William Wallace Cessna was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, and died in Larue County, Kentucky. He was the youngest of the nine children of Judge William Cessna and Sarah Wallace, who was born in Scotland and died in Kentucky. He married Marion Wallace Coombs, daughter of Samuel H. Coombs and Susan Williams. Both of Marion’s grandfathers were from Loudoun County, Virginia.

We know next to nothing about William and Marion, but a little more about their generation. One of William’s seven sisters, Sarah Cessna, married a man named Joseph Walters, and one of their daughters eventually married one of William’s sons, making Walter and Sudie Cessna first cousins.

William’s only brother, Jonathan Friend Cessna, was a farmer, slave owner and lawyer. He was elected as the first sheriff of Larue County, a position he held for twelve years. Jonathan was also elected as a County Judge, and as a bonded official he preformed marriages.

Notes on the children of William Wallace Cessna and Marion Wallace Coombs: William (Billy) Cessna was in the horse breeding business with his brother Walter. In 1920 he was living with his sister Ella, her daughter Carrie Ermine Smith-Cox and her husband John William Cox, and the three Cox daughters, Freeda Nell Delena Cox, Ruby Kate Cox and Stella Rose Cox. Samuel and his family relocated to Oklahoma for a decade or so as part of the oil boom; his son William was born there. By 1920 they were back east. Samuel’s oldest son Walter died when the Cessna household was struck by lightning. He was in the attic and it is said that the nails in his shoes melted. Mollie Cessna and family were residents of Louisville, Kentucky, and Sally Cessna’s three children were born in Kansas.