Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Wills, Robert C. December 30, 1859 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still jesco@oregontrail.com January 5, 2007, 12:02 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 511, 512

Robert C. Wills
	There are few business men in the county whose lives have been crowded 
with more continued and worthy activity and enterprise than the prominent 
representative of Morrow's commercial interest whose name initiates this 
paragraph and whose life is identified with the interests of his chosen 
county, where he has demonstrated his capability to win the smile of dame 
fortune in various enterprises and achieve success of the most substantial 
kind. He is a partner in and founder of the firm of Wills & Patterson, dealers 
in lumber, shingles, doors, windows and real estate, office on Main street, 
which is one of the most prosperous concerns in the city and the largest of 
its kind, carrying a large and well assorted stock, and enjoying a fine 
pattronage, the due reward of upright methods of business and carefulness and 
wisdom in attending to the needs of their patrons.
	Mr. Wills was born in Keene, Peterborough county, Ontario, on December 
30, 1859, being the son of Clement and Catherine Wills; the latter died before 
our subject left his native place, and his father in 1893. The common schools 
of the time furnished the training in educational lines and just before he had 
attained his majority he came to the United States, settling in Virginia City, 
Nevada, the date of his arrival here being 1878. Before leaving Canada he 
learned the carpenter trade and followed it in his chosen city for one year 
and then went to Tuscon, Arizona, operating in the same line for thirteen 
months on some very fine buildings. After this he returned to Virginia City 
for a few weeks and then came to Walla Walla in the January 4, 2007 September, 
1900, opened his present business, and the following January took C. C. 
Patterson as a partner, and together they have continued until the present 
time, with a large and increasing patronage. He owns the present place of 
business of one-half of a block, also a fine residence and a five-acre tract 
in the city besides other valuable property.
	He was married where Ione now stands on November 14, 1882, to Miss 
Phoebe M., daughter of Elisha and Nancy Sperry, and to them have been born the 
following children: Elmer E. and Reuben E., both being at home. Mrs. Wills' 
parents crossed the plains in 1851 and are both now living in Ione, having 
moved there in 1872 before Heppner was a town. Her father is a native of Ohio 
and her mother of Missouri. Mr. Wills is fraternally affiliated as follows: 
With the A.F. & A.M., Heppner Lodge, No. 69; with the I.O.O.F., Eureka Lodge, 
No. 32, of Pendleton; with the I.O.R.M., Tribe No. 44; with the B.P.O.E., of 
Heppner, and with the United Artisans, Assembly No. 48, of Heppner. He is a 
man that enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community and is well 
worthy of this pleasant tribute from his fellows.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.

	Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies 
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the 
individual featured in the biographies. 


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