BIOGRAPHY: William WILLIS, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 494-495.

  WILLIAM WILLIS, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Lancaster county, 
Pa., near Mr. Joy, son of John and Frances Willis, of German birth.  From early 
boyhood the life of Mr. Willis was a busy and useful one.  He began at the age 
of sixteen to help maintain the family.  At twenty years of age he entered the 
employ of John Patterson, of Mt. Joy, a shipper of produce, and for a number of 
years conducted Mr. Patterson's market cars to Philadelphia.  He then became an 
employee on the old Columbia Railroad in Lancaster county, and was promoted 
until he held the position of engineer.  His next office was that of general 
manager of the iron furnace of Henry Mussulman, Henrietta, Lancaster county, 
Pa., after which he came to Lewistown, and until 1852 was manager of the 
Glamorgan Iron Company, and also superintended the erection of the blast 
furnaces at Lewistown.  Mr. Willis then engaged in the milling business with 
Alfred Marks, and under the firm name of Marks & Willis, carried on until 1864 
an extensive and successful industry.  At this time he enlisted in the army.  
Having been assigned to a company in the Two Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, under Colonel Matthews, of Lewistown, he served as quartermaster, 
and was stationed with his regiment before Petersburg.  He remained in service 
until the close of the war, then returned to Lewistown and engaged in the 
mercantile business.  Mr. Willis was largely interested in land investments in 
Iowa and Nebraska, and was also prominent in many enterprises in Mifflin county 
and other counties of the State.  He was for a number of years president of the 
Mifflin County National Bank, and for a long time served as a member of its 
board of directors.  Mr. Willis was a self-made man.  Beyond the limited 
education obtained in boyhood, his acquisitions were all his own.  The qualities 
that made him successful were industry, justice in his dealings with all, and 
friendliness.  He was kind and helpful to young business men;  he gave freely to 
the church and her institutions and was a worthy and public-spirited citizen.  
Mr. Willis was a Republican, but had no political aspirations.
  William Willis was married to Susan, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Lively) 
Shaum.  They had two children, of whom one died very young;  Theresa, died aged 
seven.  Mr. Willis died April 6, 1894, aged seventy-four.  He was a member of 
the Lutheran church, as also is Mrs. Willis, who survives him.