H. W. Beckwith, History of Vermilion County (Chicago: H. H. Hill, 1879)

page 649

A. J. Villars, Catlin, section 9, farmer, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 22d of May, 1843. He was married on the 25th of May, 1865, to Miss Harriet Smith, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and born on the 16th of May, 1844. In the same year of his marriage he came to Vermilion county, and here he has been engaged in farming and school teaching since. Mr. Villars served in the rebellion, in Co. G, 11th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was in several hard battles, -- the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, and thirty-two skirmishes. He was taken prisoner at Liberty, but was paroled soon after.