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From: "" <>
Subject: Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. & Julia Ann Graham Willis
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 20:25:57 -0500

The Life and Times Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. & Julia Ann Graham Willis

by Randy Willis

www.randywillis.org

He was born April 2, 1839 and died May 22, 1900
She was born February 22, 1845 and died September 28, 1936
They married on January 5, 1867 in Forest Hill, La.
Both are buried in the Graham Cemetery, Forest Hill, La.

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. was the eldest son of Rev. Daniel Hubbard
Willis, Sr. (b. Dec. 28, 1817; d. Mar. 27, 1887) and Anna Slaughter (b.
May 29, 1820; d. Mar. 24, 1876). Rev. Daniel Hubbard Willis, Sr. was
the son of Agerton Willis and Sophie Story. He was born on Bayou Boeuf in
Louisiana and is buried, along with his wife Anna Slaughter Willis, at
Amiable Baptist Church Cemetery near Glenmora, La. He established many
churches and was blind the last 22 years of his life. His daughter would
read the scriptures and he would preach. He settled on Spring Creek, near
Longleaf, La., at a community called Babb’s Bridge.

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. was also, a great-grandson of pioneer
Louisiana Baptist preacher, Rev. Joseph Willis (b. circa 1758; d. Sept. 14,
1854). He was the first Baptist preacher west of the Mississippi River.

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr.'s siblings were: Eliza Willis, Mary Jane
Willis, David Willis, Martha Willis, Matthew Willis, Dempsey Willis, Calvin
Willis, and Robert Willis. Daniel was raised near Sugartown, La. and then
settled on Barber Creek near Longleaf, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

Julia Ann Graham Willis was the daughter of Robert Graham (b. Aug. 20,
1818; d. Feb. 10, 1890) and Ruth Smith (b. Dec. 5, 1813 d. Jun. 2, 1869).
Robert Graham moved to Louisiana from Texas in 1841. Soon after marring
Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) in Natchitoches, La., they moved to Forest
Hill, La. He was a successful farmer and cattleman there. Ruth had told
Robert that she wished to be buried at the top of a hill on their land near
Forest Hill. She was and that hill is known today as the Graham Cemetery.
Robert Graham's father was William Graham. Robert Graham had two
brothers: another William Graham and Samuel Graham. Robert and Ruth
Graham are both buried at the Graham Cemetery.

Julia Ann Graham Willis' siblings were: Annie Graham Willis, Emily Graham
Butter, Maggie Graham Willis, Demerius Graham Willis, Elizabeth Graham
Merchant, Katherine Graham Sermons, Lucy "Ruth" Graham Moore, William
Graham, and Lorenzo Dow Graham.

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. married Julia Ann Graham on, January 5, 1867,
soon after the end of the Civil War.

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. in the Civil War

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. enlisted, September 29, 1861, at Camp Moore,
La., in the Confederate Army as a Pvt. 5th. Company Battalion, Washington
Artillery of Louisiana. He was (Mar. 16, 1864) in Raxdale's Company E,
16th. La. Regiment, Gibson's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. He was promoted
to 2nd Sergt. on Mar. 5, 1865. He was captured and made a prisoner of
war. Daniel was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi on May 14, 1865. (Also
see Andrew B. Booth, "Records of Louisiana Soldiers and Louisiana
Confederate Commands," (New Orleans, La. 1920) Vol. I: 1115)

Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. fought in many of the great battles of the Civil
War, including Shiloh, Bull Run, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge
and Chickamauga.

Excerpts from Daniel H. Willis, Jr.'s obituary: Alexandria Town Talk, 23
June 1900: "He participated in all the hard battles of that army and for
bravery, soldierly bearing, discipline and devotion to duty, he was
unexcelled in his entire Brigade. He was made Orderly Sergeant of his
Company at an early period of the war. It has always been said by his
surviving comrades that when any particularly dangerous service was
required, such as scouting parties to ascertain the position and movements
of the enemy, he was always selected for the place, and never hesitated to
go, let the danger be what it may.

He was for a long time connected with the famous Washington Artillery, and
at the battle of Chicamauga so many horses of the battery to which he was
attached were killed that they had to pull the guns off the field by hand to
keep them from falling in the hands of the enemy.

