Jesse James (Aaron) Aarons (abt. 1887 - 1979)

Born about 10 Jun 1887 in Lake City, Columbia, Florida, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 17 Oct 1979 at about age 92 in Worthington Springs, Union, Florida, United States

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Biography

Jesse (Aaron) Aarons is Notable.

Jesse Aaron was a sculptor and wood carver who started making art in his early 80's. His pieces are now held in permanent collections by some of the most prestigious museums including the Smithsonian Museum of Art.

Jesse was born about 1887. He is the son of Will Aaron.

In the 1900 census Jesse (age 13), Farm Laborer, was the single son of Will Aaron in Precinct 7, Columbia, Florida.^[1]

In the 1910 census Jesse (age 22), Laborer, was the single son of Will Aaron in Bland, Alachua, Florida, United States.^[2]

In the 1920 census Jessie (age 33), Laborer, was the married head of household in Starke, Bradford, Florida.^[3][4]

In the 1930 census Jessie (age 42), Cook, was the married head of household at 1215 Crous ??, Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, United States.^[5][6]

In the 1940 census Jessie (age 59), Laborer, was the married head of household in Gainesville, Alachua, Florida.^[7]

In the 1950 census Jesse (age 64) was the married head of household in Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, United States.^[8]

Jesse passed away in Oct 1979.^[9][10] Burial was in the Fort Call Cemetery, Worthington Springs, Union County, Florida.^[11]

The Bio by A. Martin posted on his Find A Grave memorial page states:

Noted master artist, wood sculptor, Jesse Aaron and wife LeeAnna, resided in Gainesville, Florida. He was born near Lake City Florida around 1887 (1900 census states birth 1886), son of William and Annie Aaron (Columbia County, Florida). He was and one of twelve siblings, some of whom were : Codina, Lonzo Renander, Dorris, Aaron, Iona, Anna, Naomi "Omi", and Edna. He and LeeAnna lived at NW 7th Avenue, in Gainesville, Florida, had a daughter, named Ida. Jesse was of Seminole, European, and African American heritage. His family's genealogy can be traced back to early 1800's in Hamilton County, Florida, where several of his ancestor's acquired land. Associated family surnames in Hamilton County were: Ross/ Roux/ Molphus/ Harper/Graham. Some historical records state his surname as Aaron or Aarons."

Jesse's carvings are widely sought by museums and collectors. His art was once featured in an exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Smithsonian museum in 1982, and more recently displayed at the Institute of Black Culture, University of Florida, and The Thomas Center Galleries. Ironically, he once worked as a baker at The Thomas Hotel, now an art gallery in Florida. This gallery has highlighted his infamous artwork (see Youtube video- Tree Of Life: Work of Jesse Aaron). Jesse was once featured on local, regional and national CBS television broadcasts. His home, which he built in 1935, is noted in the National Register.

Jesse started carving in his eighties, after a calling from God. He was once a gardener, who shared many stories with children, a very charming and giving person that loved to share his plants and wooden sculptures. Jesse Aaron who was a very humble man, well loved in his community. It is interesting that Jesse Aaron shared the same address as Claude, French Impressionist.

Sources

1. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Precinct 7, Columbia, Florida; Roll: 167; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 1240167
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #413775 (accessed 23 May 2022)
   Jesse Aaron (13), single son, Farm Laborer, in household of Will Aaron (36) in Precinct 7, Columbia, Florida. Born in Florida, USA.
2. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Bland, Alachua, Florida; Roll: T624_156; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 0003; FHL microfilm: 1374169
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #150678469 (accessed 23 May 2022)
   Jesse Aaron (22), single son, Laborer, in household of Will Aaron (47) in Bland, Alachua, Florida, USA. Born in Florida.
3. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Starke, Bradford, Florida; Roll: T625_214; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 41
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #14608997 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   Jessie Aron (33), married, Laborer, head of household in Starke, Bradford, Florida. Born in Florida.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNY7-VG9 : 1 February 2021), Jessie Aron, 1920.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Gainesville, Alachua, Florida; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0009; FHL microfilm: 2340041
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #102420375 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   Jessie Aron (42), married, Cook, head of household in 1215 Crous ??, Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, USA. Born in Florida.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPJB-6PZ : accessed 25 May 2022), Jessie Aron, Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 9, sheet 12A, line 4, family 301, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 306; FHL microfilm 2,340,041.
7. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Gainesville, Alachua, Florida; Roll: m-t0627-00573; Page: 24A; Enumeration District: 1-11
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #135997167 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   Jessie Aaron (59), married, Laborer, head of household in Gainesville, Alachua, Florida. Born in Florida.
8. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
   United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Gainesville, Alachua, Florida; Roll: 321; Sheet Number: 13; Enumeration District: 1-17
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62308 #80244482 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   Jesse J Aaron (64), married head of household in Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, USA. Born in Florida.
9. ↑ Death: "Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998"
   Ancestry Record 7338 #1369408 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   Jesse James Aaron death 17 Oct 1979 (age 92) in Alachua, Florida, United States.
10. ↑ Death: "U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014"
    Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File
    Ancestry Record 3693 #5418 (accessed 25 May 2022)
    Jesse Aaron death Oct 1979.
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33541083/jesse-james-aaron : accessed 23 May 2022), memorial page for Jesse James Aaron (10 Jun 1887–17 Oct 1979), Find A Grave: Memorial #33541083, citing Fort Call Cemetery, Worthington Springs, Union County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by A Martin (contributor 48136414) .