| Dark eyed, dark haired Helen Sarah Averitt was an attractive, talented
involved young woman in her father’s activities when she met Abraham Jesson
(see John C. Averitt). Thomas Jesson was the son of John Jesson and
Mary Ward, and Thomas’ wife, Sarah, the daughter of Thomas Smith.
In 1866, Thomas and Sarah left Leicestershire, England, and brought the
six children - Abraham, William, Mary Jane, Elizabeth Anna, Jack and Tamah
- to America. They landed at New York and left immediately for Iowa.
After two Iowa winters, the family decided to seek more favorable climate
and migrated in two covered wagons to Coffeyville, Kansas. Abe was
the first of the children to leave to seek his fortune and ultimately reached
Texas. Undoubtedly, the English education of Abraham and the scholarly
background of Helen Sarah lent to the mutual attraction of this young pair.
The couple were married at Oak Vale, December 11, 1878, by her father,
Rev. John C. Averitt. The 1880 Census shows Abe as a grocer and his
brother, William, a farmer, was living with them. He later returned
to Kansas. While living at Oak Vale their children, Helen Tama, Lera,
John Thomas, Sarah Irma, Cecil Abraham, and Rexford were born. During
this time Abe’s interest turned to ranching. As the ranching opportunities
moved westward, the family followed and settled in Midland. Abraham
Jesson died in California in 1921, and Helen Sarah lived her later years
with her daughter, Irma, and died in El Paso, December 27, 1933.
Two of the children, Rexford and Lera were unmarried. The two
with known issue were:
(1) Helen Tama, October 24, 1879 - January 30, 1915, married John Winborne
and they had three children: (la) Helen, October 24, 1904 - June 16, 1976,
married John Benjamin Walton, a son, John B. Jr., married Jean Pennington,
their children: Jonean, Heather (adopted) and Tracy; (lb) Maureen, September
30, 1906 - July 12, 1966, married Lynn Lyle Butler. Their daughter,
Dorothy Lynn, married Robert Ralpa Truitt; they had four children: (a)
Robert R. Jr., married Susan Elizabeth Donovan; (b) Cynthia Lynn; (c) Barton
Brent married Janice Lynn Mitchell, two children: Matthew Micajah and Luke
Lynn; (d) Steven Patrick; Maureen and Lynn adopted Charles Maurice Butler;
(lc) Velma, March 30, 1908, married Edmund John Flannery.
(2) Sarah Irma, December 5, 1884 - 1962, married Dr. James L. Stowe.
They had three children: (2a) Jesson L., married (1st) Ruth McKay, one
child, Wilma Kathleen who married Kenneth L. Boll, a son, Kenneth L. Jr.,
(2nd) Bernice Hulen, two children: James Lewis, has a son Christopher James,
and Robert Homan; (2b) Kathleen, married Richard G. Hoy, two children:
Jimmie Lou, married Charles L. Buescher, their children, Amy and Alice;
Frank Carlyle; (2c) Jimmie Louise, married Charles F. Cory. They
had three children: Diana, married a Mereness; Charles F. Jr., Carolyn
Louise, married a Humble. |
