Daniel Hubbard Willis Jr.
DanielWillisCivilWar.jpg

 
Daniel H. Willis Jr. Civil War Photo (circa 1861)
 Born April 2, 1839 in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Died May 22, 1900 at the residence of his son Dr. Daniel Oscar Willis near Leesville, Louisiana. He was the first of four sons of Rev. Daniel H. Willis Sr. and Anna Slaughter to marry four daughters of Robert Graham and Ruth Smith. He married Julia Ann Graham on January 10, 1867 at the home of her father Robert Graham. He was the great grandson of pioneer Baptist preacher Rev. Joseph Willis.

He enlisted in the Civil War in Capt. Raxdale's Co. E, 16th. La. Regiment, Gibson's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. Daniel was captured at what was called General Stonewall Jackson's "Greatest March," Chancellorsville, in which Jackson was killed. Daniel was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi in May 1865.

His obituary from The Weekly Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) states: He participated in all the hard battles of that army and for bravery, soldierly bearing, discipline and devotion to duty, he was unexcelled in his entire Brigade." After his return from the war in 1865 he was made constable of the Spring Hill ward near Forest Hill, Louisiana. His obituary continued: "Before death he expressed a wish that he might see his children who were at home, especially Randall L., his baby boy, whom he had named in honor of his beloved Brigadier General, Randall Lee Gibson. He also requested that his Confederate badge be pinned on his breast and buried with him."

Note: Randall Lee Gibson founded Tulane, University. I am named after my grandfather Randall Lee Willis who was named after Randall Lee Gibson.

Daniel Hubbard Willis Jr. and Julia Ann Graham had the following children:
  1. Henry Elwa Willis was born 6 OCT 1867. He died 18 JAN 1945.  

  2. Carvelia S. Willis was born 10 FEB 1869. She died 31 MAR 1941.  

  3. Minnie R. Willis was born 7 MAY 1870. She died 18 SEP 1921.  

  4. David Eugene Willis was born 19 JAN 1872. He died 13 FEB 1880 of Appendicitis.  

  5. Corine Willis was born 27 SEP 1873. She died 6 OCT 1873 as a small baby.  

  6. Daniel Oscar Willis was born 8 MAR 1875. He died 23 DEC 1935 in an Auto Accident.  

  7. Robert Kenneth Willis Sr. was born 15 JAN 1877. He died in 1951.  

  8. Ruthey Madella Willis was born 20 JUN 1880.  

  9. Stella Willis was born 21 AUG 1881. She died 10 DEC 1881 as a small baby.  

  10. Julia Coatney Willis was born 11 MAR 1883. She died 16 AUG 1945.  

  11. Randall Lee Willis was born 20 MAR 1886 in Forest Hill, Louisiana. He died 14 MAY 1940.