Map of Jefferson, Ohio circa 1873

This map comes from HistoricMapWorks.com. The entire map is visible and zoomable by clicking here: HistoricMapWorks.com/Jefferson1873

Please note that the two lots on the Southeast corner of the square (Township Road and Front St.) belong to C.W. Lessiter which would be Charles Ware Lessiter. There is another lot North and East of the square that is labeled "C.W. Lessetter" (note the different spelling). In the bottom center of the map, just south of Water St., is also quite a large lot labeled "E. Lessetter" which I believe may actually be Charles' mother Ellen Lessiter who would have been a widow in the year 1873 and would have been living in Jefferson. Because of this and the fact that no one named "Lessetter" has been found on any Wayne County census of the time, I also assume that "C.W. Lessetter" is Charles Ware Lessiter.

The Lessiter Store- Jefferson, OH

This is the harness shop and general store that Charles Ware Lessiter owned and operated in Jefferson, OH around the 1880's. It was located on the southeast corner of the square.

William and Ellen Lessiter

Headstone for William Lessiter (b. 1815 England) and Ellen/Eleanor (nee: Woodcock) Lessiter (b. 1813 England)

This grave is located in Moreland, Wayne County, Ohio behind the Moreland Church.

 

Charles Ware Lessiter

Charles Ware Lessiter
b. 11/10/1848
d. 12/31/1935


Charles Ware Lessiter was the son of William and Ellen Lessiter of England. In the early 1840's, William and Ellen moved from England to Doylestown, Ohio. Shortly thereafter, the couple relocated to the other side of Wayne County in Jefferson. The couple had two sons, George (born about 1846) and Charles.

From local historical records, we can estimate that William and Ellen Lessiter moved to Jefferson, Wayne County, Ohio from England before 1853 when William was naturalized. Charles was a well-known businessman in the Jefferson area starting out as a harness maker and transitioning to Postmaster of the Plain post office in 1881. In that same year, he also opened a general store in connection with his harness shop which was located on the southeast corner of the main street intersection.

Charles' father and brother were both leather tanners. George is also found listed in various articles and census records as an undertaker and a butcher.

In 1870, Charles married Emma Gardner (born in Lancaster Co., PA) and they had three sons, William Wallace (12/23/1870 - 1/8/1942), Frank W. (7/3/1873 - 12/24/1904) and Frederick C. (Jun 1877 - 10/9/1939) and one daughter, Harriet Ellen (2/14/1890 - 1893).

Charles was also a member of the Jefferson Citizen's Cornet Band from 1884 to 1896.

George Lessiter

George Lessiter
b. 10/2/1845
d. 7/5/1917

George Lessiter was born on October 2, 1845 in Jefferson, Wayne County, Ohio. He was the eldest son of William and Ellen (Woodcock) Lessiter.
George was an enterprising man who followed in his father's footsteps by operating a tannery with a bark house, tan yard and tan shop. He was also an undertaker and a butcher in Jefferson.

No record of a wife or children has been found for George and he is listed as single on his death certificate.

George died on July 5th, 1917 at the age of 71 in Barberton, Ohio and is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.