Jessie F. Culton was a Journalist, Newspaper Editor in Richmond, Ind., and a Pioneer Resident and Rancher in Garden Grove, Orange County, CA.
Jessie Fatima Culton was born on February 14, 1860, in Henry, Illinois. Her father, J.W.J. Culton, was 40, and her mother, Catherine F. Blanchard Culton, was 32.[1] She had two brothers, who died in infancy, and three sisters, one of whom died in infancy as well.
She met her life partner, Adele Charters while they were at school, and soon after graduating and the death of her mother in Chicago, IL, she and Adele removed with her father J.W.J. Culton to Richmond, Ind.[2] While in Richmond, Jessie began working on the editorial staff of the "Register," as well as working as a reporter for the "Palladium" and "Item," daily newspapers.[3] Jessie took after her father's adventurous spirit, and often joined him on excursions to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and other tourist attractions across the country. During their travels, they collected geological specimens and donated these to Jessie's former school, the Chicago Women's College, for use in study.[4]
Jessie was highly influenced by her father's political and spiritual leanings, and was raised in a family, that for generations, had placed public civic duty at the forefront of their life's mission. Raised devoutly Protestant, it was a tenant of the Culton and Blanchard families that dedication to God and their fellow man was paramount, and thusly Jessie often coordinated charity drives for needy children.[5][6]
Jessie Culton and the Doll Yacht For Charity The Richmond Item
Richmond, Indiana · Tuesday, August 26, 1884
Due to her father's ailing health, J.W.J. Culton chose to settle in California, in 1884. Upon visiting the border between Tia Juana Mexico and California, J.W.J. noted that there was no symbol or flag to mark the line, and so he sponsored a flag raising ceremony between parties of the two countries. The event was attended by many and recorded in the San Diego Cal Union on April 17, 1890. Jessie, along with a young Mexican woman, raised the flags of their two countries in unison.[7]
"What a beautiful idea that the flag should be raised by the daughter of the two republics! I wonder if that ever happened in the history of the world before, under like circumstance? Oh, that such a fraternal feeling might pervade all hearts the earth over and prevail among all nations. More than this, the act represents the view of two great nations. These fair ladies represent President Diaz and President Harrison, raising that same flag. They represent more – the people of the two republics."
Jessie and Adele lived with her father J.W.J. Culton in Garden Grove until his passing in 1898. The two women continued to live on the property and grow it substantially. Jessie became a devout follower of the "Christ First Scientist Church" and was an early member of the First Church of California.[8][9][10][11]
Adele Charters was employed as an Electrician for the telephone industry and was responsible for erecting the first telephone lines in Garden Grove. Jessie was a contributor for the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Inter Ocean, various east coast papers, and the Christian Science Monitor.
She died on October 7, 1933, in Orange, California, at the age of 73, and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[12][13] Adele Charters passed away in 1938. They are buried side by side on Sunrise Slope. In their Will's both women left a $1000.00 cash inheritance to each of the surviving children of Jessie's niece, Laretta Edna Palmer (Hilliard) Ruff (1886-1922).
Jessie F Culton Grave
Woman of the Century/Jessie F. Culton
Miss Jessie P., journalist, born in Henry, Ill., 14th February 1860. Her grandfather on her father's side was a native of Tennessee. On her mother's side she is descended from the Blanchards of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Culton moved to Chicago when Jessie was but a few months old, and there she grew up. She removed to Richmond, Ind. in 1883, and look a position on the editorial staff of the "Register," in which capacity she served nearly a year, in the meantime doing reportorial work on the "Palladium" and "Item," daily papers of Richmond. In 1884 she went to California with her father, as Mr. Culton's health demanded a change of climate. They traveled extensively throughout the State, and settled in San Diego, where they built a pleasant home. She also has a home on a ranch in Garden Grove. Her duties as housekeeper prevent, to some extent, her journalistic work, but she contributes articles to St. Louis, Chicago and other eastern papers.
-Brief Biography published 1893, Willard, Frances Elizabeth[14]
Brief Biography: History of Orange County, J.W.J. Culton [15]
Miss Jessie Culton was reared and educated in Chicago and came to California with her father, and after his death she succeeded to the home place. She has had her friend and companion, Miss Adell Chater <sic>, with her for the past twenty-one years. She is a native of St Louis Mo. and was educated in Jacksonville, IL thence went to Chicago, where she became acquainted with Miss Culton and has been with the family ever since. Miss Culton and her friend have been working together and have won the respect of all who know them for their industry. At the time of Mr. Culton's death the home ranch was heavily mortgaged and these two ladies set to work to redeem it. They began raising vegetables and also poultry and stock and have succeeded in improving the home place and paying off the indebtedness. Since they have been managing it they have put down a well and installed a pumping plant which gives them ample water for irrigation and enhances the value of their property and insures crops. They are both in sympathy with the work of the Presbyterian denomination, and all movements for the upbuilding of the county they have assisted in so far as their means would permit.
↑ *U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 for Jessie Culton -Indiana Richmond, Indiana, City Directory, 1885
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #555651286 (accessed 23 March 2024)
Miss Jessie Culton lived in Richmond, Indiana, in 1885.
↑ A new literary society has been formed -The Richmond Item Richmond, Indiana Thu, Oct 23, 1884 Page 2
↑ Santa Ana Brevities Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1895
↑ Fair Maids and Matrons - charity event The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wed, Apr 17, 1889 Page 5
↑ Presbyterians at the Park Charity Event- Jessie Culton and friends sail the Doll Yacht The Richmond Item Richmond, Indiana Tue, Aug 26, 1884 Page 1
↑ The Stars and Stripes - The Osage City Free Press Osage City, Kansas Thu, May 1, 1890 Page 1. See Images for full article.
