His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Clarence Leonard Gilkerson, age 38, born 25 May 1880, residence Waltz, Rowan Co., Ky, farmer, self-employed, nearest relative Lessa Jane Gilkerson (wife), same address.

The “Lessa” is fairly clear, but it must be a case of the registrar mishearing Dessa.

Her death certicate states Dessie J. Gilkinson, age 36, married, residence Pine Grove, Rowan Co., Ky, died 29 Feb 1920 of childbed fever, father Floyd Hall, mother Margaret Johnson, burial Whisman graveyard. (The birthdate and informant fields are blank.)

Rowan Co. marriage book 5, p. 351, lists the marriage on 30 Nov 1905 of Clarence L. Gilkinson, age 25, and Dessie Hall, age 19, at Floyd Hall's (bride's father), witnesses D. R. Hall & Jno. Hall.

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove precinct, enumerated 10 May, lists on p. 14A as family #239/242:
Gilkerson, Clarance, 29, farmer; Bessie, wife, 24, first marriage for both, married 4 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living; Irene, dau, 1 11/12; Albert, son, 3/12; Hall, Mirl, sister-in-law, 6. All born Ky Ky Ky.