BIO:  John A. Willis, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________ 

Part II, Biographical Sketches, Newberry Township, Pg 158

JOHN A. WILLIS, Esq., was born in Newberry Township, York Co., Penn., March 1, 
1835.  His parents were George and Emma (Kister) Willis, of Newberry Township, 
and of English and German descent, respectively.  They had six sons and six 
daughters, of whom John A. was the second son.  He remained on the farm until 
fourteen years of age, when he went into the lumber business.  At the age of 
nineteen he began working for Small, Stair & Co., and continued with them twenty-
six years, spending seven years of that time in Clearfield County, Penn.  Since 
1871 he has been in the employ of Isaac Frazer, at Goldsboro.  In 1856 he was 
married, in Cumberland County, Penn., to Caroline Crome, daughter of George 
Crome.  She died April 3, 1884.  They had eleven children, five of whom are 
living:  Ida, Charles, Edwin, Latimore and John Guy.  Mrs. Willis was a member of 
the Church of God.  Mr. Willis has held various offices of trust, as borough 
councilman, school director, inspector, secretary of I. O. O. F., and at present 
he holds the office of justice of the peace, having been elected in the spring of 
1884.  He was one of the organizers of the Goldsboro Building and Loan 
Association.