Joseph Willis (1802 - 1883)

Born 6 Mar 1802 in Earl, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Died 30 Sep 1883 at age 81 in Elkhart County, Indiana

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Biography

Joseph was born March 6, 1802,^[1] in Earl, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Joseph Willis and Mary Bowder. On May 31, 1829, he married Lydia Elizabeth Peeler, both residing in Earl Township, at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Holland, Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[2]

Joseph and Lydia are listed in the following census records.

1830 census, Leacock, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

One male, 20 thru 29

One female, 15 thru 19

1840 census, Plain, Stark County, Ohio

One male, 30 thru 39 [Joseph]

One female, 20 thru 29 [Lydia]

One male, 5 thru 9 [George]

One female, 5 thru 9 [Rebecca]

Two females under 5 [Ann and one other]

One person employed in agriculture

One person employed in manufacture and trade

1850 census, Green, Summit County, Ohio

Joseph Willis, age 48, weaver, born in Pennsylvania

Lydia Willis, age 38, born in Pennsylvania

George Willis, age 19, weaver, born in Pennsylvania

Mary Ann Willis, age 18, born in Pennsylvania

Rebecca Willis, age 15, born in Ohio

Ann M. Willis, age 13, born in Ohio

David M. Willis, age 9, born in Ohio

Jeremiah H. Willis, age 7, born in Ohio

Lydia E. Willis, age 3, born in Ohio

Sarah Willis, age 1, born in Ohio

1860 census, Champaign County, Illinois

Joseph Wills [sic], age 50 [sic], farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania

Lydia Wills, age 40, born in Pennsylvania

Lydia E. Wills, age 14, born in Ohio

Samuel Willis, age 9, born in Indiana

1870 census, Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana

Joseph Willis, age 65, broommaker, born in Pennsylvania

Ludia Willis, age 58, born in Pennsylvania

Samuel Willis, age 20, laborer, born in Indiana

1880 census, Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana

Joseph Willis, age 78, weaver, born in Pennsylvania

Lydia Willis, age 68, born in Pennsylvania

According to his obituary, Joseph died on September 30, 1883, in Elkhart County, Indiana:

Joseph Willis was bom in Lancaster Co., Pa., March 6th, 1802. Became Identified with the Lutheran Church when 18 years old under the pastoral ministration of Rev. J . Rinehart. May 30th, 1829, was married to Lydia Peeler, by Rev. John Rykert. In the year 1835 he removed to Uniontown, Oh., and from thence to Elkhart Co., Ind., in l851. In 1857 he went to Illinois, where he remained until 1868, when he returned to Elkhart Co., where he lived until his death, Sept. 30th, 1883. He reached the advanced age of 81 years, 8 months, and 24 days.''^[3]

Children of Joseph and Lydia were George Franklin Willis, Mary Ann Willis, Rebecca Willis, Ann M. Willis, David M. Willis, Jeremiah H. Willis, Lydia E. Willis, Sarah Willis, and Samuel L. Willis.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158098978/joseph-willis: accessed 02 February 2024), memorial page for Joseph Willis (6 Mar 1802–30 Sep 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 158098978, citing Jackson Township Cemetery, Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Robert Ashton (contributor 47648564). Citing Joseph's obituary in the Goshen Democrat, Goshen, Indiana, page 3, 17 Oct 1883.
2. ↑ Hilbish and Blackman Family (Alicia Blackman), http://www.hilbishgenealogy.com,November 20, 2016. Citing Trinity Lutheran New Holland original records, Trinity Lutheran Church, New Holland, Earl Twp. Lancaster Co. PA, LDS microfilm 21705.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158098978/joseph-willis: accessed 02 February 2024), memorial page for Joseph Willis (6 Mar 1802–30 Sep 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 158098978, citing Jackson Township Cemetery, Benton, Elkhart County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Robert Ashton (contributor 47648564). Citing Joseph's obituary in the Goshen Democrat, Goshen, Indiana, page 3, 17 Oct 1883.