Husband: James B WILLS (1,2,3)
Birthdate: 1798
Birthplace: , Rutherford, Tennessee, USA (4)
Death date: 1872
Place of death: , , Texas, USA (5)
Burial:
Father: James WILLS (1763-1855)
Mother: Lillian BUCHANAN (Abt 1770-After 1820)
Other spouses: Elizabeth ??? (1813-1885) (8) Date: Bef 1870 (9)

Marriage date: 3 Jan 1816
Marriage place: , Rutherford, Tennessee, USA (6,7)

Wife: Amy W SHACKLEFORD (10)
AKA: Anna SHACKLEFORD
Birthdate: 1800
Birthplace: , , Virginia, USA (11)
Death date: Bef 1870
Place of death: , , Texas, USA
Burial:
Father: Daniel SHACKLEFORD (1770-1852)
Mother: Tabitha NANCE (1783-After 1860)
Other spouses:

CHILDREN

Child No. 1: Reuben WILLS
Sex: M
Birthdate: Abt 1817
Birthplace: , , Tennessee, USA
Death date: 1860
Place of death: , , Texas, USA (12)
Burial:
Marriage dates: 27 May 1843
Marriage places: , Washington, Texas, USA (14)
Spouses' names: Jane BUSTER (Abt 1820-????) (13)

Child No. 2: Sarah J WILLS
Sex: F
Birthdate: 1820
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (15,16,17)
Death date: Aft 1893
Place of death: , , Texas, USA
Burial:
Marriage dates: 10 Sep 1835
Marriage places: , Clay, Missouri, USA
Spouses' names: R William McCRAY (1810-After 1859) (18)

Child No. 3: Loumisa WILLS (19)
Sex: F
Birthdate: 25 Nov 1822
Birthplace: Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA (20,21)
Death date: 29 Apr 1899
Place of death: Brownwood, Brown, Texas, USA
Burial: Connell Cemetery, Brown County, Texas
Marriage dates: 31 Jul 1843
Marriage places: , Washington, Texas, USA (23)
Spouses' names: William Oliver CONNELL (1816-1882) (22)

Child No. 4: Tabitha L WILLS (24)
Sex: F
Birthdate: 11 May 1824
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (25,26,27)
Death date: 18 Nov 1860
Place of death: , Bell, Texas, USA (26,28)
Burial: Dallas Cemetery, Bell County, Texas
Marriage dates: 6 Jan 1842
Marriage places: , Washington, Texas, USA (30)
Spouses' names: Lt Col Alexander James DALLAS (1820-1889) (29)

Child No. 5: James Wilson WILLS (31)
Sex: M
Birthdate: 10 Jan 1826
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (32,33)
Death date: 6 Sep 1869
Place of death: , Williamson, Texas, USA (34)
Burial: Connell Cemetery, Milam County, Texas
Marriage dates: 28 Dec 1850
Marriage places: , Washington, Texas, USA (36)
Spouses' names: Mary Ann CONNELL (1827-1900) (35)

Child No. 6: William Riley WILLS (37,38)
Sex: M
Birthdate: 3 Aug 1828
Birthplace: , Clay, Missouri, USA (39,40)
Death date: 27 Apr 1902
Place of death: , Bell, Texas, USA (41)
Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bell County, Texas
Marriage dates: 10 Mar 1853
Marriage places: , Bell, Texas, USA (43,44)
Spouses' names: Saluda Elizabeth CROSS (1837-1932) (42)

Child No. 7: Capt Daniel Shackleford WILLS (45)
Sex: M
Birthdate: Oct 1829
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (46)
Death date: 20 Oct 1910
Place of death: Douglas, Cochise, Arizona, USA (47)
Burial: Queen Addition, Cochise County, Arizona
Marriage dates: 1855
Marriage places: , , Texas, USA (50,51)
Spouses' names: Permelia Elizabeth BLACK (1840-Bef 1901) (48,49)

Child No. 8: David WILLS
Sex: M
Birthdate: Abt 1831
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA
Death date: Abt 1848
Place of death: , , Texas, USA
Burial:
Marriage dates:
Marriage places:
Spouses' names: Did not marry

Child No. 9: Elmyra E WILLS (52)
Sex: F
Birthdate: 1832
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (53,54)
Death date: 3 Nov 1894
Place of death: , , Texas, USA (55)
Burial: Rogers Cemetery, Bell County, Texas
Marriage dates: 21 Aug 1856
Marriage places: , Bell, Texas, USA (58)
Spouses' names: John C ANDERSON (1832-1911) (56,57)

