LEVI WILLETS

One of Mercer county's noblest dead. His life was full of good works which in his death stand out in bold relief in honor to the doer. Mr. Willits was bom May 31, 18O8, in Piekaway county, Ohio, on a farm. His parents, William and Mary "Willits, moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and in after years to Indiana.

Levi spent his youth on the farm, enjoying but few school advantages, yet he early manifested peculiar mathematical ability. When about of age he began the trades of carpentiy and cabinet making, which he followed some years. He was married December 1, 1832, to Miss Clarinda Drury, daughter of Edward and Jane Drury, born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 20, 1811.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Willits resided in Raysville, Indiana, for four years, when it was decided to move to Illinois. Accordingly, in the fall of 1836, with ox-team, the journey was begun. Mrs. Willits became sick with the measles, having to keep her bed in the wagon.

Arrived near Mud creek, not far from Blue river, the day being warm, the oxen seeing the water were uncontrollable by the driver and rushed toward the muddy element. In their race the wagon was upset, precipitating Mrs. Willits, sick as she was, into mud and water, completely drenching her and piling the heavy goods on her. In extricating her she was further bruised. She was then taken on horseback by a passing woman to a poor hovel and there treated as well as the circumstances would allow. The dirt and squalor of the hut could not be mentioned.

As soon as able the party pushed on with their ox-team to Indianapolis, where they remained some time. While there Mrs. Willits' sister was taken ill of the measles and died. They buried her there in the bloom of her youth. It was then dicided to return to Wayne county for the winter, at least, which they did.

In the following spring the journey was again undertaken. Mr. Willits purchased three cows and considerable young stock, one horse and the ox-team. Mr. Willits was to ride the horse and drive the cattle, while Mrs. Willits should drive the ox-team, the man hired for the purpose being sick. Mrs. W. rode the horse for a time which, becoming scared at the cattle whip the driver carried, jumped, throwing the rider, but causing no dangerous injury. Slowly and interruptedly was the journey made.

The three cows and much of the young stock were lost on the way. Arrived at New Boston, they found three or four log cabins and more Indians than white men. An old log cabin was occupied by them, necessitating, so dilapidated was it, the hanging of bed clothes, etc., over cracks and holes in the walls. With the ox-team Mr. Willits hauled all the lumber he could get at Millersburg and with it built one small room for a dwelling, with a sort of loft above for sleeping apartment for men employed. Below a bed and a trundle bed occupied one corner. Across one corner was hung a sheet, partitioning off a little room for flour and smoke room. Hired men slept up stairs and on the floor down stairs, while the "guid" couple occupied tlie bed. In that house was born the first child to the Willits.

In that house court was held when New Boston was the county seat and there the court and jury were boarded and lodged. The beds, etc., served as seats and the floors were their beds. Mrs. "W. did her cooking in a cabin near by. The young cattle brought with them were slaughtered for food, in scarce article that year. A small stock of goods had been brought with them, such as groceries, paints, medicines, liquors, etc. "With these merchandising was begun, which grew into a very lucrative business. Wm. Drury was for years Mr. Willits' partner. Soon Mr. Willits added to his home and with diiferent additions the house became large. The frame is now owned by Henry Denison.

During these early clays Mrs. "Willits, to aid in fortune, did washing and ironing for the young men of that day; also made pants, vests, etc. A man and a woman had been, hired to do the baking for the trade, but they quitting, Mrs. Willits undertook it. She had an oven made, constructed of straw, shavings, mud, etc., and plastered with mud, then burned, as there were no brick. She paid for this from her own earnings. She also paid for her first cook stove by her own efforts.

Mr. Willits, two years after opening his store, declared he would sell no more liquors to his neighbors, making them drunk, but would put in a supply of dry goods instead. He continued in trade many years. He also became engaged in merchandising in Millersburg a short time. He was extensively and many years engaged in the lumber business, trading in land, buying grain, packing pork, contract building, erecting a number of buildings in New Boston.

It is unnecessary to speak here of his laying out the town of Aleclo; of his founding, in connection with Judge John S. Thompson, a college for the Presbyterians and one for the Methodists, the foundation of the latter being laid and material ready, at his death; of his building the Barton hotel, and various other buildings. All this will be found in the history of Aledo. No doubt his exposures to water in laying out the town at the time he did, caused, in some degree, the rheumatism that brought on his sickness. He spent much of his time in Aledo the last year or two of his life. He returned to his home in New Boston to entertain friends, and while there was taken ill.

He recovered somewhat, but moving about too much, he took a relapse, had a chill on Thursday, and on the following Tuesday died of inflamatory rheumatism, March 2, 1858. On the following Friday evening a large concourse of people gathered at the court-house in Aledo and passed resolutions of respect for him and admiration of his character. He was not a church member, yet was considered a good man. His house was always open to ministers and Christians generally.

The evening before his death he called for a glass of water and holding it up, beautifully remarked: " Before tomorrow morning I shall be drinking purer water than that." He died before morning. Pie was always interested in the educational and general good of the people. In politics he had been a whig, but was a republican before he died.

Five children had preceded him to the grave, all he had. One child of James Thompson, at its mother's death, had been taken to raise. It had died. Four children of Har­ riet Willits had also found a father and mother in the persons of Mr. and' Mrs. Levi Willits. One died in her fourteenth year. The others were well educated and provided for in his will. Mr. Willits' good works live after him, bnt not as they would had he been spared to fur­ ther prosecute his designs. Disease deprived the people of a noble mind, warm heart and willing hands. His works cannot be individualized in the space allotted here.

History of Mercer and Henderson County

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