Howard-Henry County IN Archives Biographies.....Willits, Anderson 1838 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow

ANDERSON WILLITS.

   In the constant and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a
creditable name on the part of business or professional men, there is little to
attract the reader in search of a sensational chapter, but to a mind thoroughly
awake to the true meaning of life and its responsibilities there are noble and
imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who, early thrown upon his
own resources and without other means than a sound mind, fertile perceptive
faculty and a true heart, conquers adversity and not only wins a prominent
position in the industrial world, but what is equally as great, the deserved
esteem and confidence of his fellow men. Such a man is the prominent citizen of
Greentown, Howard county, whom the biographer treats in this connection, and
whose name is so intimately associated with the material and civic interests of
the community where he has long resided, as to reflect great credit upon the
town and vicinity, at the same time gaining the undivided respect of all who
know him for his well directed life, which has been along paths of honor and
uprightness.

   Anderson Willits, the well known ex-commissioner of Howard county, Indiana,
was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, May 24, 1838, the son of Charles and Hannah
(Kirlin) Willits, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. The
father of the subject spent his early life in Iowa and in 1847 moved to Henry
county, Indiana, later moving to Liberty township, Howard county, where he
remained until 1872. He was trustee of Jackson township in an early time when
there were three trustees. He was a man of much influence in his community and
made a success in whatever he undertook.

   Anderson Willits was ten years old when he came with his parents to Liberty
township, where he has since made his home, having assisted his father in his
work when a boy and attended the neighborhood schools, receiving a fairly good
education, having been a diligent searcher after knowledge, but when he first
started to school the New Testament was about the only text-book used. His work
on the farm was carried on until he was twenty-one years old, helping to clear
up the farm and transforming a comparatively poorly improved tract into
productive fields.

   The domestic life of our subject dates from 1859, when he was married to
Harriet J. Hazzard, who was reared in Henry county, Indiana, the daughter of a
well known family, and where she received a common school education. Mrs.
Willits was called from her earthly labors in 1884. Charles, one of their
children, is a graduate of De Pauw University. He was also a student at Ann
Arbor University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is an attorney of much promise, and
the future undoubtedly holds much in store for him. He is located in Pasadena,
California. Leota, daughter of the subject, is also in California, working as a
stenographer, having formerly been a very capable teacher in Howard county's
public schools; Dora is the wife of George Curlee, of Kokomo.

   Mr. Willits was again married January 1, 1888, his second wife being Mary
Lindley, who died in September, 1904. One daughter, Elsie Hays, who is twenty
years old in 1908, was born to this union. She is keeping house for her father,
and is a young lady of attractive personality.

   The subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having faithfully
served as trustee of the same for many years. In politics he is a Republican, in
which party he has made his influence felt in local affairs, having served very
efficiently as a member of the town board, also the school board and was elected
county commissioner in 1893. serving with marked credit for a period of three
years.

   Mr. Willits started life with practically nothing, but being a man of
indomitable energy and thrift, he has been successful, rearing his children as
they should have been reared, and at the same time got possession of a modern
and nicely furnished home in Green-town and twenty acres of valuable land at the
edge of the town. This land receives his careful attention and is one of the
most desirable pieces of property in that vicinity. Mr. Willits is a pleasant
and kind hearted man, having won hosts or friends, owing to his upright and well
regulated life.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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