The following text was provided by Mr. Larry Patrick of Wellston, Ohio ppatrick@zoomnet.net.

This writing was presented to me by my aunt Mona Mae Leach Dobbins during my quest to research my family tree. I have restructured this information from the original, while keeping in my possession the original state that it was presented to me,' to make it more user friendly by presenting the names of interest in bold text. The researcher is believed to have been Irene Wills Coss. My aunt also informs me that she believes that her 2nd cousin Alfonzo Francis (son of Martha Wills Francis) helped in generating some of the information.

Woodson Wills was born on 31 JAN 1798 in Virginia.

His wife, Sarah Kerns was born on 3 APR 1799 in Virginia. Her parents were Lydia and

George Kerns. Woodson and Sarah married on 5 APR 1817 in Bedford Co., Virginia.

They had children (I have their marriage bond):

Sarah Kerns Wills died soon after Edmund's birth and it is thought she died in JUN 1840. She is buried in Crosby cemetery, which is right back of the store. On Sour Run Rd. in an unmarked grave. By the time some of the family had money to put her up a marker, her grave could not be located. From my research Woodson and Sarah Wills seem to have left Virginia in 1830 or early 1831. I'm told they first settled in Meigs Co., Ohio; then in Gallia Co., Ohio where my great grandfather John L. Wills was born. Woodson owned some property in Gallia County and it appears that he lived near Thurman somewhere. It is not known exactly when he came to Jackson County. Only know they lived in Jackson County by 1840 when Sarah died. Woodson Wills had served in the War of 1812 when he was 15 years-old and went as a substitute for either a J.B. or LB. Wills ( Have not learned if this was a brother or father as yet) I've not learned the names of Woodson's parents. He served in Capt. John Hewitt's company, Virginia Militia. His war record states he had light hair, light complexion, weighed 175 pounds, stood 5 ft. tall. Don't know if he grew any later but Blaun Sigler tells me that he was short and weighed 215 pounds. My research tells me in many places that he was well liked and had many named for him. Blaun Sigler has Woodson's Bible which I had searched for 20 years and from it is where I got all these names and dates as to his family. But not his War of 1812 record. My grandmother Wills cousin in Washington D.C. looked it up for me. Dr. Blaun Sigler in Chillicothe descends down through Edmund Wills the sixth child of Woodson. His mother was Louella Augusta Wills, the oldest child of Edmund and Bridget Minks Wills.

Then on 19 NOV 1843 Woodson Wills married his second wife Julia Ann Springer Hunt a widow without children. She was born at Marion, Wayne County, New York on 27 DEC 1810. She and Woodson are buried at Bronx Corner cemetery and have a nice marker under that old pine tree there. Woodson was 81 years of age when he died and Julia Ann was 79. They lived in Richmondale 8 years before Woodson died; and they both died there. He applied for a pension from the War of 1812, which he received when he was 73 years old, until his death, of $8.00 a month and after his death his widow Julia Ann received $12.00 a month. At one time Julia Ann and Woodson owned a stagecoach tavern 114 of a mile east of Richmondale on route 35. It was a large two-story building and had porches clear across the front running for both stories. It was later to burn. Woodson and Julia Ann's children:

1. Charles Wills born 20 AUG 1844 in Ohio but do not know whether in Ross or Jackson County
2. Louisa Antinet Wills born 21 OCT 1846 in Ohio.
3. Drusilla Amanda Wills born 4 JAN 1848 in Ohio.
4. Julia Augusta Wills born 30 DEC 1850 in Ohio.
5. LaFayette Washington Wills born in 9 SEP 1852 in Ohio.
6. Alanson Jasper Wills born 3 NOV 1854 in Ohio.

So according to what I have, Woodson had what is known as a bakers dozen of children. Of his family by his 1st wife:

Spotwood and Robert (I think) - I have no further record.

James J. married Laura J. Springer sister of Julia A.

Samuel Woodson married 1st Amanda Leach (some kind of cousin to my mother)

And their children: (Amanda was born 18 MAR 1834, died FEB 1868)

1. Charles W. Wills born 12 AUG 1855, died 9 JUL 1900; married Madora Leach who was born 19 MAY 1859, died 20 SEP 1929 and they had children (Oscar Wills, Audrey Wills, Walter B. Wills who was born 7 SEP 1882, died 20 NOV 1903).

