Jesse Edgar and Sarah Frances Ayers Farmer

Jesse Edgar Farmer, the fifth child of David and Sibby Ferree Farmer, was born on November 1, 1861 in Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa .  He married Sarah Frances Ayers on January 23, 1881 in Putnam County, Missouri.  Sarah was born August 5, 1863 in Powersville, Putnam, Missouri.  She was the daughter of Samuel Willet Ayers and Surrilda Florentine Ogle.

The couple had 6 children:

 Nellie Viola, b.  5/14/1885 d. 8/24/1902 of a ruptured appendix on her wedding day

 Carl Rosen, b.  5/24/1888

 Velna Leeta, b.  2/14/1895

 Vere Loy “Dick”, b.  1/20/1897

 unnamed boy, b.  8/9/1903 d. 8/11/1903

 unnamed boy, b. 8/11/1906 d. 8/11/1906

 The couple moved to Meridian, Idaho in 1901 then to Napa, Idaho in 1902, and then on to Manette (now part of Bremerton), Kitsap County, Washington in 1904.  In 1912, Jesse built the family home in Manette at the corner of Perry and Sheridan, which still stands today.

Jesse and Sarah are found in the following federal census records:

 1910 in Port Washington precinct, Kitsap, WA with Dick and Velna

1920 in Manette, Kitsap, WA with Dick, Velna and her child, Donald E. Yaryan (later McReynolds)

1930 in Manette, Kitsap, WA with Dick

Jesse died on November 24, 1948 in Seattle, King, Washington.  His ashes were scattered off the Manette bridge.  Sarah died on June 1, 1934.  Her death certificate lists the cause of death as “diabetic gangrene feet” with diabetes and arteriosclerosis as contributing factors.  Her ashes were scattered on the grounds of her home in Manette.

Obituary of Jesse

From Seattle Post-Intelligence, November 26, 1948

“Jesse Edgar Farmer, 87, died Wednesday. 

Mr. Farmer, who resided at 3802 W. Bertona St, was a retired carpenter.  He had resided in the Seattle area since 1904.

Surviving are a daughter, Velna McReynolds, Seattle; two sons, V. L. Farmer, Bremerton, and Carl R., Scio, Oregon; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. today in the Ploeger chapel.”

Photos of the Jesse Farmer family

             Sarah Ayers Family

Cousins in Missouri

Jesse, Sarah, Nellie, and Carl, about 1889

Farmer House, Meridian, Idaho, 1902

Farmer House, Manette, with Sarah, circa 1920

Farmer House, Manette, circa 2000

Sarah and Jesse with Mary Etta and Seth Huron

Dick in shop class at Union High School in Bremerton, circa 1915

Jesse and Sarah

Jesse

Sarah on her deathbed with Jesse by her side, circa 1934

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