John G Willis
"Personal History Department" p 10 from Briggs Library John G Willis was born in Lawrence County, Ohio in 1822. He remained at home with his parents until he had attained his twenty-third year, when he left the parental roof to earn his own livelihood. He settled on Leatherwood Creek this county, in 1851. In December, of the same year, he was married to Loretta Neil, who was born in this county January 28, 1826. Mr Willis remained on this farm eleven years, when he sold it and bought the farm on which he now lives and where he has resided seventeen years. He has had to toil and work hard and endure all the privations incident to a pioneer life and also to raise a large family. Both Mr and Mrs Willis are members of the Baptist church. He became a member when he was forty years of age, and his wife ten years previously. The children of Mr Willis are a great help to him in managing the farm, and the wish of their father is that they by the aid of the Scripture, they may grow up to be honorable men, and thereby become a blessing to their aged father. The names of the children are: Theodore N born 8/29/1852, resides in Lawrence County; Marena, 1/29/1854; Sophia, 9/11/1856, died 3/4/1856; Samuel V, 2/8/1857. 10/13/1857; John G, 9/4/1858; William H, 12/4/1860; Thomas J. 2/23/1863; George W, 4/19/1865; Katie M grandchild, June 4, 1879. The father and mother of Mr Willis came to this county in 1800; their names are George W and Susanna Rucker Willis. Thomas and Sophia (Corbin) Neil are the parents of Mrs Willis. They came to this county in 1827. George W, a brother of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the War of 1861. He was a member of Company A, 5th Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and then reenlisted. He served under General Thomas, and was taken prisoner at Strawberry Plains, Virginia, and was held four months. He died in the Shenandoah Valley, on his way home. Mr Willis' farm is located in Lawrence Township. His address is Rock Camp, Lawrence County.