2. Mary A. Wills born 10 DEC 1856, married David A. Jakes.

3. Woodson L. Wills born 4??? 1858, married Margaret Jakes. Died in 1919. They had 4 daughters that I know of Mabel Wills, Crea Wills, Molly Wills (married John Clary), and I can not learn the other daughter's name.

4. John T. Wills born 18 JAN 1860, died 1905, married Eliza Smallwood and was a medical doctor in Richmondale and also in Colorado.

5. Sarah Minerva Wills born 18 AUG 1861, died in 1933; married William White. Two infants at Bronx Corner and daughter Tillie White of Chillicothe.

6. Edmund T. Wills born 11 JUN 1863, died 20 JUL 1864.

7. Drusilla Wills born 18 JAN 1865, married George Hooten.

8. Laura J. Wills born 24 NOV 1866, married John Hillsheimer.

Samuel Woodson Wills married 29 DEC 1868 to Emily Stockman who was born 25 DEC 1843, died 29 DEC 1923 (she was a 2nd cousin to my grandmother Wills). Emily was not married before but she had a child Annie L. Sigler, I was told. She was born 1 SEP 1865, died 1911. Annie never married. Samuel's children by his 2nd wife:

1. Samuel W. Wills born 6 APR 1870, died 1934; married Anna Householder.
2. Martha S. Wills born 7 SEP 1872, died 1911; married Thomas F. Addelsberger.
3. Alice E. Wills born 1 NOV 1875, died 1880. Buried beside her grandparents William and Eliza Stockman in Bronx Corner cemetery.
4. David C. Wills born 26 APR 1878, died 1928; married Emily Zimmerman.
5. Emily Naomi Wills born 19 APR 1880, she never married; lived in Huntington, W. Va.
6. Oliver F. Wills born 3 MAR 1883, died 1953; married Estella F. Leonard of Wellston and he was a barber at Logan. No children.
7. Herman 0. Wills born 20 APR 1885; married Ollie F. Seiberts and they had Maude Wills and Lorene Wills (who married Earl Ogier and lives in Cincinnati and they have two grown sons) and Paul Wills. Maude and Paul are both dead and both met accidental deaths.
8. Lott C. Wills born 5 FEB 1888; married May F. Reed and he is a Methodist minister near Hebron, Ohio. All this data secured from Samuel's Bible which Herman Wills in Wellston has. -- From information 1 received from my aunt Mona WIILS Chapel Church here in Wellston, was named after Lott--

John Leonidas Wills married Mary Anne Vaughters of near Coalton and they had Richard Wills, (Dr.) John Wills, James S. Wills (my grandfather), Alonzo Wills (died young), (Dr.) Leonidas Wills in Waverly, Thomas Wills (died young), Benjamin F. Wills (the only one living and he is ill), Mary Flora Wills married Charles Dray, and Verna Wills married Calvin Clark. John L. served in the Civil War for nearly 3 years and engaged in 14 battles.

Sarah Susan Wills, no further record - never hear of her.

Edmund W. Wills served in the Civil War and contracted dysentery while in the service and later died from it. He married Bridget Minks and they had Louella Augusta Wills who married Val Sigler (Blaun's parents), Horace Jasper Wills, Nancy Annetia Wills, Arthur Wills, Walter Wills and Corrella Wills.

Woodson's family in 2nd marriage, you'll see that I am not very familiar.

