Willard, W. O.

WILLARD

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/1/2013 at 12:17:03

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

WILLARD, W.O.—Grinnell Twp—pg 931. Farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, P.O. Grinnell. Was born November 2, 1840, in Henry county, Illinois, and was there educated and developed to manhood. In 1868 he came to his present location, where he owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifteen acres. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Emma E. -----, a native of New York. Their family consists of three children: Frank E., William A., Henry G. Mr. Willard enlisted in 1862 in company F, One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois volunteers, and served to the close of the war; he was in some of the most severe battles of the war: Raymond, Jackson, Champion’s Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, and after that time in the mail business, and was changed from there to the quartermaster department, in which place he remained to the close of the war. He was mustered out in September, 1865, and returned to Springfield, Illinois. His father was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and followed nursery business for seven years since he came to this county.