He was paroled at Meridian, Miss., in May of 1865, and brought home with
him a copy of General Gibson's farewell address to his soldiers and of him
it can be truly said that through the remaining years of his life he
followed the advice then given by his beloved commander.

His love for the Southern cause, and for the men who wore the gray, was not
dimmed by years, but he lived and died firmly convinced of the justice of
the cause for which the South poured out so much of her best blood and
treasure...Before death he expressed a wish that he might see his children
who were at home, especially Randall L., his baby boy, whom he had named in
honor of his beloved Brigadier General, Randall Lee Gibson. He also
requested that his Confederate badge be pinned on his breast and buried with
him."

Gibson, later helped establish Tulane University and was elected to the
U.S. Senate in 1883. I was named after my grandfather, Randall Lee Willis,
who was named after Randall Lee Gibson, in 1886. Current, ed.,
"Encyclopedia of the Confederacy" (also see "Army of Tennessee Louisiana
Division The Association and Tumulus" by Jerry Johnson Wier, The Center for
Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1999).

Can You Feed Her Son?

Soon after the Civil War, Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr., became the first of
four Willis’ brothers to marry four Graham’ sisters. He married Julia Ann
Graham on January 5, 1867. (Daniel called her affectingly Julieann).
When Daniel asked Julia Ann's father, Robert Graham, for her hand in
marriage; Robert asked him if he could feed her. Daniel replied "that he
had a horse, a milk cow, a barrel of corn and a barrel of molasses." Robert
responded "my goodness son you have enough to marry several of my
daughters." They were married at Robert Graham's home near Forest Hill.

Later, three of Daniel's brothers would marry three of Julia Ann's
sisters. Calvin Willis married Demerius Graham , Robert Willis married Annie
Graham and Dempsey Willis married Maggie Graham. A fifth brother, Matthew
Willis, also asked a fifth sister, Lucy "Ruth" Graham, to marry him. She
said no and later confided in her sisters, "he was just too ugly." Ruth
Graham later found her true love, James Moore, and married him.

Daniel made good his promise to "feed" Julia Ann and on January 16, 1868
(just a year after their wedding) he sold his father-in-law, Robert Graham,
119 acres "in the fork of Barber Creek," for $350.00. A sum that would
have been a years wages for many at that time. When Daniel died, in 1900,
he left Julia Ann, $35,000.00 in gold, a home, land, and the woods full of
cows, on Barber Creek, near Longleaf.


The Law, Cattle, Barber Creek & Home

After the end of Civil War, in 1865, Daniel H. Willis. Jr., was made
Constable of Spring Hill, Rapides Parish. Julia Ann often spoke of the
time Daniel captured an outlaw from Texas who was hid out in the piney woods
of Louisiana. She said it was to late to make the horseback trip to the
jail, in Alexandria, therefore Daniel handcuffed the outlaw to the foot of
their bed for the overnight stay. Daniel told the outlaw he better not make
a sound. She said Daniel slept soundly, but she did not sleep a wink all
night.

He later was a successful rancher. He and his sons would buy cattle in East
Texas and then drive them to the railroad at Lecompte, La. to be shipped
north. Once, on a cattle drive from Texas, in 1898, the cattle stampeded
in the woods. My grandfather, Randall Lee Willis, who was only 12 at the
time and riding drag, thought his dad, Daniel, had been killed; but then he
could see his father's huge white hat, waving high in the air, in front of
the cattle.


Julia Ann's grandchildren recalled that she would read her red-lettered New
Testament Bible daily on the front porch of the "Old Willis Place" near
Longleaf on Barber Creek. She would then open her trunk and pull out
Daniel's photo, who had preceded her in death, and a tear would often be
seen in her eye.

Julia Ann also loved oranges. She would eat them, lay the peals on the
window seal and later eat the peals. When asked what she was doing she
replied "I don't know for sure, but I think these orange peals are good
for you." She once was bitten by a ground rattler, at age 75, and survived.

Julia Ann swam in Barber Creek, twice a day, until age 90. There is a huge
gravel pit where their home, the "Old Willis Place" once stood. The
gravel pit has destroyed the timber and Barber Creek. It became overrun
with sand and silt; literally smothered to death. The EPA finally made
them shut down, but it was too late.

My late cousin, Ilie Willis Close (1907-1995), wrote to me about the Old
Willis Place:

"The home was a gathering place for all the family. There was always food
cooked for family and friends. There was lots of blackberries, huckleberries
and fruit of all kinds for good pies.

