Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 
1885, Butler Co.

WILLIAM WILLIS, Jr., was born in Rochester, Butler Co., Ky., on the 
12th of October, 1847.  His father, William Willis, Sr., is a 
Kentuckian, born in Mercer County, March 2, 1818.  His life has been 
an active one; he was for many years a dealer in leaf tobacco, and 
operated in Rochester, where he yet resides.  He is hale and hearty for 
his age, which is now nearly sixty-seven years.  He was married in 1838 
to Hannah E. Noell, with whom he lived happily until 1852, when she 
died; she left six children, of which number William, Jr., is the 
fourth.  William Willis, Sr., is of Welch descent, his grandfather 
being a native of Wales.  William, Jr., at the age of eighteen years 
began working for wages with his father in a tobacco warehouse, and 
continued there for four years; then engaged as a clerk with Guest & 
Evans for two years, after which, in 1871, he engaged in the grocery 
trade for two years, and during that time dealt in timber and lumber, 
which he has continued with unvarying success until the present time; 
he has discontinued the grocery trade, and in connection with the 
timber trade superintends his farm in Butler County.  He was married 
October 12, 1872, to Phoebe, daughter of Silas and Elizabeth (Downing) 
Brewer of Muhlenburgh [sic] County, Ky.  To this union have been born 
four children: Ella P., F. May, Hannah E. and Jonelle.  Mrs. Willis is 
a member of the Christian Church, while Mrs. Willis holds to the faith 
of the Methodist Church South.  Mr. Willis takes a strong position on 
the side of temperance and in politics is a Democrat.

Willis Noell Guest Evans Brewer Downing
=
Mercer-KY Wales Muhlenberg-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/butler/willis.w.txt