My Genealogy Hound

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, 1866, 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.