The home was about a quarter of a mile from Barber's Creek, known to be one
of the coldest and clearest waters in the area. Grandma [Julia Ann Graham
Willis] would walk down and swim sometimes twice a day. She said that was
what had prolonged her life. All of the children and grandchildren loved to
go swimming with her.

She was reared a Methodist but later joined the Baptist Church and was a
devoted Christian. She read the Bible daily. We use to joke and say 'she
didn't think there would be anyone but Baptist in Heaven.' Her hobby was
making quilts and she kept the family supplied with her hand work."

Tragedy

Daniel and Julia Ann were not immune from tragedy. On a trip away from home
in 1880, Julia Ann told Daniel "I feel something is wrong at home." After
returning, they found their eight year old son, David Eugene, deathly ill
with appendicitis. He soon died. Julia Ann would later tell her
grandchildren, that she vowed that if she every lost another child, she
would never let herself grieve as she did for David Eugene. The next year,
1881, her four month old baby, Stella, died. Many years later, on December
23, 1935, she lost another son, Dr. Daniel Oscar Willis, in an auto
accident. He was born three years after David Eugene. Julia Ann would
live only nine months after his death.

Daniel Hubbard Willis Jr. died, from kidney trouble, at his son, Dr.
Daniel Oscar Willis' home near Leesville, La., on May 22, 1900. Julia Ann
Graham Willis died of old age on September 28, 1936. Both Daniel and Julia
Ann are buried at the Graham Cemetery near Forest Hill, not far from their
beloved Barber Creek.

Daniel Hubbard Willis Jr. and Julia Ann Graham Children:

1) Henry Elwa Willis was born 6 OCT 1867. He died 18 JAN 1945 of
pneumonia. He was a farmer and cattleman. He is buried at the Paul Cemetery
in Lecompte, La. He married Sarah F. Duplissey, Dec., 1890. Henry Elwa
Willis and Sarah F. Duplissey had the following children: Clarence I. Willis
(b. Jan. 18, 1892; d. Dec. 4, 1940), Viola Willis (b. Dec. 28, 1893; d.
Dec. 14, 1973), Elbert K. Willis (b. Feb. 26, 1897; d. Dec. 19, 1974),
Henry Willis (b. Mar. 30, 1899; d. Sept. 29, 1977), Mae Willis (b. May 1,
1902), Kit C. Willis (b. May 8, 1905), Bessie Willis (b. July 8, 1908), and
Frank Willis (b. Dec. 2, 1915).
2) Carvelia S. Willis was born 10 FEB 1869. She died 31 MAR 1941 of
liver disease. She never married. She is buried at the Graham Cemetery in
Forest Hill, La. Her date of birth on her grave marker is incorrect by 10
years.

3) Minnie R. Willis was born 7 MAY 1870. She died 18 SEP 1921. She
married Charles H. Benedict. She is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in
Pineville, La. Minnie R. Willis Benedict and Charles H. Benedict children
were: Arthur Charles Benedict (July 4, 1891; d. Jan. 21, 1969), and Lester
B. Benedict (d. April 26, 1899; d. May 10, 1918 of meningitis).

4) David Eugene Willis was born 19 JAN 1872. He died 13 FEB 1880 of
appendicitis at age eight. He is buried at the Graham Cemetery in Forest
Hill, La.

5) Corine Willis was born 27 SEP 1873. She died 6 OCT 1873 as a young
baby. She is buried at the Graham Cemetery in Forest Hill, La.

