this article appeared is unknown also, the newspaper, but it is assumed to be the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida. Date would have been after 14 July 1968 since this is the date Jesse died.
Biography of Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr.
Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr. was the sixth child of George Washington Wilson born 4 April 1879 in Newnansville, Alachua County, Florida, and Alice Jane Rawls Wilson born 2 December 1883 in Alachua, Alachua County Florida. Jesse was born 16 December 1914 in Alachua, Alachua County, Florida. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Alachua.
He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse north of their home at Perseverance School and Baptist Church, near Alachua, Florida. The Wilson children walked about two miles to school. The one-room schoolhouse provided an education for first through eighth grades and was taught by only one teacher. The 1945 Florida State census states that Jesse went to school through the eighth grade.
When he finished school he worked with his Dad on the home farm until he married one of the Clark Smith Baucum and Nettie Pogue Baucum daughters, Estelle Jeanette Baucum on 12 January 1935 at Trenton, Gilchrist County, Florida.
They made their home in a little cottage home on his grandfather, John Green Rawls home site just up the road from where he was born. Their first daughter, Barbara Jeanette Wilson was born there. He raised hogs and did some farming. After a few years they moved into the Rawls plantation home in the same area. Several children were born Shirley Mae Wilson, Jesse Gracy Wilson, Jr., and Mary Alice Wilson were born there.
After renting for about five years Jesse and Estelle decided it was time to purchase land and have a new home built. They purchased their land from Jesse L. Shaw on 13 May 1940.
He owned a 260 acre farm, and since all of the land was not farmable, they began clearing some of the land. He was an excellent farmer and provider well for his family. He was up at sunrise and quite often you could find him still in the fields when the sun went down. His crops included tobacco, corn, peanuts, cantaloupes, watermelons, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables. At times he rented other lands and planted sweet potatoes etc.
In the meantime several more children were born Margaret Louise, Laura Sue and Virginia Lee were born. We all attended school in Alachua. Estelle graduated from Alachua High as did most of the children. We all worked hard on the farm. In the Spring crops were planted and in the Summer they were harvested. Work never hurt anyone and was good for us.
In the fall of 1948 the beautiful farm home was destroyed by fire. The oil stove exploded in the kitchen, and since it was miles from a fire station the home burned completely down. They were able to save only a chair on the front porch. But, thankful nobody lost their life. Wow!! It was really hard on all of us. All the children were in school except Virginia. Estelle was concerned that Virginia was in the home, but she found her down with her Dad in the cane field. Family and friends helped during this difficult time with food, furniture, clothes and etc. A church in Gainesville came out Thanksgiving and brought a turkey and tons of food.
In a very short time a new home was built on the front part of the farm. Oak trees from the farm were cut and used in building the new home. There were beautiful oak floors throughout the home. The children enjoyed living closer to where the school bus picked them up. They no longer had to walk the mile they had to when they lived down on the back part of the farm.
Jesse continued to farm for many years until the small farmers' tobacco and peanut allotments were cut, severely reducing the income that could be made in those crops. Jesse had experience in butchering; since he and his brothers helped their dad slaughter hogs and make sausages. Therefore, it was only natural that he chose to become a butcher, and worked for Winn Dixie in Gainesville, Florida for many years. Since most of the children were gone Estelle went to work at Woolworth 5 and 10 in Gainesville. After many years they both managed a little store, Jesse the butcher and Estelle running the register.
A wonderful thing happened in our family! A family near our home invited us to come to church with them. At first just the kids went and rode in the back of the pick-up truck to church. Eventually all of the members of our family were saved at the Pine Grove Baptist church in Gainesville, Florida. The family friend that picked us up became a pastor.
Jesse had many hobbies. He enjoyed his hound dogs, fishing, hunting and even had a monkey for a short while. He, also, had a "de-skunked" pet skunk named "Punky." Wilson a meat cutter by trade, performed the "de'skunk" operation himself. It took him about twenty minutes. Jesse said a lot of people didn't think "Punky" would come through the "skunk" operation. He told them, "If he dies I'll say I'm just an intern. If he lives, I'll put in for my doctor's degree."
Jesse's life ended in a boating accident July 14, 1968 at the age of 53. Below are some articles about his death.
