When Jessie Gaskins was born in 1824, in Washington, Indiana, United States, his father, John Gaskins II, was 36 and his mother, Mary Ann Keyte, was 33. He married Elizabeth La Favre on 1 March 1846, in Monroe, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Baker Township, Morgan, Indiana, United States in 1850 and Curry Township, Sullivan, Indiana, United States in 1860. He died on 27 December 1865, in Sullivan, Indiana, United States, at the age of 41.