WILLIAM STEPHEN WILLIS and MARGARET A. (DAVIS?)
(Deborah Willis Montgomery, debmontgomery@austin.rr.com) 

In the interest of sharing information about this Willis family that is accurate, I will  
post information from official and historical documents concerning the William S. Willis family.  
A book written by William S. Willis (b. 1879) in 1955, called the "The Big Texas Ranches", 
has some family background.  Although interesting, I've been unable to find much to 
support his information.

I have had in my possession an old "Willis" bible (pub. 1869). The name "Addie" is at 
the top of a blank page and "Addy" is mentioned in the birthdates (prob. a daughter, b. 1877).   
Written in the book: "Steve Willis" was born Feb 15, 1832, and died Feb 20, 1879; "Marget Willis" 
was born Aug 9 1837 and died Jan 18 1886"; plus 8 children's birthdates.  The bible was flood 
damaged.  A pressed flower and a newspaper clipping from "Garden Valley"(1892) were inside.  
The inscription on the William S. Willis marker at Sand Flat Pioneer Cemetery in Henderson Co. reads:  
WILLIAM S. WILLIS 
PVT.
20 TEXAS CAV. C.S.A
FEBRUARY 10, 1879
A reliable source has said that Margaret is buried at Smith Cemetery, also in Henderson County.  
Her marker states her death date as 1884.  

On August 25 1867, William S. Willis's name was entered on the "Voters' Registration of Texas".  
He stated that:
-     his residence was in Henderson Co., Prec. 1.
-     he had lived in Texas 21 years;  in Henderson Co. 11 years;  and in the Precinct 6 years.  
he was a native of Tennessee and white.
That would indicate that he arrived in Texas abt 1846, and moved to Henderson Co. abt 1856.
The first official mention of William S. Willis that I have been able to find is in the Henderson Co. 
Commissioner's Court Book B 3, Feb 28, 1859:
"#34, Ordered and decreed by the Court that A S Griffith be appointed overseer of a road leading 
from Athens to Kaufman to work from Athens to the Seven Mile Post with the following hands to wit:  
Henry Griffith Wm Sexton Stephen Willis J M McDonald P H Mires W C Mason V I Stirman 
Robertson Jno Mays J M Stirman S W Wolf Jno Graves W B Stirman James Stirman Josiah 
Littlefield A J McDonald and all other hands not otherwised apportioned."
This was transcribed and sealed in 1924 by Dan Browning, "Clerk County Court, Henderson 
County, Texas."
"Steve Willis" is mentioned in  J. J. Faulk's book, "History of Henderson County" (pub. 1929).  
He is listed in Chapter 5, "Names of Old Pioneers Who Lived In Henderson County from 1850 to 
1860, Inclusive" 
On the TX Federal Census of 1860 (Aug 15/16), the Willis Family is living in Beat No. 3, 
Henderson Co.:
415  400  William S. Willis	  28     M      Farmer     200 (personal  estate) Tennessee
                Margaret A.   "              22     F       Domestic                 Alabama
                Nancy A.       "                4     F                             Texas
                William (Arthur?) "   3/12     F                                Do  (above)
               Mariah (J?) Patterson   13      F                              Alabama    

"W. S." Willis's Confederate Military Service Records received from the National Archives in 
Washington, and the Harold B. Simpson Hill College History Complex in Texas, have the 
following information:
"Stephen Willis" was in the Texas State Troopers "TST".  He enlisted in July, 1861. 
The commanding officer was Capt. Martin W. Ross.  He was in Reserve Co., Precinct No. 3, 
Henderson Co., 13th Brig., "BG A.J. Witt commdg.", TST.  (As men were needed, they were 
transferred to the CSA.)
Wm. Stephen Willis, 31 yrs, is listed as a Private in Capt. Jeremiah Warren's Company, 
Bass' Reg't  Texas Mtd. Vols.  On the Company Muster-in Roll, he joined for duty and 
was enrolled March 10, 1862, in Henderson Co. by Jere Warren for 12 months.  The 
roll was dated March 15, 1862 at Camp Bass, Texas.  The number of miles to rendezvous 
was 40; valuation of horse was $150; and equipment $15.
William Stephen Willis is listed in the 20th Cav. Co. E (Bass' Regiment), as a Private, Card  
No. 503339614043.  (Co. E became Co. F, Morgan's Reg't Texas Cavalry and Johnson's 
Batt'n, 20th Texas Dismounted Cavalry)
W. S. Willis, Pvt., appears on the Company Muster Roll of Co. F, Bass' Reg't Texas Cavalry 
for March 19 to May 19, 1862.  Enlistment is March 19, 1862, in Henderson Co., by Jerre 
Warren for 12 months.
A Bounty of $50. was paid to W. S. Willis, Co. F Bass's Regt. Texas on July 11th 1862 by 
J. W. Johnson.
On a Receipt Roll dated July 30th 1862, Pvt. W.L. Willis, Co. F, 20th Texas  Cav., was 
paid $8.33 for "Commutation of Rations".
Priv. W.S. Willis, Co. F, 20th Texas Cav., was "Discharged on Surgeon's certificate of 
disability.  See  Chap. 1 , Vol. 183, 207." (No Date)

On May 11th 1868, W.S. Willis bought 50 acres in Henderson County for the sum of $158.38. 
The land was "situated of the waters of Caney Creek".  The note was due Dec. 25, 1868.  
Information is located in the Henderson County Courthouse Records, Vol. O,  Page 513.  
On the Texas Federal Census of June 28th, 1870, the Willis family is living in the Athens 
Precinct, Henderson Co.:
57 57  Willis, Stephe              40   M   W Wagoner 25 (real est.) 150 (pers. est.)Tennessee
             "     , Margrett            30   F    W Keeping House                    Alabama
             "     , Nancy A.          14   F    W                                   Texas
             "     , Wm. A.             10   M   W                                      "
             "     , Sarah E.           8    F    W                                    "
             "     , Joseph W.        5    M   W                                    "
             "     , Martha L.          3    F    W                                      "
             "     , Margrett C.    11/12  F    W born in Aug.                           "

On May 4th 1871, "W.S. Willis and Margaret A. Willis wife of W.S. Willis" sold the 50 acres of 
land "situated on the waters of Cany creek" for $200.  Information located in Henderson County 
Courthouse Records, Vol. P, Page 450.
William S. Willis died in 1879 and Margaret in 1884 or 1886.   I believe that five more children 
were born after 1870.  Joseph Windle Willis (5 yrs old on the 1870 census) was my gr grandfather.  
He married Willie Ann Minerva Piper (dau of  Wm. M. Piper and Georgia Ann Spears Bennett Piper)
 in 1889, Kaufman Co., Texas. 

It has been important to me to post accurate information.  I would greatly appreciate any leads or 
information as to the ancestors and/or descendants of  William S. and Margaret A. Willis. 
 debmontgomery@austin.rr.com or 11910 Onion Hollow Run, Austin, TX  78739

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