OBITUARY OF JESSE GRACY WILSON
MAN, DOG DROWN IN POND
BY JACK MORO
SUN STAFF WRITER
A 54-year-old rural Gainesville man drowned along with his pet hunting dog after his boat capsized early Sunday morning while he and a companion were fishing at Cubbert Pond between Archer and Bronson in Levy County.
The body of Jesse G. Wilson, a meat cutter and farmer who lived on Route 3, was recovered shortly after noon Sunday in about five feet of water some 200 feet from a boat landing at the pond.
Levy County Sheriff's deputy Dwight Bell said four boats were used in dragging the pond after the incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Members of the underwater unit from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office also took part in the search.
Deputy Bell said the 12 foot aluminum boat was found capsized about 100 yards from where Wilson's body was found. Wilson's hound dog was found in the water beneath the boat.
A native of Alachua, Mr. Wilson was a lifetime resident of Alachua County and was a member of the Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Estelle B. Wilson; a son, Jesse Wilson, Jr. of Hawaii; six daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause of Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, both of Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Alice Blok of Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Virginia Woods of Key West and Mrs. Margaret L. Roland of Hamilton, Bermuda; five brothers, Woodrow Wilson of High Springs, John N. Wilson of Baltimore, Md., Arthur J. Wilson of Miami, Aubrey Wilson of Alachua and Leroy N. (Ernest Leroy) of Opa-Locka; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, both of High Springs; and eight grandchildren.
The above was taken from the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida newspaper. Date unknown, however, it would have been after 14 July 1968, date of his death.
FUNERAL NOTICE OF JESSE WILSON
GAINESVILLE - Jesse Wilson, 53, died Sunday. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinegrove Baptist Church with burial in Newnansville Cemetery. Williams-Thomas Funeral Home is in charge. He is survived by the widow, Estelle; 6 daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Scott, Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Blok, Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda, Mrs. Laura Page, Gainesville, and Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West; a son, Jesse, Jr., Hawaii, 5 brothers, Woodrow, High Springs, John, Baltimore, Md., Arthur, Miami, Leroy, Opa-locka, and Aubrey, Alachua; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, High Springs.
Do not know the date this article appeared or the newspaper, but it is assumed the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida.
JESSE WILSON DROWNS IN LEVY COUNTY POND
Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon for Jesse Wilson, 53, of Route 3, Gainesville, who was drowned early Sunday morning in a pond near Archer.
He was a brother of Mrs. Hamp Clark, Mrs. Ormond Barber and Woodrow Wilson of High Springs and Aubrey Wilson of Alachua. There are three other brother, Leroy and Arthur of Miami and John of Baltimore.
Mr. Wilson and his brother-in-law, Dewel Balcom (Dewey Baucum), had been cat fishing and had taken the Wilson coon dog with them. Their boat overturned in the pond; Mr. Balcom (Baucum) was able to reach the shore but Mr. Wilson failed to make it. His body was found about noon Sunday. When the body of the dog was found it was tangled in catlines.
The service were held in Pine Grove Baptist Church and interment was in Newnansville cemetery, under direction of Williams-Thomas Funeral home.
Survivors are his wife Estelle and seven children, a son, Jesse, Jr. in Hawaii, and six daughters, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, Gainesville; Mrs. Mary Alice Blok, Panama City, Panama; Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West and Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda; and eight grandchildren.
The above article was taken from the High Springs Herald, High Springs, Florida. Date unknown, however it would have been after 14 July 1968 date of Jesse's death.
MAN DROWNS IN LEVY POND
By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE - A 53-year-old man drowned Sunday in a pond about 20 miles west of here in Levy County, the Alachua County sheriff's office reported.
The man, Jesse Gracey (Gracy) Wilson of Rt. 3, Gainesville, was fishing in Cubberly Pond near Bronson when the boat overturned about 3:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Shellie Downs, who investigated the accident with Chief Deputy Pete Smith of the Levy County sheriff's office.
The accident was reported about 5:45 a.m. by Wilson's wife. The body was recovered from the pond, about 12:50 p.m., Downs said.
The date this article appeared is unknown also, the newspaper, but it is assumed to be the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida. Date would have been after 14 July 1968 since this is the date Jesse died.
