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). |
