George W. Jesse

Notes:

Also GESSE, GESS

George and his sister Anna Jesse came to America on the ship "Johannes" from Hamburg arriving in New York on November 27, 1857. He was 25 and she 17. Records show their destination to be Wisconsin, although they stayed in upstate New York for at least two years. Anna did move to Wisconsin, with George instead settling in Michigan. "Germans to America" shows they were coming from W?rttemberg. A copy of the actual handwritten manifest shows Mecklenburg. Both appear to be in error. The Hamburg Passenger List, FHL #470839, shows that the "Johannes" left Hamburg on 15 October 1857. On board were George Jesse, age 25, and Anna, age 17. They were shown as coming from Strelitz, Preussen. It appears this village was in the Kreis Kolmar, Posen. In 2003, this village is known as Strzelce, Powiet Chodziez, Poland.

Two years after their arrival in New York, Anna and George were both married, in an apparent double ceremony, by the Reverend Clute, pastor of a church in Byron, New York.

At the time of the 1860 New York Federal Census, it appears that George Gesse was living in the home of John and Phebe Taylor of Elba, Genesee County, New York. The Taylors real estate was valued at $26,000 and there were numerous servants and laborers living in their home. The date of this census was June 20, 1860. He was listed as George Gefse, age 26, Laborer, Germany. The Klesert family, their eldest daughter Marie already married to George, lived two households away.

On George's citizenship certificate, it is stated that he arrived in Michigan in January 1860. He must have arrived somewhat later than this as he was still in New York at the time of the census in June.

George became a citizen of the United States at age 36. On his citzenship certificate, he was listed as George Gesse, and he solemnly swore to his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce for ever all allegience and fidelity to each and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly the King William of Prussia of whom he had been a subject. This was subscribed and sworn on the 16th day of March, 1868 in the Circuit Court of St. Joseph County, Michigan.

At the time of the 1870 Michigan federal census, he was living nearby his in-laws, the Kleserts. He was enumerated on 8 July 1870 in Sherman Township, Post Office Sturgis.

On the birth certificates of his two youngest children, he is listed as George Gess, and his wife as Mary Gess. The death certificate for his son lists the last name as Gessee.

In a plat of Sherman Township ca 1880 supplied by Dorothy Williams, land belonging to G. Jess adjoins a larger parcel belonging to J. Klevsert.

The above biography was compiled by combining the notes of Dot Williams, Jo Peck, Fern Bengelsdorf, and Melinda Strong.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1870 Census
Michigan, St. Joseph County, Sherman Township, P.O. Sturgis
Enumerated 8 July 1870
#185-185
Gesse, George 38 Farmer $1,600 340 Prussia
Gesse, Mary 32 Keeping House Macklenburg
Gesse, Andrew 8 Michigan
Gesse, Anna 6 Michigan
Gesse, Minnie 4 Michigan
Gesse, Julia 2 Michigan
Gesse, Sophia 6/12 Michigan

On the birth certificates of his two youngest children, he is listed as George Gess, and his wife as Mary Gess. The death certificate for his son lists the last name as Gessee.

1880 Census
Census Place:Sherman, St. Joseph, Michigan
Source:FHL Film 1254603 National Archives Film T9-0603 Page 45 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
George JESSE Self M M W 48 PRUS Occ:Farmer Fa: PRUS Mo: PRUS
Mary JESSE Wife F M W 42 MECK Occ:Keeping House Fa: MECK Mo: MECK
Andrew JESSE Son M S W 18 MI Occ:At Home Fa: PRUS Mo: MECK
Anna JESSE Dau F S W 17 MI Fa: PRUS Mo: MECK
Minnie JESSE Dau F S W 14 MI Fa: PRUS Mo: MECK
Julia JESSE Dau F S W 12 MI Fa: PRUS Mo: MECK
Augusty JESSE Dau F S W 10 MI Fa: PRUS Mo: MECK

1900 Census
Michigan, St. Joseph County, Sherman Township
#119-120
Jesse, George Head W M Feb 1832 68 Widowed Germany Immigrated 1858 In US 42 years Naturalized Farmer R&W, Speaks English owns farm, free of mortgage
Oman, Julia Dtr W F Dec 1863 32 Wd 1 child, still living born MI parents born Germany
Oman, George Gson W M Oct 1896 Mich

George married Maria Johanna Elisabeth Klevsaat on 24 Nov 1859 in Byron, Genesee County, New York. Maria (daughter of Friedrich Christoph Ernst Klevsaat and Sophia Christinia Luise Prasht) was born before 6 Jan 1838 in Rosenow, Demmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; was christened on 6 Jan 1838 in Kastorf Parish, Rosenow, Demmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; died on 18 Aug 1890 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Andrew Charles Jesse was born on 29 Jul 1861 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 10 Nov 1937 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan; was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
2. Anna Sophia Jesse was born on 16 Sep 1863 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 17 Jun 1957 in Centreville, St. Joseph County, Michigan; was buried in Constantine Cemetery, Constantine, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
3. Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse was born on 27 Sep 1865 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 18 Jun 1961 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
4. Julia Jesse was born on 22 Dec 1867 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 14 Feb 1958 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
5. Augusta Henrietta Jesse was born on 14 Apr 1870 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 3 Oct 1966 in Centreville, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
6. Ida Jesse was born on 7 May 1873 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 25 Aug 1873 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
7. Charles Jesse was born on 6 Oct 1875 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 2 Aug 1876 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan.

Notes:

AKA Andrew GESSE.

Andrew married Mary BajrovikPrussia. Mary was born before 1815 in Prussia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Barbara LaChance [lachance@ccis.com] notes that "in a lot of the slavic names many of the letters are either not pronounced or are pronounced like an entirely different letter. I tried looking up your name "BAJROVIK" and the closest I could get in my books was: BAJOREK (Pol.) Dweller by the slough or muddy place. (Source: New Dictionary of American Family Names by E.C. Smith).

Notes:

Married:
The names of the children Mary and Andrew JESSE, are based on list prepared by their granddaughter, Augusta Jesse Buchholz. Augusta's granddaughter, Fern Falkenstein Bengelsdorf, has the original list, and gave a copy of it to Dorothy Ball Williams. It APPEARS that George and Anna were the oldest children, and Amelia the youngest. This seems logical since George and Anna appear to have been the first to emigrate. The birthdates of the other children are ESTIMATED based on this assumption. If they were not listed in birth order, this is likely incorrect.