Sites,Ranz,Stroup,Bergman Families of Ilinois:Information about Thomas Willis

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Home Page |Surname List |Index of Individuals |InterneTree |Sources

Thomas Willis (b. June 10, 1829, d. May 10, 1917)

Thomas Willis (son of Peter Willis and Sarah Cooms) was born June 10, 1829 in Somersetshire, England, and died May 10, 1917. He married Ellen Savage on March 26, 1851 in England, daughter of William Savage and Phoebe.

Notes for Thomas Willis:
"Thomas and Elleb Savage Willis, newlyweds of three weeks, set sail from Bristol, England in April, 1849. They were both twenty years old. Ellen thougtht they were leaving for a short time to make their fortune and return to England by the autumn. Her family never saw or heard from her again, as Ellen, like many women of her era, could not read or write. Whe learned a brother and sister were born after her departuure, but she was never to meet them.
During the three week voyage, Ellen smelled smoke in her cabin. She found Thomas, who in turn notified the captain. The captain brought a few men and they found a beam on fire. They put the fire out and cautioned Thomas and Ellen not to mention it for fear of panic. This story was recalled in the memoirs of Faye Eckersly, a granddaughter.
Thomas Willis was born 10 June, 1829, the son of Peter and Sarah Cooms Willis. Ellen was born 11 May, 1829, a daughter of Phoebe and William Savage. Ellen's sister Ann Hembry lived in Danville, Illinois.
Eight children were born to Thomas and Ellen Willis: Frederick Peter, buried in Portland, Oregon; Phoebe Ann, buried in Calgary, Canada; Ellen Jane who married Mr. Oathout - their son Claude Oathout eventually owned Thomas Willis farm; Sara Victgoria who married Dudley Aaron Stroup and is buried in Buckley, Illinois; Ada Clara and Bernice Ruth, who are both buried in Los Angeles, Ca; Fanny Edna, who married Mr. Hockenberry and is buried in Aurora Nebraska, andThomas Leoportm, who died at age 19 of brain fever.
Thomas and Ellen Willis landed in New York City. Thomas got a job with the railroad. He helped build the Illinois Central Railroad as far south as Loda. While living in a cabin with no windows along the "right of way" in Kankakee, Ellen took ill with malaria. Next, they lived in the section house at Loda. Here Sarah Victoria and
Ellen Jane were born,. Thomas planted the maple trees at the depot in Loda. Thomas told of a train coming in with a big snake hanging from each side of the engine. According to the memoirs of Faye Eckersley, Thomas Willis hired someone to serve in his place in the Civil War.
About 1863, Thomas and Ellen Willis took a homestead, later totaling 160 acres east of Loda. Having a family of so many daughters, Thomas needed help on the farm. He had "bound" boys work for him 'til the age of twenty one. Joe Doel and John Long were two of them. Thomas faremed with oxen for awhile.
Thomas lost his life savings when the bank at Loda failed. Ellen died in 1907 and Thomas 10 April, 1917. They are both buried at Loda.'
Quoted from Iroquois County History, Pages 596-597.

More About Thomas Willis:
Burial: Unknown, Loda, IL, Iroquois Co..
Emigration: April 1851, They set sail from Bristol, Enlgand in April 1851 (year correction from Iroquois County History, English marriage records show marriage took place March, 1851). After a 3 week voayage they landed in New York City..⁷⁴

More About Thomas Willis and Ellen Savage:
Marriage: March 26, 1851, England.

Children of Thomas Willis and Ellen Savage are:

+Sarah Victoria Willis, b. May 17, 1860, in a yellow section house on Main Street (across from the railroad tracks) inLoda, IL⁷⁵, d. August 14, 1947, Buckley, IL.