Jessie Ann (Powell) Hubbard
By Esther (Mrs. Glenn) JordanJessie Ann Powell, youngest daughter of David and Martha Ann Powell's thirteen children was born July 7, 1856 in Waverly, Iowa. She died September 18, 1939, buried at Coldwater, Kansas. Jessie and a younger brother, Will, left their parent's home at King's Point, Missouri, coming to Comanche Co. in the spring of 1880.
Building of the railroad through Wilmore began in 1887. The camp was near the Ferrin's, five miles northeast of Wilmore. Cap Pepperd and Will Powell furnished beef for the camp. Will had a ranch east of Wilmore on Mule Creek, also ran a butcher shop in Coldwater. From a letter dated January 7, 1890, Will and his brother "Ike" (Isaac Powell) shipped 41 carloads of hogs and cattle. Powell, Pyle and Pepperd were cattlemen very much mentioned those days.
Will married Harriette Pyle, and Jessie married Jack Hubbard, soon after she came to Comanche County. Jack having come from Missouri earlier. They lived on a ranch near Sun City, Kansas where Earnest was born April 2, 1882. At one time they lived in Hodgeman County where Jack was interested in cattle business. A second son Vertie was born, unsure of date and place. Everett was born June 14, 1889 while living near Cedervale, Kansas.
About six months later, the family moved to a claim that joined the Cherokee Strip, northwest of Okeene, Oklahoma. Jessie ran a cafe in Okeene a while before moving to the farm. It was a bit frightening one morning when 14 Indians came in for breakfast. Fixing all she had, she still did not have enough food.
Here Vertie died at age 14, buried at Homestead, near Okeene. Later Jessie and her brother, Lew Powell, returned and moved his body to Hennessey, Oklahoma beside their father, David Powell.
In February 1899, Jessie and two sons, Ernest age 16, and Everett age 9, left Okeene with a team and a wagon headed for Comanche County, Kansas. Due to a blizzard, they were forced to spend an extra night in Aetna, Kansas. Imagine such a trip in a wagon in February, with two boys and only $25. Nevertheless, she arrived near Wilmore with about $12.50.
They lived a year at the Cap Pepperd ranch (later the Helbert ranch) on Mule Creek, southeast of Wilmore. Probably her brother, Zack Powell, was living here at this time. The next three years they lived with Will Powell at his ranch east of Wilmore. Jessie helped with the cooking.
Somehow, Jessie managed to buy land about seven miles east of Coldwater in the New Eden neighborhood. Her brother, Lew Powell, built a four room house on her land in the early 1900's.
Being the pioneer she was, she sold vegetables to her neighbors. Sometimes, for as long as 18 months, she did not even get to town. The sons would get the staple foods, traveling by horse or wagon.
Jessie in her later years, made her home with her two sons, mainly with Ernest, in whose home she died. "Aunt Jess" as she was affectionately called by all who knew her, was truly a pioneer.
From Comanche County History, page 458, published by the Comanche County Historical Society, Coldwater, Kansas, 1981.
The Wilmore News, September 26, 1939 MRS. JESSIE HUBBARD DIES AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS
After an illness of less than a week, following a paralytic stroke, Mrs. Jessie Hubbard passed away Monday night, Sept. 18, about 10 o'clock, at the home of her son, Ernest in the New Eden community.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church at Wilmore with the pastor, Rev. Earl Livengood in charge.
A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. F. H. Moberley, Mrs. Grant Wright, Marvin Belcher and Ray Bigbee sang two of her favorite songs, "There'll Be No Disappointment in Heaven" and "Home of the Soul." She had previously requested that Miss Martha Ridge sing at her funeral, which she did, singing as a solo, "Near to the Heart of God." Mrs. Nick Baker accompanied at the piano.
Six nephews, Jay Pepperd of Coldwater, Powell Heide of Byers, Lester Trummel, Edward Baker, Robert Downing and Jack Grace Jr. acted as pall bearers.
Burial was in the Coldwater cemetery.
Obituary Jessie Ann Powell was born July 7, 1856 at Waverly, Iowa, died Sept. 18, 1939, her age being 83 years, 2 months and 11 days.
She was the daughter of David and Martha Ann Powell, one of a family of 13 children.
While living with her parents at King's Point, Mo., she came with her brother Will to Kansas in the spring of 1880.
Soon after arriving here, she was united in marriage to A. J. Hubbard, who had come to Kansas from Missouri some time earlier.
They lived on a ranch near Sun City and later moved to Hodgman County, Kansas, where her husband was interested in the cattle business.
Then in the spring of 1890 they moved to Oklahoma and lived near O'Keene for 9 years, where they lost one son, Vertis, at the age of 14.
From there she and two sons, Ernest and Everett, came to Comanche County, where she has spent almost all of the remaining years of her life.
Mrs. Hubbard, or "Aunt Jess" as she was affectionately called by all who knew her, was a real pioneer. She went thru all the hard experiences attendant to a new country, but always made the most of everything. She was a true friend, ever trying to carry other people's burdens on her own shoulders.
She was a member of the Methodist church and a true Christian ready and anxious to answer her Lord's call.
Those who survive her are: one brother, William Powell of El Caulpe, Texas, two sons, Ernest of New Eden and Everett of Alta Loma, Texas, five grandchildren, Ernestine, Esther, Earl, Ronald and Wayne, one grandson Russell having preceded her in death and a host of other relatives and friends.
"She is not dead, she is just away. With a cheerful smile and a wave of the hand, she has wandered into a better land."
- Ernest D. & Sadie (Schneider) Hubbard, Ernest was the son of Jessie (Powell) Hubbard.
- Russell J. Hubbard, grandson of Jessie (Powell) Hubbard.
- Ernestine (Hubbard) Zeigler, grand-daughter of Jessie (Powell) Hubbard.
This page created by Jerry Ferrin on 04 Sept 2002, it was last updated 23 Aug 2006; thanks to Bobbi (Hackney) Huck for the article from Comanche County History. Thanks to Shirley Brier for contributing the obituary.