Willits, Lee R; 1905 Bio, Eagle County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/eagle/bios/wilitslr.txt --------------------------------------- Donated May 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Lee R. Willits After residing and practicing productive interest in several states, and finding the conditions of life more or less agreeable in all, Lee R. Willits, of Eagle county, Colorado, a prosperous and progressive ranch and stock man living near Basalt, finds this state the best of all and is ardently devoted to its interests and the enduring welfare of its people. He is a native of New Boston, Mercer county, Illinois, born on December 23, 1848,and the son of John E. and Mary C. (Frick) Willits, the father born in Indiana and the mother in Pennsylvania. In the early years of their married life they located in Illinois, where for a number of years the father was engaged in the drug business at New Boston and Keithsburg, but on account of the state of his health he found it necessary to have an outdoor life, and accordingly he turned his attention to farming. He thereupon moved to Kansas, and after living in that state seven years changed to Texas, where he continued in the same occupation, and where his death occurred on December 1, 1890. He was a Royal Arch Mason in fraternal life, and a strong Democrat in politics. He took an active part in local affairs and attained prominence in the public life of his community, serving as county commissioner in Illinois and also in Kansas a number of years. He was a Presbyterian in church connection. Of his seven children six are living: Lee R.; Clarence W., of Seaton, Illinois; Ada H., wife of the late A.J. Robinson, of Aspen, this state; Katie, wife of George Loomis, of La Porte, Oklahoma; Frederick E., of Canon City, Colorado; and Edith, wife of Dr. Vigil Clark, of Basalt, with whom the mother makes her home. Her father, Frederick Frick, helped to make the state constitution of Illinois in 1848, and took a leading part in public affairs in other ways. Lee R. Willits attended the district schools near his home, as country boys do who have to work on the farm, and there received a limited scholastic training. He remained at home and worked in the interest of his parents until he became twenty-two years of age, at which time, in 1870, he began farming independently in Kansas, where he remained until 1873, then moved to Texas, where he lived fourteen years engaged in farming and raising stock. In 1887 he came to Colorado very much handicapped by circumstances, and secured employment as foreman on the ranch of Gillespie & Robinson on the Roaring Fork, seven miles and a half east of Carbondale. After passing some years in this engagement he bought the ranch on which he now lives, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and forty-five acres being under cultivation. Here he raises enormous crops of hay of excellent quality and potatoes in abundance, and also carries on a thriving business in cattle and horses. He is a staunch Democrat in political allegiance, and as such has served six years as county commissioner. He was also a member of the thirteenth legislature of the state, and is now and has been for years a member of the Eljebel [sic] school board, a capacity in which he also served in Texas. Fraternally he belongs to the order of Odd Fellows. On February 25, 1874, he was married to Miss Cornelia A. Robinson, a native of Henderson county, Illinois, and daughter of Elhanen and Phoebe A. (Moore) Robinson. Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana. They located in Illinois when young and later moved to Kansas, then to Texas and finally to Colorado, settling in the vicinity of Basalt. They were farmers and members of the Methodist church, and the father gave a steadfast and loyal support to the Democratic party. Their offspring numbered seven, four of whom are living: Emma, wife of D.S. Shehi, of Taylor Park, Colorado; Sarah, wife of H.B. Gillespie, of Denver; Mrs. Willits, of Eagle county; and Charles M., of Pendleton, Oregon. The mother died in 1886 and the father in November, 1898. The Willits household has been blessed and brightened with four children: Pearl E., wife of William Shanks, of Leadville; Irene E., living at home; Marcia E., wife of [?] H. Mitchell, of Basalt; and Bramlett, living under the parental roof. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.