Newaygo County MI Archives Biographies.....Willius, Martin September 14, 1834 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 16, 2009, 6:23 pm Author: Chapman Brothers MARTIN WILLIUS, farmer, section 7, Bridgeton Township, was born on the Rhine River, Germany, Sept. 14, 1834. The place of his birth was situated between Worms and Mainz in Rhein- Hesse. His parents, Valentine and Anna (Oswald) Willius, were Germans and passed their lives in their native land, where the father was a fisherman on the river. Mr. Willius was educated in his native language and resided with his parents until 1853, when, in company with three others, he came to the United States. He went to Auburn, N.Y., where he engaged to work a year for a gentleman, who removed within the time to Ontario, Can., and he accompanied him thither. He returned to New York on the expiration of his engagement and traveled through the Western States. He came back to Muskegon, Mich., in the spring of 1856. In the year following he came to Newaygo County and entered the employ of Robert Jibson, in Bridgeton Township, with whom he remained a long time, operating as a farm assistant. Meanwhile, he purchaed and improved to some extent 120 acres of land, which he has increased to 200 acres by subsequent purchase, and has 60 acres under cultivation. He was married May 14, 1866, to Anna E., daughter of Robert and Anna E. (Butler) Jibson, of Bridgeton. The parents were natives of England, and after their marriage came to this country. They settled in Muskegon, where their daughter was born, May 29, 1848. In 1862 they removed to Bridgeton. Mrs. Willius died Jan. 9, 1882, leaving three surviving children, born as follows: Anna E., May 4, 1868; Mary T., July 20, 1870; Emma J., July 7, 1872. Three children preceded the mother to the better land of the hereafter. John w. was born March 10, 1867, and died 17 days afterward; Ellen M. was born July 4, 1874, and died Nov. 17, 1881; Ida M. was born May 12, 1876, and died Jan. 9, 1882. Mr. Willius is a zealous Republican. He has been Assessor seven years and School Director three years. Additional Comments: 1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Newaygo Co. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/newaygo/bios/willius265nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.7 Kb