WI BIO - Chippewa Co - WILLIS, Z. C. 

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol I, pp 
226-227

Z. C. WILLIS, farmer, P. O. Cook's Valley, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, was 
born 12 December 1831 in Bennington [now in Wyoming County, but formerly in 
Genesee County], New York, [son of Robert V. and Eliza WILLIS], and came with 
his father [Robert V. WILLIS] to Wisconsin in 1844, settling in Delevan 
[Delavan, Walworth County, Territory of Wisconsin], where he lived five 
years, when they removed to Marquette County [Wisconsin]. Mr. WILLIS, with 
Mr. Jacob COOK, came into what was subsequently called Cook's Valley [in 
Auburn Township], Chippewa County [Wisconsin], in 1858, and the next year 
moved into the Valley, entering 160 acres of land where he [Z. C. WILLIS] has 
since resided, himself and Mr. COOK being the first settlers there.

On 26 October 1862 he [Z. C. WILLIS] was married in Bloomer [Chippewa County, 
Wisconsin], to Miss Sarah S. STORRS, of [p 227] that place. Mrs. WILLIS 
[Sarah S. (STORRS) WILSON] was born 29 October 1834 in Trenton [Oneida 
County], New York, and came to [the Territory of] Wisconsin in 1847, her 
parents, Calvin and Mary G. (WELLS) STORRS, soon following. [Wisconsin 
became a State on 29 May 1848.]

Mr. [Z. C.] WILLIS, on the maternal side, is a relative of the Hon. Gideon 
WELLS, as seen by the "History of the WELLS Family." [Unknown to submitter 
what "History of the WELLS family" the author refers to here. The Gideon 
WELLS to which the author refers was born 01 July 1802 in Glastonbury, 
Hartford County, Connecticut, and was appointed Secretary of the Navy by 
President Abraham Lincoln. Gideon WELLS died 11 February 1878 in Hartford, 
Hartford County, Connecticut, and his diary (which relates among other things 
an account of the scene at President Lincoln's bedside at his death) was 
published some years later. Also interesting to read may be the work 
published in 1925 by H. K. Beale: Is the Printed Diary of Gideon Wells 
Reliable?] 

The parents of Mr. WILLIS, Robert V. and Eliza WILLIS, advanced in age, 
reside on a small farm near their son. Mr. [Z. C.] WILLIS has two children: 
Eugene Wells and Frederick Storr, both born in COOK's Valley [Auburn 
Township, Chippewa County, Wisconsin]. Mr. [Z. C.] WILLIS has 280 cares of 
land in his home farm, mostly under a good state of cultivation, and 
excellent buildings, also a farm nearby, containing 200 acres, all fenced, 
and half of it improved, and another farm of 160 acres, well improved, 
besides sixty acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs. WILLIS [Z. C. and Sarah S. 
(STORRS) WILLIS] are charter members of Auburn Grange, No. 270, and the 
entire family are charter members of COOK's Valley Good Templar Lodge, No. 
339. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly