Pike-Chambers-Tallapoosa County AlArchives Biographies.....Willis, Thomas L., M.D., D.D.S. June 27, 1824 - March 31, 1889
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
T. Bradford Willis http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007638 October 4, 2012, 10:43 am

Source: Thomas L. Willis, MD, DDS, 1824-1889, Pioneer Texas Physician and Dentist
Author: T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD

Thomas L. Willis, M.D., D.D.S.

Thomas L. Willis was born on June 27, 1824 in Georgia. It is believed that he 
was a son of William W. Willis (ca. 1794-1874) and Elizabeth Middlebrook 
Willis (1795-1862) who are buried in Baptist Rest Cemetery in Brundidge, Pike 
County, Alabama. William W. Willis served in the Georgia Militia during the 
War of 1812, and his service and lineal descent through Thomas L. Willis has 
been accepted by the General Society of the War of 1812.

Thomas L. Willis received his medical education at the Medical College of 
Georgia. His 1849 matriculation ticket, his November 1849 card for institutes 
and practice of medicine, and his November 1849 card for lectures on 
obstetrics and diseases of women and infants are still in existence. His 
hometown was listed as Milltown, Chambers County, Alabama while he was a 
student at the Medical College of Georgia.

On June 17, 1858, Thomas L. Willis and Letitia Barnett Huchison were married 
in Decatur County, Georgia by the Rev. G. W. Fagg, a Methodist minister. 
Letitia Barnett Hutchison was born on December 8, 1828 and was the daughter of 
John Hutchison (1800-1856) and Malinda Penelope Craig Hutchison (1804-1876) 
who are buried in Attapulgus Presbyterian Cemetery in Decatur County, Georgia.

Thomas L. Willis and Letitia Barnett Hutchison Willis had the following known 
children: 
Thomas Middlebrook Willis (1859-1937) who married Sallie Ann Parker,
Jessie Elizabeth "Bettie" Willis (1861-1934) who married John R. Rabb, and
John P. Willis (1864-1884).

On the 1860 census, the Thomas L. Willis family is listed in Decatur County 
Georgia, and his occupation is listed as a physician. They are living next 
door to Malinda Craig Hutchison. In 1866, the Willis family moved from Pike 
County, Alabama to Waco, McLennan County, Texas where they planned on 
residing. While in Waco, they stayed with a relative, Dr. James Madison 
Willis. Later, Dr. Thomas L. Willis met with a Waco resident to buy a home for 
his family. While talking with the Waco resident about his property, the man 
was shot. After this incident Dr. Willis was ready to return to Alabama which 
he felt was more civilized. His wife, Letitia, persuaded him to remain in 
Texas for one year. If he was not happy with Texas after that time, she said 
that they could return to Alabama.

Around February 1867, the Willis family traveled by stagecoach to Weatherford, 
Parker County, Texas where they would reside for the next five years. In 
Weatherford, he established a medical practice. Later that year, Dr. Willis 
traveled to Maryland for a six month course in dentistry at Baltimore College 
of Dental Surgery. He later returned to Weatherford to also practice 
dentistry. In the August 26, 1871 issue of the Weatherford Times is the 
following advertisement:

DR. T. L. WILLIS,
PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST,
Offers his professional services to the people
of Weatherford and surrounding country.
Charges:-Mileage, day, $0.50
Mileage, night, $1.00
Visit, during the day, $1.00
Visit in town, including medicine, $2.00
Obstetrics, $10.00
OFFICE
at A. S. Fain's Drug Store, where he can
be found during the day, unless professionally
absent, July 15, 1871.

His Masonic life began in Phoenix Lodge No. 275 of Weatherford, where he was 
initiated June 23, 1868, passed August 22, 1868, and raised September 26, 
1868. He served the Lodge as Senior Steward in 1871. He demitted from Phoenix 
Lodge on October 28, 1871, and affiliated with Stanfield Lodge No. 217 of 
Denton on March 23, 1872. He served as Junior Warden in 1875 and went 
suspended for non-payment of dues on November 10, 1884.

In 1872, the Willis family moved to Denton, Denton County, Texas where he 
continued to practice dentistry. On March 31, 1889, Dr. Thomas Willis passed 
away, and a graveside service was officiated by the Rev. Mr. Chalk at the Odd 
Fellows' (I.O.O.F.) Cemetery in Denton on April 1, 1889.
Letitia Willis later moved to Abilene, Taylor County, Texas where her son 
Thomas Middlebrook Willis and his family resided. There she was a member of 
the First Methodist Church. She later died on January 23, 1925 in Abilene and 
was buried on January 24,1925 next to her husband at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery of 
Denton.

This information was taken from the book: 

Thomas L. Willis, MD, DDS, 1824-1889, Pioneer Texas Physician and Dentist, 
by T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD. 2010.

 


Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/pike/photos/bios/willis1079gbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/pike/bios/willis1079gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/

File size: 5.2 Kb