Jackson Standard Ohio 29 April 1869 p2 Joshua Willis – Death of an old Pioneer – When we were in Ironton two years ago, we saw an old man named Willis, who claimed to be over one hundred years of age, and who said he had walked to the city thirteen miles the same morning that we saw him. He died recently, and the Ironton Journal thus speaks of him:
DEATH OF AN OLD PIONEER.
Joshua Willis – Death of an old Pioneer – at the age of one hundred and three years, lacking a few days, died March 28th, 1869, at the residence of Eliza Willis, near Marion, Aid township, Lawrence County, Ohio. J. Willis was born April 1766 in Monroe county, now West Virginia; was in a fort three or four years in 1769, 70, and 71, on New River, Virginia, came to Guyandotte about 1800.
He helped raise the first log cabin built at that place. He was one of the first emigrants in Quaker Bottom. He lived at Russell’s Place or Getaway in 1808 and moved to Marion in 1811. In 1812 he was building the Wilson Water Mill at Marion, the first mill built in Lawrence county. He was drafted in the war of 1812, when he hired his brother, Hugh, to substitute and continue to finish and run the mill.
He helped to build the salt works in Jackson county, Ohio, in 1824. He also took a contract on the Ohio Canal, near the Licking Summit, cut off the timber 120 feet in width, one mile in length, and then grubbed up the stumps 60 feet. He had a strong constitution and remarkably good health. His teeth were all sound when he died.
He piloted the Methodist Episcopal ministers – Elder Hunter and others – through Lawrence and Gallia counties, 1817, 18, and 19, when they preached every day except Mondays. It took four weeks to get around the circuit. He was a member of the M. E. church; was taken in by Elder D. Clay of Jackson.
When he became old and feeble, he continued to read the Bible as long as he could see through glasses. He was a sober man all his life.
On the 4th day of July 1868, Joshua Willis was struck with paralysis and could never stand on his feet afterward. He was a very industrious man also. His cottage was always the home for the hunter, and the traveler was never sent away hungry.
On Friday evening, March 20th, he said he had suffered a long time, but his suffering would soon be over. He then sang with a strong voice: “When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of woe shall not then overflow, For I will be with thee they trouble to bless and sanctify thee in thy deepest distress.”
March 28th at five o’clock P.M., he suffered the last pang.
Did you know: The Ashland-Ironton bridge, constructed in 1985, is officially named after Simeon Slavens Willis, the 46th Governor of Kentucky (served 1943-47.) Simeon S. Willis was born in 1879 in Aid Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. (Governor Simeon Slavens Willis photo from Wikipedia)
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