Jesse was the son of Simon Peter Linn & Catherine Jane Akers. He was a sheep rancher.
On 14 September 1875 in Warren Township, Lucas, Iowa, he married Catherine Virginia "Jennie" Murray. They had 7 children: Deette Patience (1876-1949); John Lee (1878-1958); Clarissa May (1880-1923); Lillian Maude (1882-1974); Addaline Lucetta (1884-1982); Jessie D. "Son" (1886-1915); and Violet Elizabeth (1888-1914). Jennie died from blood poisoning 1 August 1890 in Asherville, Mitchell County, Kansas where they had moved and bought land.
Jesse then went back to Iowa and in February 1893 in Henry County, Iowa, he 2nd married Rose Mosier (1866-1894). They had one son, Grover Cleveland Linn born 1 January 1894 & died 6 January 1894 in Lucas County, Iowa. Rose died 3 January 1894 of LaGrippe after giving birth.
Jesse then 3rd married Francis J. White Walters (1856-1902) on 7 August 1894 in Lucas County, Iowa. She was a widow with two children, Sula Mae Walters (1883-1957) and Henry Morgan Walters (1885-). Jesse & Fannie had one son, Simon Peter Linn (1895-1971).
Jesse & Fannie and kids all moved to Wyoming where Jesse took up sheep ranching. One of Jessie & Jennie's children, Clarissa May Linn, stayed behind an grew up living with her maternal grandparents, John & Elizabeth Murray and another Deette was already married and stayed in Iowa.
After Fannie died in 1902, Jesse then 4th married Fannie's daughter, Sula Mae Walters, on 18 August 1902 in Basin, Big Horn, Wyoming. They had 5 children: Chalmers Armstrong (1906-), Hazel Nadine (1910-), Helen Arlene (1912-), Ina (1914-), and Elmer Dale (1919-).
He gave up the Sheep ranching in Wyoming due to the Cattle/Sheep wars and moved around some finally settling in Oregon, where he died. His body was cremated and the ashes were taken back to Wyoming and scattered over the Big Horn Mountains.