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Charles Ball Willis

Born: April 5th, 1822

 

Parents: John Flavel Willis  (1784-1856) and Sarah/Sally Dana  (1783-1842)

 

Siblings: Joanna (1806),  Austin (1808),  Sally (1811),  Fanny (1813),  John F (1815),  National B (1817-1826),  Hannah (1819),  Betsey (1824)

 

Marriage:

#1 Hannah Lettica Phillips (1824-1851) on 9/25/1848 in Parishville, NY; died age 27 in childbirth

#2 Prudence Rice Allen (1828-1905) on 3/18/1857 in Parishville, NY

 

Children:

with wife #1: Hannah Lettica (5/4/1851)

with wife #2: Charles Henry (12/1857-3/25/1876),  Harriet Estella (1859),  Edward Austin (1861),  Frank Allen (1865-1895/6)

 

Death: 11/3/1907, Parishville, NY. Buried Riverview Cemetery, West Parishville

 

Obituary from the Courier-Freeman, Potsdam, NY, Nov. 13, 1907:

Deacon Charles B. Willis died Nov. 3, 1907, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. B.F. Jefferson, West Parishville, NY, in the 86th year of his age.  He was born in Canaan, NH and came to this state with his parents, brother and sisters with an oxteam when three years old and settled on the farm where he has since lived.  His father was John Willis whose lineage dates back to the Puritan parentage. His mother, Sally Dana, a singularly gifted woman, was a sister of Elder Dana, who built the old Dana Meeting House in New Hampshire which is now owned and preserved by the State as a memorial to it’s founder. 

His early education was in the district school and the old St. Lawrence Academy and he became a successful teacher.  In his wild young manhood he was asked to superintend his home Sabbath School, and agreed to do so on condition that “Uncle Abiatha Mc Donald”, as he was familiarly called, a devoted Christian, would do the praying.  This was accordingly done, and he soon after learned to pray, was soundly converted and in due time put forth efforts which resulted in one of the most sweeping revivals this county has ever known.  In the course of time the F.W.B. Church was organized, the church edifice built in 1859 and Charles Willis chosen deacon, an office which he has faithfully filled.  Of the many hopeful converted in that church, several went forth to preach the gospel.  He always gave liberally of his means to carry on the Lord’s work and was especially noted for his hospitality, his latch string always being out. He ever took a lively interest in public affairs and served his town in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for a long term of years.

Deacon Willis is twice married; first to Lettice Phillips, who died at the birth of their first child, a little daughter, now Mrs. L.H. Johnston of Challis, Idaho; and second to Prudence Rice Allen, who died  in Dec. 1905.  Four children were born of this last union, Charles Jr., who died of typhoid pneumonia while in attendance at the Pottsdam Normal School, Harriet, Mrs B.F. Jefferson, E.A. Willis of Pottsdam, and Frank who died of consumption several years ago.  Those children and friends who remain especially the daughter and half brother in the west have the sympathy of the community.

Last June  he went to live with his daughter who with her husband and son have given him the tenderest care and kindest consideration. In his last declining days they were faithfully aided in this by E.A. Willis and wife of Potsdam.

The funeral was from the daughter’s home last Tuesday, Rev Wilson of Potsdam spoke words of comfort and cheer from the passage which Deacon Willis often repeated during the summer and fall, “all the days of my appointed time will wait until the change come.”  The West Parishville Grange of which he had been a useful member, having served as its Chaplain and Worthy Master were present in a body and conducted their burial service, and he was born to his final resting place in Riverview Cemetery to await the joyful summons of the resurrection when he will receive his reward, as eternity alone can reveal the good accomplished by such a lift and example.

         

Misc:

The post-office at West Parishville is in charge of Charles B. Willis. (from the history of Parishville)

 

Parishville Business Directory - Individuals
From Child’s Gazeteer of St. Lawrence County
1873-74
Willis, Charles B., Potsdam, Justice of the peace, agent for Warrior mowing machine co and agricultural implements and farmer, 247

 

Census:

1900 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
Charles Willis, head, b Apr 1822, 78, married 42 years, b NH, farmer
Prudence, b June 1830, age 69, 4 children born, 2 alive
Dana Weems, grandson, b May 1888, age 12, b Conn

 

1880 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
Charles B. Willis, age 58, farmer, b NH, father b Conn
Prudence, 50, b NY
Harriet E., 20, school teacher
Edward, 18, at school
Franklin, 14

 

1870  US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
Charles Willis, age 47, farmer, value of realestate $9000    b NH
Prudence, 48, b NY
Lettice, 19 b NY, at home
Hattie E., 10 , b NY
Edward, 8 b NY
Franklin, 4, b NY
Charles H, 12, b NY

 

1860 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
Charles Willis, 37, farmer, value of real estate $4000, b VT
Prudence, 31?, b NY
Lettica, 9, b NY
Charles H., 2
Hattie, 6 months, b NY
Frank, 17, farm laborer

 

1850 US Census, NY, St. Lawrence Co, Parishville
Charles B. Willis, 28, farmer, b NH
Lettica, 27, b NH

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