1. Charles Wills went west after the Civil War and died there in Nebraska.
2. Louisa Antinet Wills married Henry Miller and they had Samantha Miller and Viola Miller (who went to Columbus to live when young), LaFayette Miller never married and still lived at Richmondale near Yankee St. school house in 1953, where he bought a small piece of land and built a comfortable home for his parents and himself many years ago. He is the one that my uncle Rich Wills had to take care of Bronx Corner cemetery for years. If still living he is in his middle 80's. Ophelia Miller married Ed Cavitt and lived in Richmondale. Alonzo Miller - no further record. Bert Miller died young it is believed.
3. Drusilla Amanda Wills married Thurman Miller (brother of Henry Miller above). Their children Corwin Lee Miller (called Cory) married lone Erwin and lived near West Junction (used to be called Bakers Junction). He went with Artie Sigler (daughter of Jacob Sigler) but when Wade Byerly came along she married the latter. George Myrton Miller married Louella Sullivan (an older sister of my mother) and they had children. Evertt Miller, Ethel Miller, Lloyd Miller and Ruth Miller. The family lived many years on East 2nd St. in Chillicothe. Ruth married Bill Dixon and now lives in Chillicothe. Mert Miller died 2 years ago. Oley Woodow Miller married 1st Ethel Dixon and she died and he married 2nd Ruth Nagel. Daisy Miller married Tildon Snyder.
4. Julia Augusta Wills married Charles A. Wills, a cousin, son of George Wills. They had children: Ona Wills, Lee Wills, and Ivy Wills. No further record.
5. LaFayette Washington Wills married Myra Bashaw.
6. Alanson Jasper Wills married Miller Watson.

Now to the Wills family that I believe your father is from. George Wills, he seems to be the first to come to Ohio to live. She said she was positive that George was a nephew of my great - grandfather, George Woodson Wills, that her grandfather George Wills always called him uncle Woodson. The story goes that back in Virginia, George's father gave him a hard whipping and that he ran off from home and came to Ohio to live with his uncle Woodson (cannot find out where in Ohio that Woodson lived at the time George arrived, but George's father must have been Woodson's brother). Blaun Sigler said that he understands that Woodson had 10 brothers back in Virginia and that Woodson was the smallest of them. From his letter I think he meant in size; and Woodson remember was huge. George Monroe Wills was born 4 JUN 1824 in Virginia and seems to have lived most of his life in Richmondale, died 18 AUG 1916. Just think 92 years of age-- for back most of his years that country was nothing but wilderness. He married Levice Jane Landrum who was born 21 JUL 1818 (died 24 JUL 1891). Blaun says George was a small man and remembers him well. He always called him uncle George and that he lived over the hill in front of his fathers (Val Sigler) homeplace in Richmondale and when the fire would go out at Sigler's house it was Val's job to take a shovel and go over to George's and get hot coals so they could have a fire. Just took time out to look through a stack of letters from my cousins in Washington D.C. and found where she ran a federal census for me of 1860 for George Wills born in Virginia in 1825, living in Jefferson Township, Ross county, Ohio. His wife Levica J. was born in Virginia in 1818. It states they had 9 children-- all born in Ohio:

1. Mary Elizabeth Wills married William Weter, he was a Civil War veteran and died of consumption. Some of their children went to Yankee St. school with my distant cousin that lives in Washington D.C. who helped me so much with this. Their children-- Wealthy Weter, Bertha Weter, Norvel Weter, Maggie Weter, and Lettie Weter. (Maggie was an invalid) Blaun Sigler just says they have 6 children, Lena (cousin).
2. Anannias Wills married Amanda Coon, 9 children.
3. James M. Wills, married, 5 children.
4. Charles A. Wills married Julia Augusta Wills (Woodson and Julia daughter) and they had Ona Wills, Lee Wills, and Ivy Wills.
5. Lydia Ann Wills married Alonzo Sigler and Blaun Sigler states they had 4 children. Cousin Lena remembers 3 of them; Belle Sigler, Mary Sigler, and Flora Sigler. Belle died of consumption, Mary married a Clark and Flora was a victim of flu and was not very bright.
6. ???
7. Leetha Wills married Raymond Hinson. Blaun said they had 6 children.
8. Levica Jane Wills married George Weter. They had 2 children; Adam Weter and Della Alfaretta Weter and she married Nicholas Kelly.
9. William C. Wills died when 9 years - old.
10. George Monroe Wills-- S children; Gladys Wills, Content Wills, Otho Wills, and George Wills.
11. John L. Wills-- 3 children.
12. Sarah Wills married George Coon; they had 5 children.
13. Virginia C. Wills died when 2 years - old.

