William Willis
William Willis, of Sullivan and well known throughout the county, was born on a farm in Lamott Township, Crawford County, Illinois, on the 14thof August, 1851. His father, Richard Willis, was formerly from Kentucky, and was a farmer by occupation. He died in 1857. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Tempy Ann Webb. She died in 1855, leaving three small children:
Emeline, the oldest, married Amos Miseinhelder, of Palestine, Illinois, and is now deceased.
William, of this review.
Isabelle, the youngest, married Joseph B. Pearson, of Sullivan, and is also deceased.
Upon the death of their parents the children found homes among strangers.
Our subject lived with a farmer in Crawford County until eleven years of age, and then ran away and spent a winter with an uncle in the same county. He then went to live with Seymour Siler, and remained with him until fifteen years old, and then with an uncle who had returned from California visited his sisters, from whom he had been separated since their father's death. He then found a home with George W. French, a farmer living south of Merom. During this time he had attended school but little, but after becoming a member of Mr. French's family he attended school more regularly, and a part of each year during five years attended Merom College. In the fall of 1873 he commenced teaching at Merom Station. He taught a part of each year for three years and was employed at farming during the summer seasons. In 1880 he was elected Township Trustee of Gill Township, and served for four years, and in the fall of 1886 was elected County Auditor and served two terms of four years each. He then engaged in the real estate loan and insurance business in Sullivan, and has continued in that business until the present time.
He first married Sarah L. Ward on the 23d of July, 1875. She was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ward, and was a graduate of Merom College and became a teacher. She died in 1877. His second marriage, on the 9th of April, 1879, was to Mary E. Sibley. She was born in Hamilton Township, a daughter of William T. and Cecelia Sibley. The following children have blessed this union:
Carl M., was educated in the public schools of Sullivan and assisted his father until his death, which occurred December 12, 1902, aged twenty-two years.
Flossie C., married Herbert C. Steele, of Robinson, Illinois.
Cecelia
William E., married Rhoda E. Boyle and had one child, Mary Louise.
Ralph R.
Burchard.
Mr. and Mrs. Willis are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and have reared their family in that faith. Mr. Willis cast his first vote for Horace Greeley, and has been a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party since. He is a member of Sullivan Lodge, F. & A. M., Sullivan Chapter, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Sullivan, and the orders of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs, and Sullivan Lodge, K. of P.
Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 277-278.