BIO:  ABNER WILLIS, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

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  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 813-814
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    ABNER WILLIS, in his lifetime one of the successful agriculturists of
  Cumberland county, where his whole life had been spent, was born at Silver
  Spring, that county, in April, 1824, son of James and Phoebe (Atkinson)
  Willis.

    James Willis was born near, his home at Silver Spring, and there grew to
  maturity. By trade he was a blacksmith, and that calling he followed all his
  life. He was twice married, his first wife, Phoebe Atkinson, dying when her
  son Abner was but two years old. After her death the bereaved husband moved
  with his little family to a farm two miles east of Shippensburg. This farm
  James Willis purchased of the Widow Moore, whom he afterward married. He
  continued to work at his trade, while his boys carried on the farm. His
  children were: Samuel, of Plain City, Ohio; Abner; Isaac A., of Shippensburg;
  Sallie C., of Shippensburg; and Catherine, who married Robert McClay.

    Abner Willis received a common school education, and was fully instructed
  regarding the labor on a farm. With his brothers he cultivated the home place
  until his marriage, after which event he engaged in farming for himself. He
  was industrious and practical, and in time became quite well-to-do, owning at
  his death, not only the old Willis homestead of 65 acres, but the adjoining
  farm of 130 acres, situated on the Harrisburg Turnpike, three miles east of
  Shippensburg. This latter farm, which was his home, and where his widow and
  children now reside, is one of the best improved in the neighborhood, having
  a substantial brick house, bank barn, well built sheds and outbuildings,
  all well cared for, and kept in first-class condition. Mr. Willis died at his
  home Nov. 9, 1894, and was laid to rest in Springhill cemetery, sincerely
  mourned by a large number of friends and neighbors. He died in the faith of
  the Presbyterian Church, the funeral services being conducted by Rev. W. A.
  McCarrell, pastor of that church, assisted by Rev. George C. Henry, pastor of
  the Memorial Lutheran Church. Besides his widow and children, his sister, Miss
  Sallie C., and brothers, Samuel and Isaac A., were left to mourn his loss. By
  nature Abner Willis was endowed with a gentle, kindly disposition, which won
  and retained many warm friends. He was honest and upright in all things; and
  all men re-

    814  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  spected him. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and
  he held at various times a number of minor offices, among them being member
  of the school board, tax collector and assessor, and he discharged his duties
  faithfully and well.

    In August, 1864, Abner Willis was married to Miss Ismah Kitzmiller, who was
  born Oct. 30, 1832, in Southampton township, eldest daughter of Jacob and
  Rebecca (Weber) Kitzmiller, the former of whom, an old resident of Cumberland
  county, died Oct. 7, 1871, and the latter in June, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Willis
  had five children, as follows: William, James and Robert, all three engaged
  in farming; Charlie, employed in the Harrisburg railroad office; and Carrie
  May, who is at home with her mother. The family is justly esteemed in the
  neighborhood, and the different members are each endeavoring to bear worthily
  their honored name.