Child No. 10: Nancy Eviline WILLS (59,60)
Sex: F
Birthdate: Jan 1835
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (61,62)
Death date: 1914
Place of death: , Milam, Texas, USA
Burial: Locklin Cemetery, Milam County, Texas
Marriage dates: 10 Feb 1852
Marriage places: , Milam, Texas, USA (64)
Spouses' names: James Lowery HOGAN (1818-1888) (63)

Child No. 11: Archibald WILLS (65)
Sex: M
Birthdate: Apr 1839
Birthplace: , , Missouri, USA (66,67,68)
Death date: 1 Feb 1925
Place of death: Austin, Travis, Texas, USA (69,70)
Burial: Texas State Cemetery, Travis County, Texas
Marriage dates: 10 Jan 1861
Marriage places: , Bell, Texas, USA (73)
Spouses' names: Rebecca PENNINGTON (1842-Bef 1881) (71,72)

Child No. 12: George Alexander WILLS (75,76,77,78)
Sex: M
Birthdate: Oct 1841
Birthplace: , , Texas, USA (79,80,81)
Death date: 21 Mar 1922
Place of death: Davilla, Milam, Texas, USA (82)
Burial: Friendship Cemetery, Milam County, Texas
Marriage dates: [1] 28 Feb 1866 [2] 11 Jun 1868
Marriage places: [1] , Bell, Texas, USA (84) [2] Rogers, Bell, Texas, USA (89)
Spouses' names: [1] O E BROOKS (Abt 1845-Bef 1869) [2] Sarah Elizabeth COOK (1850-1937) (85,86,87,88)
 
