Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Straight, Willis A 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 2:37 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

WILLIS A. STRAIGHT, a well-known manufacturer residing in Manhattan, was born 
in Fairbury, Livingston County, Ill., August 5, 1859, a son of Hon. R. C. and 
Francina (Abbey) Straight, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. 
His grandfather, Arba Straight, who was a lifelong farmer, came from New York 
to Illinois in 1849, and settled at Fairbury. From that time until his death 
he tilled the soil in Livingston County. A man of deep religious convictions, 
he took an active part in the Baptist Church, and, at his own expense, erected 
a house of worship for that denomination in Fairbury. At the time of his death 
he was ninety-four years of age. At the time of coming to Illinois in 1849, 
Hon. R. C. Straight established his home in McLean County, but ten years later 
he moved to Fairbury, where he followed farm pursuits for a time. Later, for 
ten years he manufactured tile in that city, being the first to embark in that 
business in his section of the state. Not only was he a pioneer in the 
business, but a large manufacturer as well. In 1887 he retired from active 
business cares, and, at sixty-six years of age, is passing his time in the 
supervision of his property interests and continues to make his home in 
Fairbury. In politics a Republican, he was elected on that ticket as the 
representative of Livingston County in the state legislature, and at other 
times has held various local offices. Of his eight children all but two are 
living. They are: W. A.; Lee S., who lives in Fonda, Iowa; Lizzie M., wife of 
William Wilson, and a resident of Paxton, Ill.; Nellie V., a widow living in 
Pasadena, Cal.; Guy H., in Iowa; and Estella, who has been prominent in 
educational matters and for several years held the principalship of the 
schools of El Paso, Ill. After studying for some years in the district schools 
and Fairbury high school, our subject, at the age of fifteen, began to work in 
his father's tile factory, and soon became familiar with the business. In 
January, 1883, he and his brother, Lee S., came to Manhattan and built a 
factory for the manufacture of tile, at the same time organizing the firm of 
Straight Brothers, which continued for some years, until Lee S. sold his 
interest to his brother. The latter has since enlarged the plant, which now 
has a capacity for ten thousand tile per day. These he sells through agents, 
in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri; where he has built up a large 
trade. While he resides in the village, he owns and manages a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, on which he raises Norman horses and other stock; and 
he also has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Livingston County, which 
he rents. By his marriage to Nellie M., daughter of Wesley D. Jones, of 
Mokena, Ill., he has six children, Natalie, Floyd W., Helen F., Arby R., 
LaDessa and Willis W. Politically Mr. Straight favors Republican principles. 
For four years he served as supervisor of Manhattan Township. He is connected 
with the Knights of the Globe at Manhattan, and has passed all of the chairs 
in the order, of which he is now the chief justice. Having been familiar with 
the tile business from youth, he is fitted to carry it forward advantageously. 
He is one of three brothers, all of whom have been successful manufacturers, 
and at one time five factories were owned by members of the family.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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