Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Francis Willoughby
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
FRANCIS WILLOUGHBY. The main points
in the history of the subject of this notice,
who has recently become a resident of Clay
Center, Clay County, are as follows: He was
born April 6, 1842, in Hagerstown, Ohio, and is the
son of Henry and Susan (Ferrier) Willoughby,
whose family consisted of eight children, Francis
being next to the youngest. The eldest, a daughter,
Elizabeth, is the wife of William Sickles, a
farmer of Steuben County, Ind.; William, a resident
of Hardin County, Iowa, is married and the
father of nine children; Andrew married Ellen
Carlin and lives in Steuben County, Ind.; James
during the Civil War enlisted in Company C,
100th Indiana Infantry, and was fatally wounded
at the battle of Murfreesboro. Tenn.; he left a
widow�Mrs. May (Arnold) Willoughby�and one
child. Henry, unmarried, was a member of Company
C. 34th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the
battle of Murfreesboro; Jane married Charles Lewis
and they live on a farm in Grand Rapids County.
Mich.; Cassie was first married to Jeremiah Dillingham,
who belonged to the 29th Indiana Infantry,
and died from the effects of exposure while in the
service. She was then married a second time, and
is now a second time a widow.
Mr. Willoughby was ten months old when his
parents removed from his native place and settled
in Williams County, Ohio. A few years afterward
they again changed their location, going to Steuben
County, Ind., where they sojourned several years
and until their son Francis had developed into manhood,
the father died there.
In July, 1861, under the first call for two year's
men, Mr. Willoughby enlisted in Company A, 29th
Indiana Infantry, and participated in a number of
important battles, being at Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing,
the siege of Corinth and the battle of Stone
River. He served until the expiration of his term
of enlistment, then receiving an honorable discharge
returned to Indiana. During the winter of 1863,
while the 129th Indiana Regiment was being organized,
he re-enlisted in Company A, and
remained with his regiment until it was mustered
out of service in September, 1865. While a
member of this regiment he participated in the
Atlanta campaign, beginning at Buzzard's Roost
and Rock Face Ridge, Ga.. and ending with the
fall of Atlanta. He fought during the second day
of the battle at Resaca and was at Kenesaw and
Lost mountains and in the trenches at the Chattahoochie
River. He was in and around Atlanta
until its evacuation by Gen. Hood. Subsequently
he started with Sherman to the sea, his regiment
being assigned to the command of Gen. Thomas, and
did some hard fighting at Franklin, November 30.
In the two day's battle there, Thomas drove Hood
from before Nashville, December 15 and 16. The regiment
was then transferred via Washington, D. C.
to North Carolina and participated in the battle of
Bentonville where the Federal forces defeated the
rebels under Gen. Bragg. Upon the close of the
war Mr. Willoughby received his honorable discharge
and returned to Steuben County, Ind.
The marriage of Francis Willoughby and Miss
Theresa Wisner was celebrated at the bride's home
Nov. 3, 1866. The father of Mrs. Willoughby
was Samuel Wisner who, with his wife Elizabeth, is
now dead. This union resulted in the birth of
four children, viz; Archie, Jennie and Callie, who
are at home with their parents and one who died in
infancy unnamed. In the spring of 1871 Mr.
Willoughby set out for Kansas with his family,
arriving in Riley County, April 18, and settling on
a tract of land two and one-half miles north of
Riley Center. This comprised 160 acres upon
which he lived eight years. He then removed to
Wild Cat Township, of which he was a resident
three years. About 1881 Mr. Willoughby
went to what was then Washington Territory, and
settled west of the Cascade Range where he operated
a sawmill until he sold out. He returned to
Kansas in April. 1886, and subsequently operated
on rented land. In the early part of 1889 he purchased
a livery stable in Clay Center, which he is
now conducting. Politically, Mr. Willoughby was
formerly a Republican, but is now in sympathy
with the Union Labor party. He belongs to the
I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. at Washington. Although
not enjoying the advantages of a collegiate
education, Mr. Willoughby is well informed, keeping
himself posted upon the leading events of the
day. He is a man respected by his neighbors, and
one who has made his own way in the world without
assistance.