Jesse Gracy Wilson, Sr. was the sixth child of George Washington Wilson born 4 April 1879 in Newnansville, Alachua County, Florida, and Alice Jane Rawls Wilson born 2 December 1883 in Alachua, Alachua County Florida. Jesse was born 16 December 1914 in Alachua, Alachua County, Florida. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Alachua.
He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse north of their home at Perseverance School and Baptist Church, near Alachua, Florida. The Wilson children walked about two miles to school. The one-room schoolhouse provided an education for first through eighth grades and was taught by only one teacher. The 1945 Florida State census states that Jesse went to school through the eighth grade.
When he finished school he worked with his Dad on the home farm until he married one of the Clark Smith Baucum and Nettie Pogue Baucum daughters, Estelle Jeanette Baucum on 12 January 1935 at Trenton, Gilchrist County, Florida.
They made their home in a little cottage home on his grandfather, John Green Rawls home site just up the road from where he was born. Their first daughter, Barbara Jeanette Wilson was born there. He raised hogs and did some farming. After a few years they moved into the Rawls plantation home in the same area. Several children were born Shirley Mae Wilson, Jesse Gracy Wilson, Jr., and Mary Alice Wilson were born there.
After renting for about five years Jesse and Estelle decided it was time to purchase land and have a new home built. They purchased their land from Jesse L. Shaw on 13 May 1940.
He owned a 260 acre farm, and since all of the land was not farmable, they began clearing some of the land. He was an excellent farmer and provider well for his family. He was up at sunrise and quite often you could find him still in the fields when the sun went down. His crops included tobacco, corn, peanuts, cantaloupes, watermelons, sugar cane and a variety of vegetables. At times he rented other lands and planted sweet potatoes etc.
In the meantime several more children were born Margaret Louise, Laura Sue and Virginia Lee were born. We all attended school in Alachua. Estelle graduated from Alachua High as did most of the children. We all worked hard on the farm. In the Spring crops were planted and in the Summer they were harvested. Work never hurt anyone and was good for us.
In the fall of 1948 the beautiful farm home was destroyed by fire. The oil stove exploded in the kitchen, and since it was miles from a fire station the home burned completely down. They were able to save only a chair on the front porch. But, thankful nobody lost their life. Wow!! It was really hard on all of us. All the children were in school except Virginia. Estelle was concerned that Virginia was in the home, but she found her down with her Dad in the cane field. Family and friends helped during this difficult time with food, furniture, clothes and etc. A church in Gainesville came out Thanksgiving and brought a turkey and tons of food.
In a very short time a new home was built on the front part of the farm. Oak trees from the farm were cut and used in building the new home. There were beautiful oak floors throughout the home. The children enjoyed living closer to where the school bus picked them up. They no longer had to walk the mile they had to when they lived down on the back part of the farm.
Jesse continued to farm for many years until the small farmers' tobacco and peanut allotments were cut, severely reducing the income that could be made in those crops. Jesse had experience in butchering; since he and his brothers helped their dad slaughter hogs and make sausages. Therefore, it was only natural that he chose to become a butcher, and worked for Winn Dixie in Gainesville, Florida for many years. Since most of the children were gone Estelle went to work at Woolworth 5 and 10 in Gainesville. After many years they both managed a little store, Jesse the butcher and Estelle running the register.
A wonderful thing happened in our family! A family near our home invited us to come to church with them. At first just the kids went and rode in the back of the pick-up truck to church. Eventually all of the members of our family were saved at the Pine Grove Baptist church in Gainesville, Florida. The family friend that picked us up became a pastor.
Jesse had many hobbies. He enjoyed his hound dogs, fishing, hunting and even had a monkey for a short while. He, also, had a "de-skunked" pet skunk named "Punky." Wilson a meat cutter by trade, performed the "de'skunk" operation himself. It took him about twenty minutes. Jesse said a lot of people didn't think "Punky" would come through the "skunk" operation. He told them, "If he dies I'll say I'm just an intern. If he lives, I'll put in for my doctor's degree."
Jesse's life ended in a boating accident July 14, 1968 at the age of 53. Below are some articles about his death.
OBITUARY OF JESSE GRACY WILSON
MAN, DOG DROWN IN POND
BY JACK MORO
SUN STAFF WRITER
A 54-year-old rural Gainesville man drowned along with his pet hunting dog after his boat capsized early Sunday morning while he and a companion were fishing at Cubbert Pond between Archer and Bronson in Levy County.