 
Documentation:
  1. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. Jas B Wills.
  2. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume 2,(Turner Publishing Company; Paducah, KY; 2001) pg 137. "James B Wills (born circa 1798 in Tennessee) ..."
  3. Senn, Ima Holder, James Buchanan Wills. I had several telephone interviews with Ima from 2000-2002. We discussed her family and Wiley's family. She had an incredible memory and she had "notes" about things she was afraid she would forget. I don't know what happened to her notes and I wish I had recorded our conversations. She is my grandmother.
  4. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. age 63, Tennessee.
  5. Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas,(Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company; 1893) pg 716. "The parents removed to Tennessee in an early day, and in 1825 to Missouri, and in 1840 to Texas, where the father died in 1872."
  6. Rutherford Co, TN, Marriage Book (TNGenWeb.org), James B Wills to Amy W Shackleford. [She has 1810 but it may be 1816.] http://www.tngenweb.org/rutherford/marr2.htm
  7. Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002 (FamilySearch.org), Wills, James B. to Amy W Shackleford, 3 Jan 1810, Rutherford County.
  8. 1870 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, pg 306A. Elizabeth Wills.
  9. 1870 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, pg 306A.
  10. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. Amy Wills.
  11. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. age 60, Virginia.
  12. Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas,(Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company; 1893) 716-717.
  13. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 7. Reuben Wills to Jane Buster.
  14. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 7. Reuben Wills, to Jane Buster, 24 May 1843.
  15. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 58.(324) age 40, Missouri.
  16. 1880 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 323b. age 62.
  17. 1850 Federal Census, Missouri, Platte, pg 415. age 30, Missouri.
  18. 1850 Federal Census, Missouri, Platte, pg 415. William McCray.
  19. 1870 Federal Census, Texas, Brown, pg 5. Eliza Connell.
  20. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 321. age 37, Missouri.
  21. Limmer, E A Jr, Story of Bell County, Texas, The Vol 1,(Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1988) pg 1006.
  22. Connell, Robert.
  23. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 8.
  24. Dallas Cemetery, Bell County, Texas, Tabitha L Dallas.
  25. Limmer, E A Jr, Story of Bell County, Texas, The Vol 1,(Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1988) pg 444. "Alexander James was one of 10 children, and married Tabitha Wills in Washington County on January 6, 1842. She was born May 11, 1824, in Missouri, the daughter of James B and Anna Wills."
  26. Dallas Cemetery, Bell County, Texas, Dallas, Tabitha L.
  27. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, pg 293A-B, hh #135. age 25, Texas.
  28. Limmer, E A Jr, Story of Bell County, Texas, The Vol 1,(Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1988) pg 444. "The Dallas family appeared in the 1860 census, Bell county, with the following children: James, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Reubern [sic], Martha, and Elmira. The same year Mrs A J (Tabitha wills) Dallas died on November 13."
  29. Texas Marriages, 1837-1973 (FamilySearch.org), Dallas, Alexander J. to Tabetha Wills.
  30. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 6. Alexander J Dallas to Tabetha Wills, 6 Jan 1842, by D B Madden, Esq.
  31. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, ppg 288B-289A. Wilson Mills.
  32. Connell, Robert, 10 Jan 1826, Missouri.
  33. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, ppg 288B-289A. age 24, Tennessee.
  34. Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas,(Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company; 1893) ppg 716-717. "Mr and Mrs James Wills had twelve children: ... Wilson, who died in Williamson county in 1870, leaving a family."
  35. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 15. James W Wills to Mary Ann Connell.
  36. Washington Co, Texas Marriage Book, book 1 page 15. James W Wills to Mary Ann Connell, 31 Dec 1850.
  37. Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas,(Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company; 1893) ppg 716-717. "William R Wills, a hero of two wars, and an early settler of Texas, was born in Clay county, Missouri, August 3, 1826, the fifth of elevn children born to James B and Anna Wills."
  38. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume 2,(Turner Publishing Company; Paducah, KY; 2001) pg 137. "William Riley Wills, son of James B Wills and Anna "Amy" Shackelford, was born Aug 3, 1826, at Clay County, MO.
  39. Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas,(Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company; 1893) ppg 716-717.
  40. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 58.(324) age 31, Missouri.
  41. Pension File, Wills, Saluda Elizabeth #49469. "I am a widow of William Wills deceased, who departed this life on the 26th day of April, A.D. 1903, in the county of Bell in the state of Texas."
  42. Pension File, Wills, Saluda Elizabeth #49469.
  43. Limmer, E A Jr, Story of Bell County, Texas Vol 2,(Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1988) pg 1006.
  44. Pension File, Wills, Saluda Elizabeth #49469. "I was married to him on the 8th day of March A.D. 1852, in the county of Bell..." This is recorded as 10 Mar 1853, in Bell County, by M W Dameron, JP.
  45. 1900 Federal Census, Arizona, Graham, ED 22, pg 4A. Daniel S Wills.
  46. 1900 Federal Census, Arizona, Graham, ED 22, pg 4A. age 70, Oct 1829, Missouri.
  47. Death Certificate, Willis, Daniel #236. This certificate actually names Daniel Willis but the informant is William E Wills.
  48. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Mason, pg 76, hh #10. Elizabeth Wills.
  49. 1900 Federal Census, Arizona, Graham, ED 22, pg 4A. Permelia E Wills.
  50. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Mason, pg 76.
  51. 1900 Federal Census, Arizona, Graham, ED 22, pg 4A. married 45 years.
  52. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, pg 302B. Elmira Anderson.
  53. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 302B. age 23, Missouri.
  54. 1880 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, ED 106, pg 6 (339B). age 43, Missouri.
  55. Rogers Cemetery, Bell County, Texas, Anderson, Elmyra.
  56. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, pg 14A hh #397/412. John C Anderson.
  57. 1900 Federal Census, Texas, Milam, ED 79, pg 5B-6A. John C Anderson.
  58. Bell Co, Texas Marriage Book, bk A pg 94. John C Anderson to Almira E Wills, 21 Aug 1856, by Edward E Morgan, Minister Christian Church.
  59. 1880 Federal Census, Texas, Williamson, ED 160, pg 23 (519C). Nancy E Hogan.
  60. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Williamson, pg 85. Eviline Hogan.
  61. 1880 Federal Census, Texas, Williamson, ED 160, pg 23 (519C). age 46, Missouri.
  62. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Williamson, pg 85. age 24, Tennessee.
  63. 1880 Federal Census, Texas, Williamson, ED 160, pg 23 (519C). James L Hogan.
  64. Limmer, E A Jr, Story of Bell County, Texas Vol 2,(Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1988) pg 1006. "1. Nancy Eveline married James Hogan on February 10, 1852."
  65. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, ppg 288B-289A. Archibald Mills.
  66. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. age 21, Missouri.
  67. Pension File, Wills, A #7756. "Age sixty" date 7/23/1899.
  68. 1900 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, ED 20, pg 4B. age 61, Apr 1839, Missouri.
  69. Texas State Cemetery, Travis County, Texas, Wills, A. Section:Confederate Field, Section 1 Row:Q Number:32.
  70. Death Certificate, Wills, A #8244.
  71. 1870 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 46 (83B). Rebecca Wills.
  72. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume 2,(Turner Publishing Company; Paducah, KY; 2001) pg 137. "... Archibald married Rebecca Pennington;..."
  73. Bell Co, Texas Marriage Book, bk D pg 50.
  74. 1900 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, ED 20, pg 15A. Alix Wills.
  75. Senn, Ima Holder, George Alexander Wills. Ima lived with Sarah Cook Wills and Beatrice Wills Senn for almost four years until their deaths.
  76. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, ppg 288B-289A. Alexander Mills.
  77. 1900 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, ED 20, pg 15A. age 58, Oct 1841, Texas.
  78. Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 (FamilySearch.org), Wills, Sidney Albert. George Alexander Wills.
  79. 1860 Federal Census, Texas, Bell, pg 324. age 18, Texas.
  80. Pension File, Wills, G A #5957. "What is your age? Fifty nine" date 7/14/1899.
  81. 1850 Federal Census, Texas, Washington, 289A. age 7.
  82. Pension File, Wills, G A #5957. "The said pensioner George A. Wills....died on the 21st day of Mch, 1922 near the town of Davilla County of Milam, Texas."
  83. Pension File, Wills, G A #5957. Mortuary Warrant "body was buried in the Friendship Cemetery."
  84. Bell Co, Texas Marriage Book, D/174. G A Wills to O E Brooks, 28 Feb 1866, by W H Rutherford, MG.
  85. Senn, Ima Holder, Sarah Elizabeth Cook.
  86. Estate Records, Calhoun Co, AL, Cook, Thomas K. - - Petition of Thomas K. Cook to be appointed guardian of Missouri A. Jones, James F. Jones, Martha J. Jones, minor heirs of H.E. Jones, deceased and also Sarah Cook, minor child of James P. Cook and his first wife Eliza Cook, now deceased. James P. Cook is now their Guardian and is about to remove to the State of Texas. Nov 24, 1870 - - Petition of George A. Wills and wife Sarah E. Wills, formerly Cook, by their attorneys Ellis and Caldwell for final settlement of Guardianship of Thomas K. Cook. G.A. Wills and Miss Sarah Cook married June 11, 1868 by M.G. Raney in Bell County, Texas (copy of marriage record attached). Appointment of Ellis and Caldwell as their attorneys dated Sept 3, 1870 and states that Sarah E. Wills is the daughter of James P. Cook of Calhoun County, Alabama and more recently of Bell County, Texas, deceased. Refers to her husband as George Alexander Wills. Nov 24, 1870 - - Account for final settlement with Sarah E. Wills, wife of George A. Wills, by Thomas K. Cook.
  87. Death Certificate, Wills, Ray Cook #48659. Sarah Cook.
  88. Death Certificate, Senn, Beatrice #34157. Elizabeth Cook.
  89. Bell Co, Texas Marriage Book, D/279. G A Wills to Sarah Cook, 8 Jun 1868, Bell County, by M G Rainey, MG.
 
