Willsey, Frank E.

WILLSEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2021 at 11:53:02

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.656

FRANK E. WILLSEY
Frank E. Willsey is one of the younger progressive farmers of Warren County, prominent in community affairs. He had done more toward building good roads than perhaps any other man in Warren County and he stands at all times for progressive citizenship, cooperating in every movement that tends to promote the public good. He lives on section 15, White Oak Township, where he has made his home since 1890. He was born in Marion County, Iowa November 26, 1866.
Isaac Willsey, his father, was a native of New York but was reared in Ohio and when a young man came to Iowa, settling in Marion County. He there followed farming as one of the pioneer settlers, aiding in the early development and progress which changed the county from a wild and unimproved district into a region of rich fertility, giving many evidences of a modern civilization. He obtained his land from the government so that it was entirely unimproved when it came into his possession but he soon broke the sod and cultivated the prairies and ere his death had converted his place into a fine and valuable farm. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy years. His widow, long surviving him, came to Warren County in 1890 and died in 1907 at the age of sixty-nine years. Their family numbered five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom four reached adult age.
Frank E. Willsey spent his childhood on the home farm. He was the eldest son and at an early age it was necessary that he assist his mother in the work of the home place. However, he was provided with good educational privileges, attending the district schools and later spending five years as a student in the high school at Knoxville. Following the father’s death the family came to Warren County and here opened up a farm of two hundred and fifty acres, which they still own. Mr. Willsey of this review began with raw land, built a house, also put up a barn and other outbuildings, and as the years went by added all the accessories and equipment of a model farm. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres in the home place and its well kept appearance is indicative of his careful supervision and practical methods.
On the 31st of May 1893, Mr. Willsey was married to Miss Lora Barns, a native of Warren County, and a daughter of John Barns. They have become the parents of seven children but lost one in infancy. The others are: John, Raymond, Ruth, James, Donald, and Nellie, all still under the parental roof.
In his farm work Mr. Willsey makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, being engaged in this way for five years. He has made frequent exhibits at county fairs in Indianola and has won several premiums. He has always made a specialty of cattle but also raises good grades of hogs and some horses. In this business he has made good use of his opportunities and has worked diligently year after year, his unwearied industry and careful management constituting the basis of his success.
Mr. Willsey is a Republican but not so strongly partisan that he regards his affiliation of the candidates for local office. On the contrary he thinks only of their ability to discharge the duties that devolve upon them and it is this which influences him in his vote. He has been assessor for three terms and is filling the position at the present time. He has been especially proficient in his efforts in behalf of good roads, realizing how essential are well kept highways not only as a convenience, but also for the furtherance of trade interests. He has been a delegate to the county and to the state conventions and his opinions carry weight in the party councils. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America and is well known in the county as one of whose sterling traits of character entitle him to the success which he has achieved and to the high regard in which he is uniformly held.