Willis, Jesse
Transcribed from the book "History of Warrick County" by Goodspeed, Chicago: Goodspeed Bros., 1885, p. 185 , submitted by Judy.
Jesse Willis, a native Hoosier, was born February 10, 1842, in Pike
County. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth R. (Rough) Willis, were
natives of North Carolina, where they were married and from whence they
moved to the birth-place of our subject in about 1842. In 1847 they
removed to this county, securing land in Boon Township, where they
engaged in farming, Mr. Willis also working at his trade of
house-carpenter. He was one of the prominent men of his day in the
county, and at the time of his death in April, 1881, was County
Commissioner. His widow still survives him. Jesse Willis is the eldest
of ten children, and being raised on a farm secured only a limited
education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E., Sixty-fifth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served his country with fidelity through
the battles of Franklin, Nashville, Atlanta campaign, and numerous
lesser engagements. On the closing of the war he returned home, and
February, 1855, wedded Mary E. Hunt, who died August 15, 1870, leaving
one daughter—Lucy E. Mr. Willis has followed farming and saw-milling all
his life, being at present engaged in the former occupation and the
owner of 220 acres of well-improved land. March 11, 1877, he married
Alice V. Lawrence, who died February 3, 1881, after bearing two
children, named George E. and William A. Mr. Willis was married October
23, 1883, to Sarah C. Bohannon, his present wife, by whom he is the
father of one child—Cora. He is a stanch Republican, a Freemason, and
Mrs. Willis is a member of the Christian Church.
