52. Willis Family
       
           The Willis family appears to come from South Carolina and relocated westward in Kentucky.  The earliest member located so far is Britton Willis, born in North Carolina ca 1758. He enlisted in Saluda Co. South Carolina at the age of 17 or 18. and to Georgia where he stayed for 8-10 years whence he returned to South Carolina in Saluda & Pendleton counties. Fourteen years later he moved to Muhlenberg Co. Kentucky for the next 27 years. He received Land Patents in KY in 1797-98-& 99 in Christian, Logan & Muhlenberg Co. KY. 
      In his will are listed his wife Ann and the following:

      Children:
                Jane, mar. _______ Wright
                Ann, mar. _______ Wright 
                JAMES
                Matthew
                Winifred, mar. _______Garrit
                David G.
                Thomas (dec.)

          Still to be found are more records of JAMES WILLIS who is recorded as being the farther of Matthew Franklin Willis

            Mathew is recorded as having been born in Kentucky on the 1880 U. S. Census of Waterford, Marshall Co., MS.  His parents are both listed as having been born in South Carolina  but to date more information is still a mystery.

      MATHEW FRANKLIN WILLIS, born Dec. 30, 1826 KY, died Oct. 11, 1884 Waterford, Marshall Co., MS. married ca. 1865, Julia F. Hoke, born Nov.11, 1836 MS, died Oct. 25, 1884 Waterford, MS, the daughter of David Hoke of VA. (Julia may have had a brother, David R. Hoke, born AL ca, 1830 and became a Physician living in Pontotoc Co., MS (U.S. Census Sep. 11, 1850, p.74) According to their daughter, Corrie, her mother, Julia, was a highly educated person.  A college graduate and fine pianist.  Her father, Mathew, had to quit school because of the impending Civil War.  As the South lost the war, he had to go to work and could not continue his education.  He managed to bury $500.00 when things looked bleak for the South and after the war, he invested in a store and bought cotton.  Corrie said,  "He was a good businessman and made a fortune. "
      Children:

        David Hoke, born ca. 1866
        Beulah, born ca. 1868, married Clay Miller
        CORRINE (CORRIE),         born Oct. 17, 1870

      CORRINE (CORRIE) WILLIS, born Oct. 17, 1870 Cornersville, Marshall Co., MS, died May 28, 1964 Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA, interred Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, Los Angeles Co., CA, married Feb. 4, 1895 Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS, Samuel Dabney Gray Sr., born Jan. 8, 1871 probably Holly Springs, MS, died Jun. 3, 1903 Holly Springs and probably is interred there.
      (See Gray Family Addendum)
      Children:
        SAMUEL DABNEY JR., born Apr. 23, 1896
        Henry Willis, born 1901, died 1957, Los Angeles Co., CA,

      After Samuel Sr. died of T. B., his son Samuel Jr. still in his early teens, developed lung trouble.  On their doctors advice, Corrie was anxious to get him to a drier climate.  She arranged for him to live on a ranch in Arizona and work in the commissary on the ranch to help pay for his keep.  After a few weeks of his being in Arizona, Corrie left her son Willis with her brother-in-law, Benjamin C. Gray, his wife, and Grandma Cordelia Gray.  She came west to be with her ailing son and took a job on the ranch cooking and doing housework.  Some years later she obtained a job teaching (taught for over 18 years) and sent for Willis.  A very energetic and enterprising person, Corrie thus brought her family to Arizona.  Corrie's father, Mathew, always realized how necessary it was to have a good education and in his will stated: His three children must have a college diploma; that the two girls must graduate in Music or Art expression; and if they married first, would not receive any property until they did.  When Corrie moved west she realized how right her father had been.

      Ref: (18 b), (35), (62), (97 a, f), (92 p), (95 b).