James Waterson Wills (1888 - 1979)

Born 27 Nov 1888 in Oak Ridge, Barry, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Elizabeth Schenks — married 10 Mar 1910 in Corning AR

Descendants

Died 7 Feb 1979 at age 90 in Corning, Clay, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Name

James Waterson "Jim" /Wills/

Burial

Corning Cemetery, Corning, Ark.

Occupation

Farmer

Research Notes

This profile has not yet been checked with Jerry's Notes and is included in Category: Cox-5399 jcoxffGED until it has been checked.

Note NI1369

There was a popular picnic place on Black River, east of Taylor Lake, called the Block Yard. After crops were "layed-by" in summer time Grandpa James Waterson Wills and the men of Blue Community would go to the Block Yard the evening before the agreed upon picnic day. They would camp out for the night. Crawdads and minnows were seined and worms dug for bait. In likly looking places along the river bank fishing lines, called limb lines, were tied to tree limbs that grew out over the river and bated. The lines were "run" after the moon came up. All cough fish were removed and the lines were rebated. Early the next morning the lines were run again. Later that morning the wives and children would join the men. The fish were cleaned, deep fried in lard in a large wash kettle. The same one used to boil wash water on wash day. Potatoes, also fried in lard, was on the menu as well as other vegetables that were in season were prepared for the occasion. Blankets were spread on the grass under the several large trees in the area. Table clothes were placed over the blankets. The food was placed on the tablecloths, and people sat down on the grass close by to eat.

Swimming and games were played by kids and adults. On one of these picnics mom, now a teenager, and a friend, neither of whom could swim, were playing in the shallow water near the bank. Just a few feet away was the deep, swift water of the Black River. So enjoyable was the play that the girls did not notice that they had moved out from the bank and were now in water over their heads. The swift current moved them into more and more peril. Both girls began to drown. Ray McCollum, an expert swimmer, who seldom swam for pleasure, was lounging around, taking it easy on the bank near the swimming hole. He heard the shouts of the drowning girls, summed up the situation quickly, removed his shoes and leaped into action. A shallow dive, a few strong strokes brought Ray along side mom's friend. But when he reached out for her, she now in a state of panic began to struggle and fight him. With great strength and swimming skill Ray was able to bring her to the bank and safety. Grampa Wills watched in horror as mom began to bob under and back to the surface in the last stages of drowning. He asked: "Ray would you save Mary too?" Ray replied: "Mr. Wills, I'll try, but I'm very tired. If she fights me I might have to let her go to save myself." Quickly Ray swam to mom. He doubled up his fist and hit her on the side of the head as hard as he could. When he firmly grasp mom's shoulder, she relaxed completely and allowed him to swim her to safety. On the bank, she and her friend recovered, while vomiting up the water they had swallowed. Mom said it was the scariest thing that ever happened to her. She had headaches and a black splotch on the side of her head for a month. During those times Ray saved other people from drowning. He was known as a lifesaver.

At age ten Lizzie contacted scarlet fever. She was very sick for a long time, and she missed one term of school. After recovering she returned to school, but had to repeat some grades, because she had lost some of her memory during the illness. Some said she was never the same after that.

21 Feb, 1901 Lizzie wrote to her half sister, Ollie: "Dear Sister I thought I would write to you to let you know that we are well and hope the same to you. Ollie moma said if you are sick to come home and stay till you are well. Ollie we will look for you home Satuday night. Ollie be sure and come home if you are sick. Ollie if harve can't come home why he can stay at ola til you come back there.

Ollie me and Dollie is going to school. Dollie is going to the schoolhouse and I go to the hall. I have a nice time at school. Ollie I wrote to minnie Sixte (probably a daughter of Katharine "Katie" Schenk who married GW Siitz) yesterday and I hope she will answer it. Ollie we got a letter from ola and I want you to tell her we will write to her. Olli tell harve I will to him the next time well I close by saying good by. Lizzy Shank Dollie shank"

Jim and Lizzie were married 19 March, 1910 by minister James A. Plough.

Apr 10, 1914 "Corning Courier": JW Wills and family visited Harve Mason (husband of Ollie) last Sunday.

After Dollie, her sister, died Lizzy raised Dollie's kids, Grant and Letha. Grant loved Lizzie like his own mother. Grant married Zee. Grant and Zee never missed a chance to visit Lizzie and Jim.

