BIO: Wills, John F - Anderson Co

Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th ed., 1887,
Anderson Co.

JOHN F. WILLS.  The grand paternal ancestor of the subject of this sketch
was Nathaniel H. Wills, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and a native of
Richmond, Va.  He married a Miss Mildred Coman, of North Carolina, and had
three children: Samuel Hardy, Nathaniel and a daughter, whose married name
was Tresvant, and who removed to Memphis, Tenn.  Samuel Hardy Wills, the
father of John F. Wills, came to Kentucky in 1851, located in Lawrenceburg
and died there in 1855.  He was a cabinet maker by trade, also a preacher
in the New Jerusalem Church, and had served in the war of 1812.  While a
resident of Abingdon, Va., he built his own church, where he preached for
some years.  He also preached at Lawrenceburg until his death.  He
married Rebecca Loraine, a daughter of Thomas Loraine, who married a Miss
Wheeler, of Maryland.  They had six children: Caroline (Mrs. John Candy,
of Shelbyville, Ky.), Alfred, Russell (who married Judge George W.
Kavanaugh, and is now a resident of New York City), John F. (the subject
of this sketch), Sally (who married Dr. Richard Price, of Louisville) and
Anna (who married Judge J. Hop Price, of Louisville.  John F. Wills was
born January 14, 1824, in Abingdon, Va.  His early education was received
at the academy of his native village, and at the age of fourteen he was
entered as a student in the Emory and Henry College. In 1843 he commenced
the study of law with Samuel Logan, and obtained his license to practice
form Judge Bicknell, Clark County, Ind.  In 1850 he went to New Orleans and
joined the American filibusters in Col. Theodore O'Haro's command, Capt.
Logan's company, which later on joined Gen. Lopez in Cuba, and was in the
engagement there that resulted in the garroting of Lopez by the Spanish
authorities and the death of Capt. Logan.  He then joined the expedition
fitted out in 1851, which was broken up by the United States Government.
He then located in Florida, and taught school for one year.  Mr. Wills,
from 1852 to 1881, was engaged in practicing law in Anders and adjoining
counties.  He was a resident of Lebanon, Ky., in 1858-1861, and filled the
position of police justice. In 1861, owing to his Southern proclivities, he
resided in Terre Haute, Ind., spending a good deal of his time in lecturing
through the States of Indiana and Kentucky in the cause of the South.  He
married Miss Mary Breckinridge Miller.  Mr. Wills retired in 1881 from the
law, and is now residing upon and managing his farm of 300 acres, situated
at Dowling, Anderson County, and operating the ferry on the Kentucky River
which connects the counties of Woodford and Anderson.  Mr. Wills is a Past
Master, and a member of the Anderson Lodge, No. 90, F. & A. M., also was
county attorney for Anderson County.  He also established the Anderson
News, which he subsequently sold to Mr. Cohen.  Mr. Wills was the author
of the famous poem which was presented to Congress in the form of a
petition praying to have his political disabilities removed.  It was
presented by Proctor Knott, and read by him.  Benjamin F. Butler arose and
offered a resolution removing his disability.  The members, seeing it was
going to open a way to relieve him, immediately asked for certain friends
to be included in the resolution, and the result was the relief of just
500, among the rest being Basil Duke.

Transcribed by: Beulah Wiley Franks  
wrfc71a@prodigy.com
Date: 28 Jul 1997