Champaign County IL Archives Biographies.....Jessee Family 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Celia Snyder cgsnyder@uiuc.edu September 1999

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, ILLINOIS - JESSEE BIOGRAPHIES

From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill.," Chapman
Barothers, Chicago, 1887, pp. 311-312.  Submitted by Celia G. Snyder

JOHN TIVIS JESSEE.  This gentleman, who is a resident of Crittenden
Township, is a native of Russell County, Va., where he first opened his
eyes to the light on the 7th of August, 1836.  His parents, Joseph and
Cynthia (Smith) Jessee, were natives of the same county and State as their
son, where they resided after their marriage on a farm until the death of
the father when he was fifty-two years of age.  The mother is still living
in her native county, having now arrived at the advanced age of
eighty-three years, and enjoys remarkably good health for one of her age.
Her mental facilities likewise are wonderfully preserved.  Since her
eightieth birthday she has frequently saddled a horse and ridden over the
country, leaping over the fences as when a girl.  The household circle was
completed by the birth of eight children, who grew to man and womanhood.
Of these, Tabitha is now deceased; Timothy was a soldier in Co. A, 29th Va.
Vol. Inf., C. S. A., and in a skirmish near Richmond received a wound which
caused his death; Mary became the wife of D. Gilmore, Ephraim K. was the
second son; Silvesta married Mr. John Percel; Eliza is the wife of John
Browning; Eunice married A. Smith; John T. is our subject.

The subject of our sketch was reared with his brothers and sisters on the
homestead, and after the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861, became a
soldier in the Southern army, enlisting in Co. A., 29th Va. Vol. Inf., in
which he served until the surrender of Gen. Lee.  He participated in the
engagements at Cold Harbor, Corinth, Culpeper court-house and Suffolk, Va.
Two days before the surrender of Lee, he received a gunshot wound in the
right foot which disabled him so that he was compelled to use crutches for
three years afterward.  After receiving his discharge he returned to his
home in the Old Dominion, where he remained until 1869, and then came to
Illinois, locating upon the tract of land in Crittenden Township, which
constitutes his present homestead.  Here he has 120 acres lying on section
4, under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with all the buildings
and other appliances essential to a modern farm estate.

Before coming to this county Mr. Jessee was married, in the spring of 1869,
in Russell County, Va., to Miss America E. Bickley, who was a native of
that county, born in 1853, and the daughter of James and Eveline (Bartee)
Bickley.  Their six living children, all born in this county, are as
follows:  Robert L., Minne E., Belle, Grace, Clarence and Nellie.  The two
deceased are John B. and James B.

Our subject and his wife are both sincere believers in the Christian
religion, and Mrs. Jessee is a worthy member of the Baptist Church.  Mr.
Jessee politically supports the principles of the Democratic party; has
served as Supervisor of his township one term, and was School Trustee for a
period of six years.


From The Biographical Record of Champaign County, Illinois, published by
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1900, pages 403-404.  Submitted by
Ruth Ryan.

ROBERT E. LEE JESSEE, M. D., a prominent and successful physician and
surgeon of Philo, was born in Crittenden township, this county, November
13, 1870, and is the eldest son and child of John T. and America E.
(Bickley) Jessee, natives of Virginia, and representatives of old and
highly respected families of the Old Dominion.  The father was born in
1836, the mother in 1853.  In 1869, shortly after their marriage, which was
celebrated in their native state, they came to Illinois, and took up their
residence in Crittenden township, Champaign county, where the father
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie land.  He at once
began to improve and cultivate his place, and there made for himself and
family a comfortable home.  He followed farming quite successfully
throughout life, and by his straightforward, honorable course won the
confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact.  Hewas a
faithful member of the Baptist church, and a Democrat in politics, a
recognized leader of the party in his community.  He served as supervisor
two terms, was assessor several terms, and held other local offices in
Crittenden township.  He died in 1890, honored and esteemed by all who knew
him.  His wife is still living and continues to reside on the old
homestead.  Of the eight children born to this worthy couple two died in
infancy.  Those living are Robert E. L., our subject; Minnie, wife of W. T.
Thrash, a farmer of Tolono township, by whom she has two children; Belle, 
wife of R. H. Ford, of Tolono township, by whom she has one child; and Grace,
Clarence and Nellie, who are at home with their mother.

During his boyhood Dr. Jessee attended the district schools of his native
township and remained at home, assisting in the work of the farm until
reaching manhood.  Having aspirations for a professional career, he took a
teacher's course at the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, from
which he was graduated in 1890.  For two years he engaged in teaching
school, and during the latter years commenced the study of medicine under 
Dr. Lamb, of Tolono.  In 1892 he entered the Northwestern University School, 
of Chicago, for a four years' course, and was graduated from that institution 
in 1896, with the degree of M. D.  During his residence in that city, he was
married, in 1895, to Miss Myrtle E. Powers, who was born in Cook county in 
1875, a daughter of Jay and Eve (Veeder) Powers.  The doctor and his wife 
have two children, Bruce and Merrill.

Immediately after his graduation, in 1896, Dr. Jessee came to Philo and
purchased the property and practice of Dr. J. M. Bartholow, now of Urbana.
He began practice here in rather a limited territory, but success has
crowned his efforts, and today he enjoys a good practice which is
constantly increasing.  The Democratic party finds in him a stanch
supporter of its principals, and he is now serving his second term as mayor
of the village in which he lives.  He is also secretary of the school
board, and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen he takes a deep and
commendable interest in everything which will advance the public welfare
and promote the prosperity of the community.  He does not, however, allow
other things to interfere with his professional duties.  Socially he is a
member of Centennial Lodge, No. 747, A.F. & A. M. of Philo, and is a member
of Mispah Lodge of the I.O.O.F., No. 364, at Philo.  Religiously he holds
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and is on the board of trustees.
Both as a physician and citizen he stands deservedly high in public esteem.


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