I'm now in the middle of writing to each county east of Bedford City in Virginia asking for the marriage bond of either James Wills and Mildred Woodson or John B. Wills and Susannah Woodson. Believe one of these are the parents of Woodson Wills and my key is the maiden name Woodson of his mother; thank goodness she put her maiden name upon him. These names were found in old records of Bedford county. Also where a Justinian Wills went to court there to prove his service under a Col. Byrd. As yet the National Archives in Washington D.C. cannot locate his record in their files. I had believed he fought in the Revolutionary War, but now it could have been the French and Indian Wars. He must be the grandfather of our Woodson Wills. If the archives can locate what they call a folder on him perhaps I can pick up something more of the family. Quite a long time ago I secured a photocopy of the page listing Revolutionary War soldiers of the Wills names of Virginia which I secured from the library in Richmond, Virginia. However, it does not list this Justinian Wills, but before they sent me this copy they told me that files were not completely compiled. On this list there are 28 names of the Wills family. Most have come over here in the very early days and sometimes I think by the car loads. My cousin in Washington, she has found in the government records many of the Wills, not only in Virginia but also in Pennsylvania and New York, Maryland and New Jersey. We think our line however must have first settled in Virginia. I also found in an old American history book in our library here a mentioning of General Braddock spending or losing time during his campaign repairing coaches at Wills Creek at Narrows, Maryland. it was during the French and Indian War in the summer of 1754.1 asked the librarian for some help in some research on this, but she could not help me. Then I asked this 79 year-old cousin in Washington D.C. if she could locate something on it. It was a fort at the time at the Cumberland Pass at Cumberland, Maryland. The write up she found stated it was the Headquarters and the source of supplies. Both of us cannot understand why we never heard of it in school or somewhere before. This old cousin, Lena, is very smart. Back in 1896 she graduated at the top of her class at Richmondale high school. Wish that I possessed a keen mind like hers. Well, if this old fort and stream was named for our family it proves they were here many years back. I'd like to get my hands on a book called" I've contacted these three members by mail - not learned too much - but living in hopes that I may secure some help". They have been very kind.

She found that many times both the Wills and Woodson families are mentioned. One point she wrote to me an interesting fact that both of these families were extremely wealthy having owned large plantations. Fully equipped with their own blacksmith shops with many tools and most stock and fine dwellings. These men were the most learned men of those days. During the Revolution a Samuel Woodson, a Joseph Woodson, and a Robert Woodson of Goochland County, Virginia were very active during that war. Also, many Will's and in both families there were many officers in that war. If we could only track down our direct line. It appears that many names in every generation is kept repeating- one main reason this research is so hard. So many William, James, John, Thomas, and Robert Wills. The names of our grandfathers maybe a que for me. Yours being Samuel Woodson Wills and mine James L. Wills. And you can note from my letters that the Samuel seems to have come down through the Woodson family side- the nearest I can tell. Although on my list of the Revolutionary soldiers there is a Samuel Wills that served in this war from Augusta County, Virginia. I've often wondered about this point to-- as you'll note our families have put the name of Augusta on their daughters many times. Did you ever hear of my uncle Wes Wills? He lived many years in Wellston.

He was the youngest child of James J. Wills and his wife Laura Jane Springer Wills who always lived at Bronx Corner cemetery. They are buried there too. Well uncle Wes named his oldest daughter Augusta Wills. She married Dallas Leach and they lived near Wellston. Next daughter was Essie Wills who married James Felton, they live in Dayton. They have 3 grown children. Then the 3rd daughter of Wes's is Jennie Mae Wills and she married John Radcliffe of Chillicothe and John is a railroad agent and lives in Portsmouth. No children. Wes Wills married Lydia Sullivan (an older sister of my mother). Aunt Lydia died of consumption when I was 12 years-old, but 1 remember her well. She was 45 years-old when she died and was ill for 8 years before she died.

I asked for some history on the town of Spotwood, which is in the southern part of Augusta County, Virginia. Still I do not know any history concerning this town, but my cousin wrote me that there was an early governor of Virginia by the name of Spotwood--sometimes spelled Spottiswood. Many years ago there was a great historian by this name and was well known for his writing of the Scotch Prelate and was an archbishop of the St. Andrews Church in Scotland. Evidently this is where this name came from. Uncle Wes had an older brother named Spotwood Wills too. I purchased a new atlas map to be able to do more research work. A Mrs. Rack of Lexington, Kentucky, a member of the DAR through the Wills line, writes me she is most anxious to get back to the Wills Emigrant. She has only been able to trace her line back to Amelia County in Virginia. She is a DAR member under her ancestor of the Revolution who was William Wills.