↑ Guests enjoyed hospitality of the "Eddy's" Santa Ana Register
Santa Ana, California Wed, Apr 28, 1920 Page 12
↑ Mrs. Eddy is Still Alive The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sat, Oct 9, 1909
Page 5
↑ Statement by Alfred Farlow Arkansas Democrat Little Rock, Arkansas Sat, Oct 16, 1909 Page 3
↑ Friends of Mrs. Stetson -The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sun, Oct 10, 1909 Page 14
↑ "Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118273330/jessie-fatima-culton: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Jessie Fatima Culton (14 Feb 1860–7 Oct 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 118273330, citing Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Maintained by Madam Sheol (contributor 48800872).
↑ *Willard, Frances Elizabeth ( 1893 ) A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits
↑ History of Orange County, California: with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county, who have been identified with the growth and development from the early days to the present time ... By Samuel Armor Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1911 California Local History - Rocq - 6102 Calif. State Library History Room (RR) CALL NUMBER: [Alcove] 979.496 A7 -- 1911 -- Book NC
See Also:
Newspapers.com - The Osage City Free Press - 1 May 1890 - Page 1Publisher The Osage City Free Press Publisher date 1 May 1890 Publisher location Osage City, Kansas
Jessie Culton in the United States Census 1900 Year: 1900; Census Place: Westminster, Orange, California; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 0142; FHL microfilm: 1240095 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #36479390 (accessed 23 March 2024) Jessica Culton was born about 1859 in USA. In 1900, she was 41 years old and lived in Westminster, California. Adele U. Charters also listed as living in the household.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVLV-44G : accessed 4 June 2023), Jossie F Culton in household of Adele U Charters, Westminster, Orange, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 60, sheet 18B, family 474, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 90; FHL microfilm 1,374,103.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCDV-15D : accessed 4 June 2023), Jessie F Culton, Anaheim, Orange, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 13, sheet 1B, line 69, family 22, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 180; FHL microfilm 2,339,915.
"California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-YVKF : 23 February 2021), Jessie F Culton, 07 Oct 1933; citing 55566, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,048.
Newspapers.com - Chicago Tribune - 12 Mar 1895 - Page 12
Newspapers.com - Chicago Tribune - 9 Oct 1898 - Page 6
Newspapers.com - Iron County Register - 18 Mar 1915 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - Palladium-Item - 18 Aug 1884 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1907-10-04 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1911-07-06 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1913-09-05 - Page 8
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1915-07-20 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1920-04-27 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 1933-10-09 - Page 14
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 20 Jul 1915 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 20 Oct 1917 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 22 Jun 1915 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 28 Apr 1920 - Page 12
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 8 Oct 1917 - Page 8
Newspapers.com - Santa Ana Register - 9 Oct 1933 - Page 14
Newspapers.com - The Boston Globe - 10 Oct 1909 - Page 14
Newspapers.com - The Boston Globe - 17 Apr 1889 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - The Boston Globe - 9 Oct 1909 - Page 5
Newspapers.com - The Inter Ocean - 1898-10-09 - Page 20
Newspapers.com - The Los Angeles Times - 16 Sep 1913 - Page 18
Newspapers.com - The Los Angeles Times - 25 Apr 1920 - Page 47
Newspapers.com - The Los Angeles Times - 9 Oct 1898 - Page 15
Newspapers.com - The Modesto Bee - 11 Nov 1932 - Page 12
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 19 Oct 1920 - Page 2
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 21 Jul 1919 - Page 10
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 23 Apr 1920 - Page 3
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 28 Apr 1920 - Page 2
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 28 May 1919 - Page 17
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 30 Apr 1919 - Page 6
Newspapers.com - The Orange County Plain Dealer - 5 Apr 1920 - Page 7
Newspapers.com - The Osage City Free Press - 1 May 1890 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - The Osage City Free Press - 1890-05-01 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 14 Nov 1885 - Page 2
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 16 Oct 1885 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 1884-08-26 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 1884-10-23 - Page 2
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 1885-10-16 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 1885-11-14 - Page 2
Newspapers.com - The Richmond Item - 29 Mar 1888 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - The Santa Fe New Mexican - 1887-12-07 - Page 4
Is Jessie your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships.
It is likely that these
autosomal DNA
test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Jessie:
I love that you have uncovered the story of this amazing woman/this amazing couple! It's so rare that childless women get historical or genealogical recognition for even existing, let alone their accomplishments or their personal relationships. Thanks for this inspiring work!
Thank you for your kind comment. Although we never had the opportunity to know her personally, Jessie's contributions to her family are still felt and we love her dearly. The kindness and generosity that both women displayed during (and after) their lifetimes are an inspiration. I'm glad we could share it.
Featured Asian and Pacific Islander connections:
Jessie is
25 degrees from 今上 天皇, 19 degrees from Adrienne Clarkson, 23 degrees from Dwight Heine, 23 degrees from Dwayne Johnson, 18 degrees from Tupua Tamasese Lealofioaana, 18 degrees from Stacey Milbern, 16 degrees from Sono Osato, 30 degrees from 乾隆 愛新覺羅, 21 degrees from Ravi Shankar, 26 degrees from Taika Waititi, 24 degrees from Penny Wong and 16 degrees from Chang Bunker
on our single family tree.
Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.