Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 
1887, Grant Co.

JAMES T. WILLIS was born in Montgomery County, Ky., June 10, 1841, and
is a son of Dr. Samuel and Dulcinea (Black) Willis, natives of Madison 
and Boone Counties, respectively.  Dr. Samuel Willis was a son of 
Samuel Willis, Sr., a native of Culpeper County, Va., who was a 
prominent physician for many years at Mount Sterling.  Mrs. Dulcinea 
was a daughter of Samuel and Nellie (Howard) Black, and is still 
living.  The Howards are a large and well known family in Madison 
County.  James T. Willis, the only child of Samuel and Dulcinea, was 
reared on a farm, and received his education at the common schools and 
at Columbia College, Missouri.  In 1861 he entered the Confederate 
Army.  He was at Montgomery at the time of the organization of the 
Confederate Government, and saw Jefferson Davis inaugurated as 
president.  He served as private in the Second Kentucky Regiment until 
the surrender of Fort Donelson, where he was captured, but made his 
escape.  He then organized a company, was attached to the Fourth 
Kentucky Cavalry, Col. Henry Giltner, under command of Gen. Morgan.  
He served in that company until the close of the war, May 27, 1865, at
Athens, Ga., when he was paroled.  He returned to Grant County, farmed
and traded until 1871, when he was appointed clerk of Grant County
Circuit Court, and elected the following August.  He was re-elected 
three times without opposition, holding the office until September, 
1886.  He is now master commissioner of the circuit court.  Mr. Willis 
is a member of the I.O.O.F. and served as Grant Master of the State; 
he is also a member of the A.O.U.W.  June 7, 1874, he married Miss 
Alice, daughter of Dr. D. V. and Susan (Deane) Violette, of Gallatin 
County, Ky.  Mrs. Susan Violette was a daughter of William Deane, one 
of the oldest settlers of Gallatin County.  Mrs. Alice Willis was born 
August 6, 1850; she is a member of the Baptist Church.  Two children 
have blessed this union of James T. Willis and Alice Violette: Samuel
C. and Katie.  Capt. J. T. Willis read law with Col. Landrum, and 
since his retirement from office is engaged in the practice of law.

Willis Black Howard Deane Violette Landrum
=
Montgomery-KY Madison-KY Boone-KY Culpeper-VA Gallatin-KY MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/grant/willis.jt.txt