Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Willard Jay Jefferson ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Willard Jay Jefferson
LAST NAME: Jefferson FIRST NAME: Willard MIDDLE NAME: Jay NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 5 Sep 1857 DIED: 23 May 1939 BURIED: 27 May 1939
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Farmer; County road master
BIRTH PLACE:  Middle Grove, Marion Co., Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Silverton, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
BIOGRAPHICAL: 
The fifth child of Delos and Matilda Jane (Apperson) Jefferson was Willard Jay Jefferson. He was born in Middle Grove, Oregon on September 5, 1857. He bought 160 acres of school land in the Lake Labish area. He lost one corner of this to squatters. The beaverdam was just swamp at the time, so he sold that. He started farming with a small span of mules and a cow. It has been said that few persons have cleared more land of big trees on the border of Lake Labish than Willard. He married Lavina (Newells) Howland the fifteenth of October 1878. He was County Road Master. He built the road, from his house to the bridge and 82nd between Center and Rambler Drive, with a team of horses. He also built Howell Prairie Road. He farmed with horses, then later with a 1020 McCormick Dearing tractor. He did lots of surveying and issued fire permits. He was also a mail carrier. He found time, aside from all of this and managing his farm, to take part in neighborhood affairs. He sired six children. 
Clyde Jefferson in PIONEERS OF LAKE LABISH, p. 53-54
OBITUARY: 
Willard Jay Jefferson, at the residence on Silverton route 3, May 23, at the age of 82 years. Survived by sons, Raymond C., Earl R., and Chester C. Jefferson all of Silverton; daughters, Mrs. Bernice Summers also of Silverton, Mrs. Agnes T. Wells and Mrs. Irene Russ, both of Portland; brother, John Jefferson of Albany; sisters, Mrs. Hattie Lacey and Mrs. Susie Prosser, both of Salem. Thirteen grandchildren also survive. 
Funeral services from the Clough-Barrick company chapel Saturday, May 27, at 1:30 p.m., the Rev. James E. Milligan officiating. Interment IOOF cemetery. 
Oregon Statesman 27 May 1939 5:1.
INSCRIPTION: 
Willard J. Jefferson
1856 - 1939
SOURCES: 
OSBH DC (Marion Co., 1939) #421 
S&H p. 11 
OS 27 May 1939 5:1 
PIONEERS OF LAKE LABISH, p. 53-54
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 080 SPACE: 3 NW N½ LONGITUDE:  LATITUDE: