Jesse Winnfield DeVilbiss
Jesse was born 24 December 1871 in Frederick, Maryland. Jesse was 10 years old when his father, Rufus, moved the family to Kansas. When Jesse was 17 years old, Rufus moved the family down to Louisiana to homestead.
Note from Ruth Butcher (Jesse's daughter)
“My father’s family was living in Kansas when the territory in Louisiana became available for homesteading. My grandparents, Rufus Winfield and Rachel Ruth DeVilbiss decided to go to the new area and homestead some land there. They traveled by train, father riding in the stock cars to care for the cattle and oxen they were moving with them.
Grandfather homesteaded section 14 north of Roanoke. They built a small house there. Grandmother picked up some acorns where they were visiting one day and took them home and planted them. They grew to be huge oak trees and are still there. Father was the oldest, then three girls, Carrie, Grace, and Irene and the youngest of the family was Clifton.
“My mother [Clara Hendrickson] came from Iowa. Her father (Hendrickson) worked in construction, also was an Itinerant preacher- going from place to place as he was called. He helped haul brick and build the courthouse in De Moines, Iowa.
Clara’s parents died when she was just a young girl. She was making her home with a preacher, Rev. Church, and his family. Taking care of the two small children, Ray and Eva, when he decided to migrate to Southern Louisiana as the land there was being opened up and offered for homesteading. He wanted her to go with them.
They made the trip in a covered wagon, quite an experience. Many people from that part of Iowa moved to Louisiana at that time. Rev. Church established the United Brethren church at Jennings and later one at Roanoke also.”
Memories from Billie Seibert (Elsie's son)
“I’m sure that my recollections of the Grandparents [Jesse & Clara] are much colored with things from my parents and other family members. I was not around them very much, just four or five trips to Jennings with my Mom and once or twice when they visited us in New Orleans.
I first think of Grandpa as BIG. I don’t think he was super tall, but he was wide. My Dad had many stories of how strong he was. The other characteristic was SILENT. There was not a lot of conversation with him. I feel that he was comfortable with himself and felt that he had a good life.
My impression of Grandma was that she was the “enforcer” and made sure that all the details of the family life went the way that her husband desired. She, like Jesse, was quietly religious. You didn’t get bible quotations, but you got strong thoughts on right and wrong. You also got some suggestions to Elsie on raising kids.
My Dad [Joe Seibert] often talked about them and he thought they were great as parents and had led good lives. He talked about the first time he went to Jennings after marrying Mom.
There he was – New Orleans city slicker and a CATHOLIC and married to their daughter. He said that they didn’t embrace him, but they treated him OK. He knew some of her siblings were not happy and they didn’t hide it very well. When they sat to eat Grandma asked your Dad [Alton} to say the blessing and he responded, “good food, good meat, good God let’s eat”. I guess that took the spotlight off my Dad for a while.”
