July 23, 1954 The Benton Evening News, Benton, IL

Funeral services for Jesse G. Escue, 85, 1104 E. Webster St., Benton, will be held at the North Benton Baptist Church at 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Rev. John Maulding and Rev. Hobart Peterson will officiate.  Burial will be at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, the Drake Funeral Home directing.
     Mr. Escue died last night at 8:45 after a 10 month illness.  He was a retired farmer.  Survivors include three children, Elbert Escue, Benton; Mrs. Dora Ragsdale, Buncombe, and Mrs. Hattie Bundy, Benton.  A brother Harvey Escue, also survives.  His wife Ida Elizabeth, preceded him in death in April of this year.
He had served as janitor of the Wood Building.
The body is lying in state at 1105 E. Webster.

Contributor's note:  Jesse was born and raised in and around Buncombe, Johnson Co, IL.  He lived on top of Fern Clyffe at one point, getting their water from the spring in the cave beneath.  He moved to Benton during World War I, about 1917-1918.  He was married twice, first to Mary Lydia Johnson, daughter of Mary Catherine Maze & George Washington Johnson, then to Ida Elizabeth Howell Stokes, daughter of Wiley D Howell & Mahala Ellen Stepens Howell & widow of  Lemuel Stokes, who was killed by an ax murderer in a dispute over property lines.