Charles Henry Willard

SOURCE: Submitted by Georgia Kay McCartney

SURNAMES: WILLARD, SMITH, SAMPSON

I have completed research on my great grandfather, CHARLES HENRY WILLARD, and have realized that the more I know, the less I know. But I am more than willing to share what I have discovered so far in the hopes that someone who reads this will perhaps be able to clarify those facts which seem to change the more information that I find. Photocopies of a Willard family Bible indicate that Willard was born October 1, 1826. However, the 1870 census indicates that Willard was 74, and the 1880 census states he was 57. The 1900 census soundex indicates date of birth to be October 1822. His death certificate states that when he died on March 13, 1906, he was 84 years, 4 months, and 13 days old. An obituary card which was distributed among family, friends, and neighbors indicates he was born October 22, 1821. And last but not least, his gravestone says he was born October 1, 1822. So WHEN was Willard born? I have no idea. He married Malinda SMITH in Greencastle, Indiana (Putnam County), on October 24, 1852, according to their marriage certificate. Six children were born to Charles and Malinda: Samuel Jackson, December 7, 1853, James M., November 29, 1855, Charles Henry Jr., October 1, 1857, Amanda Elizabeth, August 7, 1860, Joseph C., November 5, 1862, and Grant, birth date unknown. A family tree sent to me by a descendant of Samuel Jackson, indicates that James was the first child to be born in Champaign County, Illinois. This would indicate, then that Willard and his wife first came to this area no later than November, 1855. I have no record of when Malinda died--only that she was buried on Cannonball Hill which is currently in Crystal Lake Park, Urbana. Her remains were eventually transferred to Mt. Hope Cemetery, Urbana. Willard married a widow named Ruth Ditto Sampson on November 14, 1866. I found record of two divorce petitions dated April 1868 and April 1875. However, in September 1875, the complaintant Ruth Willard dropped all charges. Ruth had three children, with only two surviving, from her first marriage to John B. Sampson, who died in the Civil War on December 23, 1863, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Those children were: Carrie Melinda (b. March 6, 1859; d. August 2, 1862?), Willard Freemont (b. July 5, 1861), and John B. Jr. (b. March 2, 1863). A handwritten obituary from a family member stated that Charles Willard and Ruth had a total of 8 children of whom only 4 survived their parents: Alta (b. March 2, 1874; d. February 22, 1875), Elmer (March 3, 1877; d. March 17, 1877), and Urvin (b. March 3, 1877; d. February 10, 1878) died young. The following children survived their parents: Frank Dora (b. January 29, 1870), Lillian (b. October 15, 1873), Grover Cleveland (b. January 12, 1885), and Ora Arthur (b. June 30, 1888). The family Bible has a notation which states that a child named Luly Belle was born October 15, 1867. I have no additional information on this child. But since the 1875 divorce petition indicates that Ruth only had two surviving children born during her marriage to Charles, then I can assume that Luly Belle died prior to 1875. The state of Illinois Archives Division Public Domain Sales Land Tract Record listing indicates that Willard bought 40 acres of government land in 1867 and another adjoining 40 acres in 1869. He built a house on that land, Section 24. The house still remains today but with improvements that have been built over the original structure. Willard also owned property in Gifford, Illinois, including the first grain elevator built in the summer of 1876. However, the Champaign County phone book of 1902 indicates that Willard and his wife, Ruth, had left their farm and moved to 706 S. Market, Urbana, and lived there until they died.