Jerry, I've been thinking about your "Jerry/Jesse" question.

Before say 1920, folks named their children more formal names, but called them by some nickname. Also, Jerry is not a name that would be given to a child in the 1850's, it's too modern. Usually it would be the nickname for Gerald or the more Catholic name, like Jerome for the saint by that name. But even Gerald is a 20th Century name. Jesse sounds like it could be the birth name. It was considered formal and a good Scotch-Irish name.(don't use Scot's Irish, that burns me up. We've been using Scotch-Irish since the 15th of 16th Century) Remember, Jesse is a Christian name, named after King David's father, and a favorite around the 1850's, but not too much before-- example: Jesse James, the outlaw. Scotch-Irish names early on were James maybe Patton as a middle name for grandma with a last name of Graham. Also, Robert and no middle name Henderson. Prior to that many Christian names were preceeded by John/ Johann with a middle name of Peter, Phillip, Daniel, or Paul, or Joseph by itself, all very formal. A nickname for a German would be Hans for a man with a middle name, and Hannes, for Johannes, meaning one who didn't have a middle name.
I take it that Jerry/Jesse didn't have a middle name. If he did how does it sound with the first name ? In the middle if the 1800's they moved on to the next Christian set of names, David, Abner, Absalom, Jesse, and last names used as first names....... So, after mumbling to myself a bit I think that your Dunn person's name at birth was really "JESSE". (did he join the military, his correct name should be there). Karen See below.

I just went into Ancestry.com and it took me to some early German city directory site looking for Jerry Dunn. I take it all back. There were some Jerry Dunn's there, more thant one. I didn't look to long, it's almost 12:30PM and my eyes are glazing over I thought Dunn was English or Irish?? Have to look at that later. K.