Jacob Leander Deaton
March 8th 1904 – April 23rd 1942
Jacob Leander Deaton was the second son of John Starlin Deaton and Etta Icie Davis Deaton. He was born March 8, 1904 in Graham County, NC. After John Starlin Deaton was killed Etta Deaton and her family lived with James and Martha Ann Wheeler in Towns County, GA for a few years. Etta Deaton married James Meeler and there were hard times. Etta’s children from the Deaton family were sent out to work for other families. Jacob stayed with Ulysses and Rhilla Martin where he worked in the cotton gin. John Deaton, Jacob’s brother, also stayed with this family. He farmed most of his life in Banks and Franklin Counties. He also worked on the WPA and cut cross ties in the winter for the railroad. He married Bertha Cornelia Smith on August 24, 1924. Bertha Smith was born on September 26, 1907 in Hart County, GA. Her parents were Earl and Millie Mae Saylors Smith. They had six children: Carrie Mae, Earl Starlin, Eddie Daniel, Ophelia Henrietta, Thomas Emory, and Ernest Lee Deaton. When he was going to the hospital with pneumonia he told Carrie, “Sis, you are the oldest. Take care of the little ones”. He was not to come home again for he died of kidney failure on April 24, 1942. He is buried in Fairfield Cemetery in Demorest, GA. Carrie took this challenge seriously. She went to Belmont, NC to stay with her Grandmother Smith. She lied about her age and got a job in the cotton mill. She sent her mother every penny that she did not need to live on.
Father: John Starlin Deaton
Mother: Etta Icie Davis
Brothers: Harve Wesley Deaton, John Henry Deaton
Half Brothers: Reuben Deaton, David Deaton, Isaac Deaton, Robert Lee Deaton, Charlie Meeler, Robert Lee Meeler
Half Sisters: Odell Meeler, Elsie Meeler
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Wife: Bertha Cornelia Smith
Children: Carrie Deaton, Earl Deaton, Eddie Daniel Deaton, Ophelia Deaton, Thomas Emory Deaton, Ernest Lee Deaton
Jacob "Jake" Deaton
L to R: Jake, Carrie, Bertha
Jake and wife Bertha
Later in Life
Jake was six feet seven inches tall. He was a hard working man who taught his children to work hard. On Sundays he liked to play with the children. He made toys for the children using tall round trees to saw wheels and using hot iron rods to burn holes in the wheels. With these wheels he made wagons, wheelbarrows and cars. The family was very happy. He liked to rabbit hunt and fish. He loved his family. On his birthday his wife always made him a huge chicken pie. All of his family would come by to see him that day. When any of his brothers visited the children would gather around to hear all the jokes, hunting tales, and laughter.
Jake holding niece, Ruth Deaton
L to R: Eddie Daniel, Thomas Emory, Earl, Jake, Bertha, Ernest, Ophelia, Carrie
Jake Deaton
Carrie Deaton's Recollections of her Father
Death
One day when plowing the fields, Jake hit a rock and the plow came back and hit him in the chest. As a result of this, he had to go to the hospital with pneumonia and he told his daughter, Carrie, “Sis, you are the oldest. Take care of the little ones”. He was not to come home again for he died on April 24, 1942. He is buried in Fairfield Cemetery in Demorest, GA. Carrie took this challenge seriously. She went to Belmont, NC to stay with her Grandmother Smith. She lied about her age and got a job in the cotton mill. She sent her mother every penny that she did not need to live on.
Location of where Jake Deaton was plowing that caused his death.
Coordinates: 34.60791° N, 83.63753° W
Homes
Jake Deaton's Baldwin home in the 1930s. Coordinates: 34.42173° N, 83.46785° W
Jake Deaton's house was in location of white car pictured. Oak tree was still there and Jake once killed a hen in the same oak tree pictured on the right and ate it for dinner.
Jake Deaton's Baldwin home in the 1940s. Coordinates: 34.60791° N, 83.63753° W
Jake Deaton's house was in location of red circle. This was his last home and the land in which he died.
Every Photo I have seen of Jake Deaton