Elias Banks Willison

GEDCOM Note

ELIAS B. WILLISON. The village of Augusta is proud to count among its citizens a number of retired farmers, who, lives of severe toil, have by industry and enterprise accumulated a handsome competency, and are now taking their comforts in thihis village. Among them there is none more honored than Elias B. Willison, whose sterling integrity and earnest advocacy of every movement in favor of morality have given him the respect, and have earned him the gratitude, of all with whom he has been associated.

The original of this sketch was born August 22, 1825, in Allegany County, N.Y., and was the son of Samuel and Eliza (Banks) Willison, natives respectively, of New York and Connecticut. His Grandfather Willison was a native of Ireland and his grandmother was born in Wales; they emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War, in which conflict the grandfather fought.

Our subject came to Michigan with his parents as early as 1837, locating in Barry County. Their new home was in the woods and the nearest neighbor was three miles distant. On making the journey to the Wolverine State, the elder Mr. Willison camame overland with two yoke of oxen, camping out by the wayside at night and being four weeks making the trip. Elias B. Willison was reared to man's estate among the pioneer scenes of Michigan and has done his full share of redeeming land from its primeval state. He received his primary education in the regulation log schoolhouse and later attended school at Battle Creek.

Mr. Willison, June 15, 1848, was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Harkness, who was born March 16, 1830 in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Willison was the daughter of John and Nancy (Sacksmith) Harkness, natives of the Empire State. When six years of age, she accompanied her parents to Kalamazoo County, where they located in Alamo Township, which place was their home for three years. They then removed to Barry County, where Mr. and Mrs. Harkness died, leaving a family of whom five are living, namely: Mrs. Margaret Mott, Mrs. William Willison, Mrs. Robert Marshall, Mrs. Elias Willison and Samuel R.

To our subject and his wife have been born eight children, seven of whom are living: Melvin J., George E.; Agnes, who is the wife of John Trick; Estella, Mrs. Charles Noble; Frank L., Wilford E., and Eva D. Mr. Willison is the proud possessor of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, which bears all the improvements of a first-class estate. He was Supervisor of Barry Township, Barry County, for one year and also served as Road Commissioner in that county. Mrs. Willison is a member of the Congregational Church, and in politics our subject is a stanch Democrat. Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000180337317824label=@S940@