6) Daniel Oscar Willis, MD was born 8 MAR 1875. He died 23 DEC 1935 from
injuries sustained in an auto accident at LeBeau, La. He died at the
hospital in Bunkie, La. He married his first wife Ella Elizabeth Lamberth
(b. Jan. 16, 1871; died July 1, 1921) on Dec. 24, 1895. Daniel and Ella had
three children: Murphy Daniel Willis (b. Nov. 13, 1897; d. Oct. 15, 1930
after suffering with Hodgkin's disease for 14 years), Horace Oscar Willis
(b. Dec. 30, 1898; d. Sept. 22, 1936) and Pearl Willis (b. Oct. 24, 1900;
d. Apr. 20, 1988 in Baton Rouge, La.) Pearl Willis was a music teacher for
many years at LSU. Daniel Oscar Willis then married his second wife Mary
Hamilton in 1928. They had one child: Hamilton Barrow Willis (b. Nov. 25,
1931; d. Abt. 1990 in St. Francisville, La.). Daniel Oscar Willis was
buried on what would have been his and Ella's 40th. wedding anniversary, if
they both had not died prematurely. They are both buried in the Leesville
Cemetery, Leesville, La. He began his medical practice in 1904 and was the
first medical doctor in Vernon Parish, La. He also owned the first
automobile in Vernon Parish. He was in United States Army Medical Corps in
World War I and was commissioned as a Captain in August of 1917. He owned
the Hotel Leesville in Leesville, La. He once (after being slandered by a
young lawyer in a trial in Leesville) bodily removed the young lawyer from
his room at the Hotel Leesville and through him in the street. The young
lawyer's name was Huey P. Long.

7) Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. was born 15 JAN 1877. He died 30 JUNE 1951
of a heart attack. He was a butcher and cattleman. He married Eulah "Eula"
Rosalie Hilburn in 1903. Eula was born Mar. 10, 1884 and died Feb. 6, 1919,
at age 34, of the flu (she is buried at Lecompte Cemetery). Eula is buried
next to her parents, Charles Hilburn (1858-1943) and Francis Hilburn
(1860-1930). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. and Eula Rosalie Hilburn Willis
had the following children: Flossie Litton Willis (b. Aug. 5, 1905; d.
Sept., 1985 - married a Tomlinson), and Ilie Jewel Willis (b. Mar. 8, 1907;
d. May, 1995 - married Carl Close). Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. then
married Julia Mae Johnson on Jun. 13, 1922. Julia Mae was born Sept. 4,
1899 and died Feb. 17, 1934, at age 34. Both of Robert's wives died at age
34. Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. and Julia Mae Johnson Willis had the
following children: Robert "Bobby" Willis. Jr. (b. Feb. 2, 1923; d. Dec.
7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor - buried on the USS Arizona), Glenn Dewey Willis (b.
May 8, 1924), and Billy Edward Willis (b. Jun. 2, 1925; d. Aug. 6, 1991).
He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Pineville, La.

8) Ruthey Madella Willis was born 20 JUN 1880. Ruthey Madella Willis
died of cancer. She married her first husband, Henry Buckaliew, on 20 AUG
20 1898. She then married her second husband, H. C. Matthews. Ruthey
Madella Willis had one child by her first husband, Illie Jewel Buckaliew
(b. Apr. 10, 1900; d. Feb. 3, 1902 - buried in Graham Cemetery). She had
one child by her second husband, Willie Matthews.
9) Stella Willis was born 21 AUG 1881. She died 10 DEC 1881 as a young
baby. Buried at the Graham Cemetery in Forest Hill, La.

10) Julia Coatney Willis was born 11 MAR 1883. She died 16 AUG 1945 of a
heart attack. She married Harry Scarbrough. She is buried at Mountain View
Cemetery in San Bernardino, California. They had one daughter named Audrey
Ethel Scarbrough (b. Mar. 1, 1907; d. Oct. 22, 1980) who married Kent Hayden
(b. Jun. 18, 1906; d. Nov. 16, 1984). Audrey and Kent Kane Hayden, Sr.
had two sons named Charles Hayden and Kent Kane Hayden, Jr.

11) Randall Lee Willis (my grandfather) was born 20 MAR 1886 in Forest
Hill, La. He died 14 MAY 1940 of stomach cancer. Married Lillie Gertrude
Hanks on 11 JAN 1914. Buried at the Graham Cemetery in Forest Hill, La. He
was named after his father's commanding General in the Civil War: Randall
Lee Gibson who founded Tulane University. He was a farmer and logger. He
died of stomach cancer and she died of a heart attack. Randall Lee Willis
and Lillie G. Hanks Willis had the following three sons: Howard Lee Willis
(b. Feb. 15, 1915; d. Oct. 2, 1993), Herman Floyd Willis (b. Sept. 17, 1918;
d. May 15, 1977), and my father Julian Everette Willis (b. Oct. 5, 1919; d.
Jun. 13, 1995). All three sons are buried in the Butter Cemetery, Forest
Hill, La.

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