Willis,Daniel Hubbard and Julia Ann Graham Willis, Family of;
Rapides, Louisiana
Submitter of Org. File: Randy Willis
Submitter of Text File: Jo Branch
Date: 28 Jun 2004




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Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. and Julia Ann Graham Willis
The Life and Times
Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. & Julia Ann Graham Willis
 
by Randy Willis
 
He was born April 2, 1839 and died  May 22, 1900
She was born February 22, 1845 and died  September 28, 1936
They married on January 5, 1867 in Forest Hill, La.
Both are buried in the Graham Cemetery, Forest Hill, La.
 
Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr.  was the eldest son of  Rev. Daniel  Hubbard Willis,  Sr. (b. Dec. 28, 1817; d. Mar. 27, 1887) and Anna  Slaughter (b. May 29, 1820; d. Mar.  24, 1876).   Rev. Daniel  Hubbard Willis,  Sr. was the son of  Agerton Willis and Sophie Story.  He was born on Bayou Boeuf  in Louisiana and is buried, along with his wife Anna  Slaughter Willis,  at  Amiable Baptist Church Cemetery near Glenmora, La.  He established many churches and was blind the last 22 years of his life.  His daughter would read the scriptures and he would preach. He settled on Spring Creek,  near Longleaf, La.,  at a community called Babb’s Bridge.
 
Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr.  was  also, a great-grandson of  pioneer Louisiana Baptist preacher,  Rev. Joseph Willis (b. circa 1758; d. Sept. 14, 1854).   He was the first Baptist preacher west of  the Mississippi River.
 
Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr.'s  siblings were:  Eliza Willis,  Mary Jane Willis, David Willis, Martha Willis, Matthew Willis, Dempsey Willis, Calvin Willis, and Robert Willis.  Daniel was raised near  Sugartown, La. and then settled on Barber Creek near Longleaf, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
 
Julia Ann Graham Willis was the  daughter of  Robert Graham (b. Aug.  20, 1818; d. Feb. 10, 1890) and Ruth Smith  (b. Dec. 5, 1813 d. Jun.  2, 1869).  Robert Graham  moved to Louisiana from Texas in 1841.  Soon after marring Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) in Natchitoches, La., they moved to Forest Hill, La.  He was a successful farmer and cattleman there.   Ruth had told Robert that she wished to be buried at the top of a hill on their land near Forest Hill.  She was and that hill is known today as the Graham Cemetery.  Robert Graham's  father was  William Graham.  Robert Graham had  two brothers: another William Graham and Samuel Graham.    Robert and Ruth Graham are both  buried at the Graham Cemetery.
 
Julia Ann Graham Willis' siblings were:   Annie Graham Willis, Emily Graham Butter,  Maggie Graham Willis,  Demerius Graham Willis, Elizabeth Graham Merchant,  Katherine Graham Sermons,  Lucy "Ruth" Graham Moore,  William Graham, and Lorenzo Dow Graham.
 
Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr.  married Julia Ann Graham on,  January 5, 1867, soon after the end of  the Civil War.