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Willard Family History
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Famous Willards Information about other Willard families and possible connections will be published here. Jess Willard (1881 - 1968) Jess Willard was a boxer who was the Heavyweight Champion of the World from 1915 to 1919. Known as the "Pottawatomie Giant", he was the youngest of four brothers born to Myron B. Willard and Margaret (Maggie) B. Hileman. The question has been asked many times, "are you related to Jess Willard" and the answer is that this branch of Willard's has no proven direction relationship with the heavyweight boxing champion. Jess Willard's grandson, Jim Mace, has an article published on the Cyber Boxing Zone that outlines Jess Willard's life. http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/jeswbio.htm While Pottawatomie County, KS is one county west of Jackson County, KS where John Nelson Willard (Beverly, John) ended up, as far as family legend has it, there was no contact between the two families. Jess's father was Myron Willard (b. Oct 11, 1844 in Ohio, d. Oct 29, 1881 in St. Clere, Pottawatomie, KS). His mother was Margaret (Maggie) B. Hileman (b. June 81, 1850 in Union County, IL; d. Feb 10, 1908 in St. Clere, Pottawatomie, KS). Jess married Harriet "Hattie" Evans and they had 5 children: Zella (b. 1909), Frances (b. 1911), Jess Jr. (b. 1913), Enid (b. 1914) and Allen (b 1916). Jess is buried in the Forest lawn-Hollywood Hills cemetery in LA County, CA. More to come on these Willards... Frances
Willard (1839 - 1898) John Willard
(? - 1692) Good write up on the Willard Family Association website. Simon
Willard (1753-1848) Documented to be of the Simon Willard line. Alexander Hamilton
Willard (1778-1865) Documented to be of the Simon Willard line. Archibald
MacNeal Willard (1836 - 1918) Painter of the Spirit of 76. Fred Willard (1939 - ) |