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pg 1006
"James B Wills
"James B and Anna Wills, natives of Virginia, first moved to Tennessee, the Missouri, and in 1840 located in Texas, where James died in 1872. He was a landowner, famer and slave owner, and the son of James Wills, a native of Ireland and a soldier in the American Revolution. James Wills died in Missouri.
"James B received a 640-acre grant of land in Milam District about six miles south of the Three Forks. This grant was issued by the Board of Land Commissioners in Washington County on February 27, 1844, and was filed in Belton on November 23, 1852.
"P H Bell, governor of Texas, granted to James B Wills, "assignee of Willis Johnson, 640 acres of land, Milam District, Bell County, in south fork Darrs Creek, a north tributary of Little River, about 10 miles above mouth of said creek on September 27, 1845." This land was transferred to Wills on January 15, 1850, filed at Austin on June 25, 1850, and filed in Belton on April 18, 1854.
"These two grants formed the homestead of James and Anna Wills and places them in an area west of Holland. Soon after moving to this area, Wills sold land to three of his sons-in-law: William Connell, A J Dallas, and James L Hogan.
"About 1857, Wills signed the petition to build a county courthouse and jail in Bell County.
"The 1860 Bell County census gives James B Wills as a famer age 63; his wife, Anny, age 60; and two sons: Archibald, age 21, and Alexander, age 18. Archibald was born in Missouri and Alexander was born in Texas.
"These children were born to James B and Anna Wills:
"1. Nancy Eveline married James Hogan on February 10, 1852.
"2. William R married Saluda Cross on March 10, 1853.
"3. Almira E married John C Anderson on August 21, 1856.
"4. Archibald married Rebecca Pennington on January 10, 1861.
"5. G Alexander married O E Brooks on February 18, 1866, then Sarah Cook on June 11, 1868.
"6. Reuben died in 1860.
"7. Sarah married William McCray.
"8. Loumisa (b. Nov 25, 1822) was born at Independence, Missouri, and died May 1899 in Brownwood, Texas. She married William Connell on August 2, 1843. He was born November 10, 1816, in Fayetteville, Tennessee, and died May 17, 1882, in Brownwood. William was the son of Sampson (1793-July 27, 1845) and Millie Cook (1796- ..." |