The body of Jesse G. Wilson, a meat cutter and farmer who lived on Route 3, was recovered shortly after noon Sunday in about five feet of water some 200 feet from a boat landing at the pond.
Levy County Sheriff's deputy Dwight Bell said four boats were used in dragging the pond after the incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Members of the underwater unit from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office also took part in the search.
Deputy Bell said the 12 foot aluminum boat was found capsized about 100 yards from where Wilson's body was found. Wilson's hound dog was found in the water beneath the boat.
A native of Alachua, Mr. Wilson was a lifetime resident of Alachua County and was a member of the Pine Grove Baptist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Estelle B. Wilson; a son, Jesse Wilson, Jr. of Hawaii; six daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause of Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, both of Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Alice Blok of Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Virginia Woods of Key West and Mrs. Margaret L. Roland of Hamilton, Bermuda; five brothers, Woodrow Wilson of High Springs, John N. Wilson of Baltimore, Md., Arthur J. Wilson of Miami, Aubrey Wilson of Alachua and Leroy N. (Ernest Leroy) of Opa-Locka; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, both of High Springs; and eight grandchildren.
The above was taken from the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida newspaper. Date unknown, however, it would have been after 14 July 1968, date of his death.
FUNERAL NOTICE OF JESSE WILSON
GAINESVILLE - Jesse Wilson, 53, died Sunday. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinegrove Baptist Church with burial in Newnansville Cemetery. Williams-Thomas Funeral Home is in charge. He is survived by the widow, Estelle; 6 daughter, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Scott, Gainesville, Mrs. Mary Blok, Panama City, Panama, Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda, Mrs. Laura Page, Gainesville, and Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West; a son, Jesse, Jr., Hawaii, 5 brothers, Woodrow, High Springs, John, Baltimore, Md., Arthur, Miami, Leroy, Opa-locka, and Aubrey, Alachua; 2 sisters, Mrs. Lula Clark and Mrs. Laura Barber, High Springs.
Do not know the date this article appeared or the newspaper, but it is assumed the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida.
JESSE WILSON DROWNS IN LEVY COUNTY POND
Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon for Jesse Wilson, 53, of Route 3, Gainesville, who was drowned early Sunday morning in a pond near Archer.
He was a brother of Mrs. Hamp Clark, Mrs. Ormond Barber and Woodrow Wilson of High Springs and Aubrey Wilson of Alachua. There are three other brother, Leroy and Arthur of Miami and John of Baltimore.
Mr. Wilson and his brother-in-law, Dewel Balcom (Dewey Baucum), had been cat fishing and had taken the Wilson coon dog with them. Their boat overturned in the pond; Mr. Balcom (Baucum) was able to reach the shore but Mr. Wilson failed to make it. His body was found about noon Sunday. When the body of the dog was found it was tangled in catlines.
The service were held in Pine Grove Baptist Church and interment was in Newnansville cemetery, under direction of Williams-Thomas Funeral home.
Survivors are his wife Estelle and seven children, a son, Jesse, Jr. in Hawaii, and six daughters, Mrs. Barbara Krause, Melbourne, Mrs. Shirley Mae Scott and Mrs. Laura Sue Page, Gainesville; Mrs. Mary Alice Blok, Panama City, Panama; Mrs. Virginia Woods, Key West and Mrs. Margaret Roland, Hamilton, Bermuda; and eight grandchildren.
The above article was taken from the High Springs Herald, High Springs, Florida. Date unknown, however it would have been after 14 July 1968 date of Jesse's death.
MAN DROWNS IN LEVY POND
By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE - A 53-year-old man drowned Sunday in a pond about 20 miles west of here in Levy County, the Alachua County sheriff's office reported.
The man, Jesse Gracey (Gracy) Wilson of Rt. 3, Gainesville, was fishing in Cubberly Pond near Bronson when the boat overturned about 3:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Shellie Downs, who investigated the accident with Chief Deputy Pete Smith of the Levy County sheriff's office.
The accident was reported about 5:45 a.m. by Wilson's wife. The body was recovered from the pond, about 12:50 p.m., Downs said.
The date this article appeared is unknown also, the newspaper, but it is assumed to be the Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Florida. Date would have been after 14 July 1968 since this is the date Jesse died.
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