Tuscola County, MI – Biography of Richard Wills

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1023-1024

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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RICHARD WILLS. The farming community of Tuscola County ranks well with 
that of any part of Michigan, and Arbela Township, does not stand 
behind the rest. We give here a sketch of one of its prominent 
agriculturists, who was born in Ireland, November 25, 1833. He is a son 
of Michael Wills, a native of Ireland, who at an early day came to 
Canada, where he established himself in 1847, and spent the remainder 
of his days. Being a thorough agriculturist he carried on a large farm 
there until his death which took place in 1866. His wife, Mary Garver, 
was a native of Ireland and to them were born three sons and three 
daughters. The mother is still living in Genesee County, and is now in 
her seventy-ninth year.

   Our subject was thirteen years of age when he came with his parents 
to Canada, and was there reared and educated. In due time he took to 
him-self a wife in the person of Jane McNane, a native of Ireland and 
who also came with her parents to Canada when a child. To this couple 
were born six children, namely: James, Ellen, Pressie J., Elizabeth, 
Charles, and Richard E.

   Mr. Wills was a farmer in Canada and owned one hundred and fifty 
acres of fine land which he had put_ in a splendid state of 
cultivation. This he sold before coming to Michigan in 1879, and upon 
first coming here he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Huron County, 
where he lived for some years, making it highly productive. He then re-
moved to Tuscola County, and located upon one hundred and sixty-eight 
acres in Arbela Township. Here he has cleared fifty acres and put up 
excellent farm buildings. While living in Canada our subject was 
afflicted by the death of his wife who passed away in 1875.

   Mr. Wills is a Democrat in his political preferences now, although 
he was a Republican until about six years ago. He has never aspired to 
office for he prefers to devote himself entirely to the care and 
culture of his farm and the duties of his home and church. The present 
Mrs. Wills was a native of Canada and was born February 17, 1847. She 
is Jane, the daughter of John Elliott who died when this daughter was 
but a little child. There were six children in the family, in which 
Mrs. Wills grew to maturity, three boys and three girls. To our subject 
and his wife no children have been born. They are possessed of true 
Christian characters and are earnestly devoted to the interests of the 
Presbyterian Church. To the children of his first marriage this 
faithful father has given an excellent education and they are all 
living and doing honor to the training which they have received. Upon 
his excellent farm he carries on general farming and everything about 
the place shows the hand of a thorough and systematic farmer.



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