27 Feb, 1920 JW Wills borrowed 0 from S. P. Blackwood - the loan was due 1 Nov. 1920. He mortgaged 1 gray mare mule 11 years old, one bay horse 8 yrs old and a 3" road wagon and set of double harness:1red horned cow 5 yrs old, 1 black ??? cow 4 yrs old, 1 two yr old hiefer black, 1 red yearling hiefer, and their increase. All my entire crop to be grown on the J. M. Oliver farm consisting of 22 acres of cotton and 8 corn and meadow and my hogs consisting of 3 sows, gils, and shoats number 10 in all and their increase.

About 1921 there was a bad drought. Grampa Jim didn't raise enough crop to pay off his mortgage and rent. Grandpa had rented land from Paul Oliver. Paul sold Grampa out. All his farming equipment, teams, wagons - everything. Chris said after that they really had a hard time. There was enough to eat - from the garden, and from canned goods, but little else. For Thanksgiving they cooked an old duck, but saved a turkey and a chicken for later. At Christmas time Chris and Grandma Lizzy were in Corning to buy groceries. Grandma took her last few pennies, bought the kids a couple of pieces of Christmas Candy but no presents. As they started the almost four mile walk home. (North alone the railroad to Williams School district. They lived two houses East from the school.) Grandma stepped on a wad of paper that turned out to be two dollars. Chris said my goodness wonder whose that is. Grandma said I don't care, its mine now. They returned to the store bought more groceries and more Christmas Candy.

Grampa hewed railroad ties and worked by the day for anyone needing help. Also worked on the roads and bridges. A neighbor and friend named Roy Elliot rented Grandpa land and let Grandpa use his team and farming equipment to put in a crop and a large garden. Chris said Grandpa was a long time recovering from that bad year and never really got back to where he was before that happened.

In 1931 The Blue School District String Band played "good music" at the school's program to Honor the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Paul King, Edger Pulliam, Ray McCollum, and Auther Polk played in the band. Paul played guitar. Once Paul cut his index finger so badly that it grew only about half normal length. This made normal fretting of the guitar impossible for him. Not to worry, Paul just laid the guitar flat on his lap and fretted the strings from above the neck.

Later that same year, on a Wednesday, Miss Yealonda and Floyd Wisdon entertained a number of their friends at the Wisdom residence. In attendance was Curtis Wills, Jessie Wills, and Miss Christeen Wills. Also attending were Bunny and Paul King. "Many games were played and all reported a nice time."

Once Paul King's dad granted him use of the team and wagon. He and Christeen and another couple rode into Corning to see the movie. On the way back home Chris and Paul were otherwise occupied, so Paul laid the reins aside. Without guidance the team didn't miss a turn on the way homewards. A trip they had made many times, and they were anxious to get back home for rest and hay. When the lovers rode passed the Poor farm, Mr Poor rushed out to them to announce that he had been robbed; and the robbers were headed towards Victory Lake. Chris and the other young lady climbed down from the wagon. Paul, Mr Poor and the other young man lit out at great speed after the robbers. Chris said she was fearful that Paul would come to harm. The robbers stopped at Victory Lake where they were overtaken by Paul and company and the stolen property recovered. With the stolen property returned to its proper place, the young lovers continued on their way home.

About this time Grandpa James Wills, Fred Kimbal, Glen Kimbal, and others set out shade trees on the Blue School campus

Lizzie dipped snuff. She suffered frequent attacks of constipation; for relief she took "Ex-Lax".

Christeen married Paul King. They lived in a small house about 1/4 mile north of Cleve and Hattie Cox.

One Monday in December of 1938 The Blue Home Demonstration Club had a progressive club meeting. The group met at Mrs. Mable Kimble's for mattress making and lunch, then proceeded to Mrs. Esmon's for the business meeting. Officers were elected. Some of the officers elected were: Mabel Kimble, reporter; Mrs. Leonard, local gardening leader; Mrs Ora Brewer, local canning leader; Mrs. Orpha Kimble, local foods leader; Mrs Minnie Poor, local poultry leader, and Mrs. Lizzie Wills local home improvements leader.

In 1939 Jesse Lee Wills and 80 other Clay County boys joined the CCC.

During or just after WWII James and Lizzie moved to Neelyville Missouri. Son, Jesse, joined James in his farming operation. They rented land from Charley Biggs and continued to sharecrop until late 1940s. At this time they bought a tractor and an eighty acre farm located southwest of Neelyville.

Grandpa enjoyed gardening, both vegetable and flower. Even when working hard in the field, he made time to care for his garden. He practiced the organic gardening method.

Grandpa and grandma maintained a clean home that seemed secure from most bad. John Teague came, as usual, with all his worldly possessions rolled up and strapped to his back. He came walking down the dirt road that passed in front of grandpa's home. He began his walk at Corning. The freight train he had hitched a ride on made a stop at Corning where he hopped off, then knocked on the back doors of homes and offered to work for a meal. After eating a nice meal and working off the debt he enquire as to where Jim Wills lived, then began the 11 mile walk to visit his old friend. Sometimes a wagon would pass and offer him a ride. He arrived at grandpa's on a delightful warm spring day. They had met years before when John had stopped at Grandpa's and offered to work for a meal. Now there relationship was much more. Grandma and grandpa gave John room and board for his companionship, help in putting in their cotton crop, and helping with other chores, like chopping and splitting cook stove wood. John and grandpa went into the woods and selected an ash tree. Ash burned hot and was one of the easiest for splitting into cook stove firewood, red oak would serve well also. They sawed the tree down, chopped off the limbs and chained the tree down in the wagon, and drove the team to the wood pile in the back yard. They unchained the tree and lifted it onto the saw horses, and sawed it into 18 inch lengths. When needed, these lengths were chopped into 2 inch thick slabs. A slab was helt vertical by the left hand on a two foot high chopping block. Carefully aimed axe strokes split 2 inch by 2 inch cook stove fire wood, ideal for fast starting , hot burning firwood. One 'supper' time John announced that since the cotton was in he would be moving on. The next morning after breakfast grandpa and grandma, straieght from the kitchen drying her wet hands on her apron, watched from the front porch as John, with roll strapped to his back, disappeared down the road he came on. Just before passing from sight he turned and offered a last goodby wave of his hand.

Grandpa suffered from asthma. He believed the plant, ragweed, caused his malady. So every spring he walked his and surrounding properties chopping down all the ragweed he could find. But still he suffered greatly. Often breathing was so difficult he could not sleep or even lie in bed. These times he sat up all night in a living room chair, gasping for breath. Late in his life medication was developed which helped greatly. He said it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He wished he had such relief when he was young and working, as would have made his life so much better.

Grandpa retired and he and Lizzie moved from their home on the farm to a home in Neelyville, where they lived until their deaths. The home in Neelyville was a better house and was close to Doctor Smith. Grandma suffered a stroke that left her in a coma. She was placed in the nursing home in Corning AR and died there about 2 years after her stroke. Joan said it was sad to visit Grandma, because she just laid there, never spoke or reconized anyone.

From "Clay County Courier": "MARY E. WILLS FUNERAL SERVICES"

"Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Wills, 83 year old resident of route one Neelyville, died at 1:15 p.m., April 17, 1973 at Corning Nursing Home.

"She was born February 17, 1890 in Corning and was a member of the Methodist Church of Neelyville where she had resided for 33 years. She was married to JM Wills on March 10, 1910.

"Survivors are husband, JW Wills; Two sons Curtis and Jess Wills, both of Neelyville; two daughters Mrs. John (Mary ) Cox and Mrs. Paul (Christeen) King, both of Corning; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren.

"Funeral services were conducted at the Russell-Ermert Chapel at ten o'clock Thursday morning, April 19, by Rev Wayne Clark, pastor of the United Methodist Church. Burial was in Corning Cemetery."

From the "Clay County Courier": "JAMES WILLS NEELYVILLE -- James Wills, a 90 year old resident of route 1 Neelyville, died at 5 p. m. Wednesday in Corning Nursing Home. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in Ermert Funeral Chapel at Corning. The Rev. Muriel Peters will officiate with burial in the Corning Cemetery. Visitation begins at 6 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Wills was born Nov. 27, 1888 at Oak Ridge (Missouri). The retired farmer was of the Methodist faith. His wife, the former Mary Elizabeth Schenks, died April 17, 1973. they were married March 10 1909, at Corning. Survivors include two sons, James C. and Jesse L. Wills both of Neelyville; two daughter, Mrs Mary Cox and Mrs Christeen King both of Corning; a sister, Mrs. Pearl Roberts, Oak Ridge; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren."

Sources

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDN4-V42 : 31 January 2021), J W Wills, 1920.

Acknowledgements

• Wills-1050 was created by Jerry Cox through the import of jcoxff.ged on Oct 15, 2013. NOTE: Imported GEDCOM includes Jerry's notes containing parts of his years of family history research.