Laura's Family Tree

Earlham Echo - December 1956

Jesse E. Walton was born at Newport, Ohio, on November 29, 1872, and passed from this life at his home in Earlham, on December 12, 1956, at the age of 84 years and 14 days.

He came to Madison county, Iowa, 65 years ago, and has been a resident here through all these years.

He married Gertrude Hockett on September 18, 1901. To them were born two children, Celia Walton Pippinger of Coral Gables, Florida, and Jesse S. Walton of Corvalls, Oregon. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Earlham Friends church on September 18, 1951.

In his 65 years of residence in Iowa he worked as a carpenter and builder. Many houses in Earlham were built by him. Of these buildings, he was proudest of the Methodist church, which he designed, making the concrete blocks himself, and overseeing the construction.

He was, of course, very widely known in this area, and was respected and loved by his fellow citizens.

He was a member of the local Friends church, having joined the church in 1913.

Besides his children, he leaves one grandson, David Pippinger of Knoxville, Tennessee, two great granddaughters, Vicki and Jody Pippinger, one brother, and three sisters.

The funeral service was held in the Earlham Friends church on Saturday, December 15, at 2 o'clock. The pastor, L. Willard Reynolds, officiated. Interment was in the Earlham cemetery.

Earlham Echo – January 23, 1986
Earlham, Iowa

Graveside rites for Jesse S. Walton, a former Earlham resident, were held December 26, 1985 with Rev. Eldon Cole officiating. Mr. Walton’s death occurred December 23 at Crestview Manor, Webster City, where he had resided since 1972.

Jessie S. Walton

Jesse Seburn Walton, only son of Jesse E. and Gertrude Hockett Walton, was born in Earlham July 1, 1907. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1928, later doing graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.

On September 15, 1933 he was married to Florence E. Rasmus.

He was an associate professor of chemical engineering at Michigan University until 1937 when he accepted a position with Standard Oil of New Jersey. From 1942 to 1945 he was professor of chemical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. He then became head of the chemical engineering department at Oregon State University.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors besides his wife are one sister and a nephew, Celia Pippinger and David Pippinger, both of Macon, Georgia.

He was a member of the Earlham Friends Church.

Note: Burial was made in the Earlham Cemetery.