WI BIO - Eau Claire Co - WILLS, Samuel 
History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol I, p 337

Samuel WILLS was born in December 1820 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and 
came to Illinois in 1840, and to Eau Claire in the fall of 1841. [Eau Claire 
was then in Crawford County, Territory of Wisconsin, and since 1856 has been 
in Eau Claire County. Wisconsin became a State 29 May 1848.] He worked in 
the woods and in saw mills for two years, and went to Chippewa Falls in 1843. 
[Chippewa Falls was also then in Crawford County, Territory of Wisconsin, 
but since 03 February 1845 has been in Chippewa County.] Samuel WILLS 
engaged in running saw mills and in general work until 1859.

In the spring of 1860 Samuel WILLS went to Knapp, Stout & Company, at 
Menomonie [Dunn County, Wisconsin], remaining with them until 1872, when he 
came to Eau Claire and was in the stage office two years. He then took a 
trip to Montana and Utah, and upon his return to Eau Claire was with the 
Norwestern [Northwestern?] Lumber Company for one year, and was Street 
Commissioner for four years. He is at present with Smith & Rowe.

Mr. [Samuel] WILLS claims his marriage with Margaret HANLEY [a maiden name?] 
to have been the first marriage between a white man and woman in Eau Claire. 
Mrs. WILLS died in Menomonie [Dunn County, Wisconsin]. They [Samuel and 
Margaret WILLS] had two children, one of whom, Mary C., is living. Their 
only son died. Mr. WILLS was married to his present wife, Kate BARDEN [a 
maiden name?], in Eau Claire [Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly