Willett, Charles A.

WILLETT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2021 at 11:50:34

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.462

CHARLES A. WILLETT
Among the leading and representative citizens of Norwalk is numbered Dr. Charles A. Willett, now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at this place. He is a native of the neighboring state of Illinois, his natal day being December 14, 1876, and the place of his nativity, Peoria County. His father, Eli L. Willett, who is a well-to-do retired farmer living in Norwalk, was born in Indiana and is now sixty-one years of age. In early manhood he was married in Illinois to Miss Sophia Moss, a native of London, England, and they made their home in the Prairie state [Illinois] until 1890, which year witnessed their arrival in Warren County, Iowa. Mr. Willett purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Linn Township, a half miles west of Norwalk, and there followed agricultural pursuits until his retirement from active labor. His political support is given the Republican Party and he holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of American. His religious connection is with the Christian Church, to which his wife also belongs, and both have the respect and esteem of all who know them. In their family are six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Dr. Harry C., who is engaged in practice in Des Moines; Frank S.; Oliver P.; Charles A., Mrs. Mary Maude Berry, and Ethel.
Charles A. Willett passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and acquired his early education in the public schools of Norwalk, later attending the high school of that place. He took a preparatory course at Drake University and then took up the study of medicine, graduating from the medical department of this institution in 1902. He commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Whitten, Hardin County, Iowa, in June 1902, and there remained until coming to Norwalk in October 1906. Here he has already built up a good practice, which is constantly increasing and he is ranked with the leading physicians of the county.
Dr. Willett was married in 1902 to Miss Jennie Pilmer, a native of Warren County and a daughter of Robert Pilmer, whose father, David Pilmer, came here from Scotland at an early day. They have one child, Wilma C., now four years of age. In politics the Doctor is an ardent Republican. He is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Yeoman, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, and in connection with his profession holds membership relations with the county and state medical associations. His professional brethren hold him in high esteem and wherever known he is universally respected.