His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Jesse William Truesdale, age 41, residence Noctor, Breathitt Co., Ky, born 4 March 1877, occupation farming & lumberman, self-employed, nearest relative Kittie Truesdell, Noctor, Ky.

His death certificate records Jesse William Truesdell, age 63 years 9 months 11 days, born 4 March 1885 in Ashtabula, Ohio, died 15 Dec 1938 at Middletown Hospital, Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio, usual residence Noctor, Kentucky, occupation lumberman, father Barne F. Truesdell, mother’s maiden name Julia Blood, both born in Ohio, cause of death carcinoma of c----- (c followed by 6 very low to the baseline letters, perhaps cranium?), informant Ray Truesdell, Middletown, Ohio, burial in Noctor, Ky.

The reported birthdate is inconsistent with the reported age, which would imply a birthdate of 4 March 1875. Apparently someone made a subtraction error. His actual birthdate was probably really in 1877, as reported on the draft card, since he was listed in the 1880 census, recorded in June, as 3 years old, and in the 1900 census as age 22, born March 1878.

The Kentucky death index lists Kitty C. Truesdell, age 71, died 13 July 1957 in Clark Co., residence same.

1900 census of Lewis Co., Ky, Grassy precinct, enumerated 23 June, lists on p. 12A as family #201/204:
Adams, Sylvester, 38, b. Feb 1862, b. Ky Ky Va, farmer; Hiley B., wife, 32, b. Apr 1868, Ky Ky Ky, married 16 years, mother of 7 children, 7 living; Kittie C., dau, 14, b. Nov 1885; George W., son, 11, b. June 1888; Martha A., dau, 10, b. Apr 1890; Amelia E., dau, 8, b. May 1892; John E., son, 6, b. Apr 1894; William J., son, 2, b. June 1897; Mary J., dau, 8/12, b. Oct 1899. All children born Ky Ky Ky. Kittie, mother, 89, b. Dec 1819, Va Va Va, widowed, mother of 8 children, 8 living; Perry, brother, 44, b. 1856, Ky Ky Va, widowed.

Rowan Co., Ky marriage book 4, p. 435, records the marriage on 14 Mar 1903 of Jessie W. Trusdell, age 26, sawmill worker, residence Harris, Ky, born in and mother born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, father born in Alegany, N.Y., to Kittie Adams, age 17, residence Harris, Ky, born in and mother born in Lewis Co., Ky, at Vestie Adams in Lewis Co., by W. F. Wilson, witnesses C. T. Kelley and Hester Conley.

Vestie Adams is apparently a nickname for Kittie’s father, Sylvester Adams.

1910 census of Breathitt Co., Ky, Elliottville precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 4B as family #59/60:
Trusell, Jesie, 33, b. Ohio New York Ohio, teaming; Kittie, wife, 28, b. Ky Ky Ky, first marriage for both, married 7 years, mother of 3 children, 3 living; Julie, dau, 6; Gladus, dau, 4; Roie, son, 1. All children born Ky Ohio Ky.

1920 census of Breathitt Co., Ky, enumerated 12 Jan, lists on p. 6B as family #98:
Truesdell, J. W., 42, sawmill manager; Kitty, wife, 33; Julia, dau, 15; Gladys, dau, 13; Roy, son, 11; Thelma, dau, 9; Chas, son, 6; Beatrice, dau, 4; Gordon, son, 2; Clyde, son, 1/12; Viola, sister, 9.

There are no meaningful birthplaces recorded. The original census taker put Ky in all the fields in the first birthplace column, and U.S. in the father and mother’s birthplace columns, and then someone adjusted that later by writing Kentucky vertically down all three columns.

1930 census of Breathitt Co., Ky, Quicksand precinct, Jackson part 1, enumerated 16 April, lists on p. 19A as family #375/392:
Truesdell, Jess W., 52, age at first marriage 21, lumberman at saw mill; Kitty, wife, 42, age at first marriage 17; Thelma, dau, 19; Charles, son, 16; Beatrice, dau, 14; Jordan, son, 12; Clyde, son, 10; Maurine, dau, 8; Ferdon, dau, 6; Artie Jean, dau, 1. All listed as born Ky Ky Ky, although that is incorrect for Jesse.