Willard was working as a farm laborer in the household of Simmie F. and Idalie Miller in Calumet, O'Brien, Iowa in 1900.[1] He was also still living at home with his parents, in Spring Township, Cherokee, Iowa.[2]
According to Dick Haller, Willard's grandson, Willard and Mae[3] were divorced because she did not want to chase Willard's homesteading dream in Oklahoma, a harsh place at the time. Willard ended up not staying long, and came back and married again, this time to Bessie Wadell.
According to Willard's World War I Draft Registration Card, he was tall, of medium build, and had blue eyes and light brown hair.[4]
Sources
↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9LS-T9L : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard Priestley in household of Simmie F Miller, Liberty Township Calumet town, O'Brien, Iowa, United States; citing sheet 3B, family 47, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240451.
↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M92Z-9WK : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard Priestley in household of John H Priestley, Spring Township, Cherokee, Iowa, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 31, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240423.
↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJZX-4X2 : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard J. Priestly and May Irena Dick, 14 Feb 1901; citing Cherokee, Cherokee, Iowa, United States; FHL microfilm 1035293.
↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/29JX-SL2 : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard Jay Priestley, 1917-1918; citing Custer County, Dakota County, Dawes County, Dawson County, Nebraska, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 1711524.
"Iowa State Census, 1895," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VTS5-HJJ : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard J Priestly in household of John H Priestly, Cherokee, Iowa, United States; citing p. 5, 1895, History Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1020342.
"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/ML4M-HBS : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard Priestly, Covington, Dakota, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 73, sheet 14B, family 238, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374854.
"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCVD-1VB : accessed 28 May 2014), Willard Prestley, Covington, Dakota, Nebraska, United States; citing sheet 10A, family 522, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820981.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Willard by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Willard: