Transcription of Biographical Sketch of Stephen P Willis

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Willis

Contents 1 Transcription 2 Research Notes 2.1 Stephen P Willis 2.2 Caroline White 2.3 Sarah A (Willis) Ross 2.4 Charles L Willis 2.5 Laura Mildred Willis 2.6 James W Willis 2.7 Ann Stewart 3 Sources

Transcription

X-4197 05:34, 17 July 2022 (UTC) Note: spelling, capitalization, and terminology are all as in the original.

Stephen P. Willis

The pioneer history of King county has upon its rolls the name of Stephen P. Willis, who for many years has resided within its borders and is therefore one of its oldest residents. Wonderful changes have occurred since his arrival, and of the work of progress and advancement he has ever been an advocate. By his active participation as well as friendly encouragement he has assisted in the development and substantial promotion of the county until it takes rank with the older counties of the east in all the elements of civilization.

Illinois is the state of Mr. Willis's nativity, his birth having occurred in Putnam county[sic] on the 3d of September, 1831, and on the paternal side he is descended from old Scotch[sic] ancestry, while in the maternal line he is of Welsh descent. His father, James W. Willis, was born in South Carolina in 1797, but when a boy he was taken by his parents to Ohio, and in 1820 he located in Putnam county, Illinois. There he continued to make his home until 1839, when he removed to Linn county, Iowa, and there his life's labors were ended in death in 1844. He followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation. For his wife he chose Ann Stewart, who was born in Kentucky in 1800, but was reared in Ohio. After her husband's death she remained in Iowa until 1857, then removed to Polk county, Oregon, from there to Umpqua, Douglas county, Oregon, and from there to Umatilla county, where her death occurred at the home of her daughter in 1885.

Stephen P. Willis received only the meager advantages afforded by the district schools of Illinois and Iowa, and until his twenty-fourth year he remained under the parental roof and assisted in the work of the home farm. After his father's death he continued to care for his widowed mother in lowa until 1857, and in that year, by the Panama route, he went to California and Oregon, locating first in the Willamette valley, where he remained for two years. Going thence to the Umpqua valley in Douglas county, Oregon, he was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for six years, having purchased a farm near Roseburg in 1861. Four years later, in 1865, he came to the White river valley in Washington, where he homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near the present town of Kent, which he cleared from the dense forest that covered it, and was there successfully engaged in farming and dairying for the long period of twenty-five years. By perseverance, industry, economy and good management he attained a leading position among the substantial farmers of the community, and his worth is widely acknowledged by those who are familiar with his honorable business methods. Desiring to retire from the active duties of a business life, Mr. Willis in 1895 placed his farm in charge of his nephew, W. J. Shinn. The latter divided the place into five-acre tracts, and these he sold on contract, but as some of the purchasers failed to meet their obligations Mr. Willis is still the owner of a part of the tract. In the meantime he had also purchased three lots at Latonia, on Lake Union, on which he erected a comfortable residence, and there he made his home for ten years. Selling his place in 1900, he returned to the old farm on White river, which he had previously given to his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ross, whose husband, W. R. Ross, was waylaid and fatally shot by his neighbor, Alexander Simpson, in 1901. The latter is now serving a fifteen years' sentence for his crime. The motive which led to the terrible murder is thought to have been jealousy. Mr. Willis is a Prohibitionist, and takes a prominent part in the campaigns of his party.

In Linn county, Iowa, in 1855, Mr. Willis was united in marriage to Caroline White, who was born in Ohio in 1833, and was of English descent. For many years they traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other in the joys and sorrows which checker the lives of all, but on the 8thof May, 1901, they were separated by the hand of death, the mother being called to her final rest from the old White river farm. Two of their three children are now living,—Sarah A., the widow of W. R. Ross; and Charles L., a real estate dealer at Latonia, Washington. Laura Mildred, who was born in 1856, died in the Willamette valley of Oregon in 1858. On November 5. 1902, Mr. Willis was married to Edith E. Wheeler, and now makes his home in Kent.

Research Notes

Stephen P Willis

Born 03 Sep 1831 in Putnam County, Illinois

Attended district schools in Illinois and Iowa

Lived and worked on the family farm until age 24 (1855)

After his father's death (1844) he continued to care for his widowed mother in lowa

In 1855 in Linn County, Iowa Mr. Willis married Caroline White.

In 1857, he went to California and Oregon by the Panama route

In 1857, he settled in the Willamette valley

In 1859 he moved to Umpqua Valley, Douglas County, Oregon, where he was a farmer for six years, specifically “engaged in agricultural pursuits”

In 1861 he purchased a farm near Roseburg

In 1865, he moved to the White River Valley in Washington

He homesteaded a 160-acre tract near present (1903) town of Kent.

Cleared forest and farmed and operated a dairy successfully for 25 years.

Leading farmer in the community with honorable business methods and his worth was widely acknowledged

Advocate of the work of progress and advancement

"Active participation and friendly encouragement" in development and substantial promotion of the county until it "takes rank with the older counties of the east in the all the elements of civilization."

In 1895, he wanted to retire and put his nephew W. J. Shinn in charge of the farm

W.J. Shinn divided the place into five-acre tracts he sold on contract.

Some purchasers defaulted so Stephen retained ownership of part of the land.

He gave the old farm on the White River to his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ross

In the meantime he purchased 3 lots at Latonia, on Lake Union

Built a "comfortable" house and lived for 10 years.

In 1900 he sold his Latonia home and returned to the old farm on White River

05 Nov 1902 he married Edith E. Wheeler

In 1903, he lives in Kent

Caroline White

Wife of Stephen P Willis

Of English descent

Born 1833 in Ohio

Died 08 May 1901 on the old White River farm.

Sarah A (Willis) Ross

Daughter of Stephen P Willis and Caroline White

Widow of W. R. Ross

Living in 1903

In 1901, husband WR was fatally shot by his neighbor, Alexander Simpson (serving 15 years' sentence). Biography states "The motive which led to the terrible murder is thought to have been jealousy." which is a bit different from newspaper articles from the time of the murder.

Charles L Willis

Son of Stephen P Willis and Caroline White

Real estate dealer at Latonia, Washington

Living in 1903

Laura Mildred Willis

Daughter of Stephen P Willis and Caroline White

Born in 1856

Died in 1858 in Willamette Valley, Oregon

James W Willis

Father of Stephen P Willis

of old "Scotch" ancestry

Born in 1797 in South Carolina

Taken by his parents to Ohio

In 1820 he located in Putnam County, Illinois

In 1838 he moved to Linn County, Iowa

Died in 1844 in Linn County, Iowa

Occupation: "tilling of the soil"

Ann Stewart

Mother of Stephen P Willis

of Welsh descent

Born in 1800 in Kentucky

Reared in Ohio

Initially remained in Iowa after her husband James's death

In 1857 moved to Polk County, Oregon.

(no date) moved to Umpqua, Douglas County, Oregon

(no date) moved to Umatilla County, Oregon

Died in 1885 at home of her daughter in Umatilla County, Oregon.

Sources

• Lewis Publishing Company. "A Volume of Memories and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington," New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1903. Digitized in 2008. URL:

https://ia902605.us.archive.org/16/items/volumeofmemoirsg00lewi/volumeofmemoirsg00lewi.pdf. [Accessed 16 Jul 2022] . Section containing the Biographical Sketch of Stephen P. Willis, p.527-8 (printed), p.647-8 (digital)