Hiram Willits

WILLITS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 10/1/2001 at 09:53:33

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF COAST COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA. An Historical Story of the State's Marvelous Growth from its earliest settlement to the present time
By PROF. J. M. GUINN, A. M., Also Containing Biographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past and Present.
Published by: The Chapman Publishing Co. Chicago 1904 1500 pgs.

HIRAM WILLITS, pages 606 and 609

HIRAM WILLITS. The founder of Willits, who must ever remain one of the notably interesting personalities of a departed era in Mendocino county, was the oldest child of Robert and Sarah (Beard) Willits, and was born on a farm in Wayne county, Ind., February 5, 1821. In September 1842, when he was twenty-one years old, he accompanied his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, and two years later, March 13, 1844, married Margaret J. Johnson, daughter of William and Nancy (Crane) Johnson, and sister of the present marshal of Willits.

April 1, 1850, Hiram Willits and his wife started across the plains in the direction of California, arriving in Hangtown, now Placerville, August 17, 1850. Mr. Willits saw the need of additional mercantile resources for the settlers, and at Rough and Ready opened a store and hotel, which flourished only for about six months. Hoping for better results from the soil of the west, he went to Colusa county and took up a claim of fair dimensions, engaged in farming and stock-raising, and at the same time opening a public house. Disposing of the varied interests in August, 1857, he came to Mendocino acres of land in the center of Little Lake valley and began to improve his land, most of which was in a wild state. At the present time the first house that he built, as well as the second,, and the accompanying barns, are still standing north of Hotel Willits. In 1865, when Kirk Brier came and opened a store on the land, it was one of the finest properties in the county, the handiwork of the settler being apparent in every department, and a corresponding amount of gold rewarding his toil. Soon afterward James M. Jones started up a little blacksmith shop on land leased him by Mr. Willits, and the store and shop together made quite a trading post. Mr. Willits himself, more far-sighted than either the storekeeper or blacksmith, saw in embryo a thrifty little town, towards the upbuilding of which he intended to devote his best energies. Gradually he began to sell off town lots from his farm, and as settlers began to arrive the store and blacksmith had about all the patronage they could attend to. Naturally the hamlet took on the name of its founder, and Willitsville showed up large on the guide to Mendocino county. Mr. Willits finally bought out Mr. Brier, ran the store himself for several years, and finally substituted a fine new brick store for the ancient and altogether too small wooden structure. The brick for the same was made near by, and that it was of superior brand is acknowledged, for the seat of commercial enterprise is still a landmark, and a well preserved one at that, at present being owned by Irvine & Nuir.

In the meantime Mr. Willits has by no means confined his energies to commercialism and agriculture, but as became a broad-minded and enterprising citizen, interested himself in politics and all-around improvements. He had the instincts of the organizer, promoter and upbuilder, and his advice upon all of these phases of development was always sound and practical. He was appointed first postmaster of the town in 1860, holding the office for many years. One of his most notable contributions to the stability of the county was his effort in connection with the organization of the Mendocino Agricultural Association, in which he was treasurer for many years, and which did much towards the establishment of agricultural and stock-raising prestige for this county. There were few enterprises which did not profit in some manner by his financial acumen and shrewd common sense, for, having broken the wild sod of the farm, he persevered until his feet trod with confidence the halls of her solid and developing enterprises. The fine water supply, electric lights, sanitary sewerage and, most wonderful of all, the railroad, all developed before his expectant and enthusiastic eyes and received in their coming his earnest and helpful sanction.

Mr. Willits was an extensive raiser of high-grade horses, and during his life sold some of the fastest race horses on the coast. Such well known members of equine aristocracy as Cyclone, Ironwood, Captain Jack, Jennie Mack, Leatherwood and Gussie S. emanated from his pastures, and his name was known from one end of the state to the other as a most successful breeder of high-grade trotters. Liberal in his religious views, he gave his support to a number of denominations, viewing them impartially as far as his own association with them was concerned. His death in 1892 removed one of the noble as well as prominent men of this county, and one whose fine and enviable traits of character endeared him to a host of friends. The wife who survived him until 1902 was a fitting mate in his struggle for supremacy, and in all ways seconded his worthy and substantial efforts. When the railroad company desired to make a terminus here providing they could secure the land, she offered all of her property for the purpose at a very reasonable figure, realizing fully just what it meant towards the upbuilding of the town. This self-sacrificing step on the part of the wife of the founder of Willits forever endeared her to a community already lost in admiration of her charitable and beautiful nature. After her farm had been disposed of she built a beautiful home on a rise of ground on the corner of Wood and School streets, overlooking the town and commanding a beautiful view of the distant mountains. Thus are the founders of Willits enshrined in the memory of a grateful posterity and rank with the noble hewers of civilization in this far western country. Few have exceeded them in far-sightedness and helpfulness, and certainly none wore more gracefully and sincerely the mantle of truth and humanity.

[I would like to hear from anyone with connections to this family. - Rich]