Descendants of Joshua Willis

Generation No. 1

1. SR JOSHUA² WILLIS (HENRY¹) was born April 1766 in Richmond, Greenbrier Co, Virginia, and died March 28, 1869 in Marion, Aid Township, Lawrence Co, Ohio. He married MARY BLANKENSHIP July 28, 1807 in Gallipolis, Gallia Co, Ohio, daughter of RICHARD BLANKENSHIP and MARGARET. She was born 1787 in Virginia, and died October 27, 1857 in Marrion, Lawrence Co, Ohio.

Notes for SR JOSHUA WILLIS:

Joshua Willis was said to have been born 1766 and died in 1869 at th e age of 103 yrs. at the home of his son, Elza Willis near Marion, La wrence Co, Ohio.

His marriage license reads from Gallia Co, Ohio:

Joshua Willis and Mary Blankenship

The State of Ohio, Gallia county, I the subsonber(?) do certify tha t a marriage was solemnized between Joshua Willis and Mary Blankenshi p, on the twenty eighth of day of July, one thousand eight hundred an d seven, in the county of aforesaid, by me by advertisement.

!Jacob Miller, Justice of the peace for county.

!From the Ironton, Ohio Register on Wednesday, April 21, 1869

!Titled: Death of An Old Pioneer

Joshua Willis, at the age of one hundred and three years, lacking a f ew days, died March 28, 1869, at the residence of Elza Willis, his so n near Marion, Aid Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Josh Willis was b orn April 1766, in Monroe County, now West Virginia. Was at a fort th ree or four times in 1769, 70, 71, New River, Virginia. Came to Guyan dotte about 1800. He help to raise the first log cabin built at tha t Place, was one among the first immigrants in Quaker Bottom, (Lawren ce County, Ohio) lived at Russell's Place (now called Getaway) in 180 8, moved to Marion in 1811. In 1812 he was building the Wilson Wate r Mill at Marion. The first Mill built in Lawrence County, Ohio. H e was drafted in the War of 1812. When he hired his brother Hugh to g o substitute and he continued to finish and run the Mill. He helped t o build the salt works in Jackson, Jackson County, Ohio in 1824. He a lso took a contract on the Ohio Canal, near Licking Summit. Cut off t he timber: 120 feet in width, one mile in length and then grubbed u p the stumps 60 feet. He had a strong constitution and remarkable goo d health. His teeth were all sound when he died.

!Josh Willis, Piloted the methodist Episcopal Ministers-Elders, Hunte rs and others, through Lawrence County and also Gallia County in 1817 , 18 and 19. When they preached everyday except Mondays. It took fou r weeks to get around the Circuit.

!Joshua Willis was a member of the M E Church. Was taken in by Elde r D Clay of Jackson, Ohio. When he became old and feeble, he continue d to read the bible as long as he could see through glasses. Was a so ber man all his life, on the 4th day of July, 1868, he was struck wit h pralysis and never could stand on his feet afterwards. He was ver y industrious man also. His cottage was always the home for the hunte r and the traveler was never turned away hungry.

!On Friday evening, March 26, he said he had suffered a long time, bu t his suffering would be over soon. He then sang with a strong voice:

!"When through the deep waters I call thee to go.

The rivers of woe shall not overflow.

For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless.

And sanctify thee in thy deepest distress."

(Copied from Apr 21, 1869 issue of the Ironton Journal, at Briggs Lib rary, Ironton, Ohio, by Robert M Willis, Rt 1 Box 1, Ironton, Ohio.)

More About SR JOSHUA WILLIS:

Burial: 1869, Aid Cemetery, Lawrence Co, Ohio

Record Change: August 23, 2000

Notes for MARY BLANKENSHIP:

!There four children Elizabeth, Aremetha, Joshua Jr and George W al l died simultaneously while the family was living in West Virginia ab ove Guyandotte.

More About MARY BLANKENSHIP:

Burial: 1857, Aid Cemetery, Lawrence County, Ohio

Record Change: August 23, 2000

)