  Notes:
  James and Amy moved to Tennessee then to Missouri in 1824. They brought their family to Texas from Clay Co., Missouri in 1840.
  Was listed as James Wells in Harris Co, Texas for the 1840 Census.
  Was listed as James Mills in the 1850 Washington Co. Census, pg 288b & 289a.
  His homestead was later called the Roland Harrell or Upshaw place. A 640 acre grant in Milam District about 6 miles south of the Three Forks issued in 1844 and filed in Belton in 1852. Just west of Holland. He sold land to three of his sons-in-law: William Connell, A J Dallas, and James Hogan.
  In 1857 he signed the petition to build a county courthouse and jail in Bell County.
  James had 2 town lots in Salado, Bell County. In 1859, he purchased 5 shares of stock in the school at Salado Springs for $100 per share....
  Farmer and slave-owner, and was a merchant at Holland.
  The Darrs Creek tract bordered on the Dallas property.
  1870 Milam Co, TX Census
  page 209a - Franklin Wills age 16 and Charley Wills age 15 living with Gustav? and Christiana Hendricks.
  There is nothing to prove the middle name of James B Wills. My grandmother told me it was Buchanan so I have always included it. Many researchers have complained about my use of Buchanan as a middle name so I have removed it.
  I've created a map to show the approximate location of his original tract which encompasses most of Holland. Copy and paste the following into a browser.
  https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=208151589043096547918.00047c60906d9ae37a48f&msa=0&ll=30.879613,- 97.403369&spn=0.019779,0.027595"
 
  Last Modified: 18 Jan 2016
  If there is no SOURCE, I have no PROOF! If the source is an INDIVIDUAL, the information is HEARSAY!