WI BIO - La Crosse Co - WILLEY, George L.

Biographical History of LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, 
Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis, 1892, vol II, pp 374-376

George L. WILLEY, one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of La 
Crosse County, Wisconsin, was born in April 1829 in Carroll County, New 
Hampshire, son of Stephen and Tabitha (LEWIS) WILLEY. The father [Stephen 
WILLEY] was born in New Hampshire, was a prosperous New England farmer, and 
died at the age of sixty-seven years on 15 April 1865, the same day as 
President Abraham LINCOLN died. The mother, [Tabitha (LEWIS) WILLEY] was 
born in Maine, and died in 1850, at the age of forty years. The parents were 
devout church members, and the father was a deacon in the Baptist Church.

His [Stephen WILLEY's] brother, Samuel WILLEY, with his wife and six 
children, were killed by an avalanche on the White Mountains, which was 
caused by the bursting of a cloud in August, about 70 years since. [Text 
published 1892, thus Samuel WILLEY and family died about 1822.] It occurred 
about ten o'clock at night, and two of their servants were buried alive. 
Hearing the noise, they realized their danger, and left the house to secure a 
greater place of safety, and thus met their death. Their house dog, which 
was fastened in the cellar, was uninjured and proved very serviceable in 
finding the dead. All the bodies except two were found after a few days hard 
work, and the mother was found clasping her babe to her breast. The house, 
which is a log one, about twenty miles from North Conway [County, New 
Hampshire?], is still standing, and being near a summer resort, is visited 
annually by thousands of people.

The children born to Stephen and Tabitha (LEWIS) WILLEY are as follows: (1) 
Samuel, who died in 1845 at the age of 27 years, whose wife was Harriet 
BARLIN, now living in LaCrosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; (2) George L.; 
(3) Sarah P., who died in 1873 at age forty-three years and was the wife of 
Joseph DOLE; (4) Ann, aged fifty-five, wife of John H. HALE, of Minnesota; 
and (5) Catherine, who died in infancy.

George L. WILLEY commenced by teaching school in New Hampshire, but followed 
this only a short time, his next occupation being to drive a pleasure 
carriage near Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts] for two years. He next 
came to Wyota [Wiota, Lafayette County], Wisconsin, in 1849, and during the 
one year that he remained there he was a shoe cobbler. In the spring of 1850 
he [George L. WILLEY], with twenty-five others, started on the overland route 
for California, the journey occupying seven months. He walked 2,000 miles 
barefooted, because he had no shoes. After having the mountain fever for 
about six months, he engaged in mining, and in this business was quite 
successful. At the end of three years [about 1854?] he returned to New 
Hampshire, with much experience and a fair share of gold as well. After a 
short visit there he returned to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled on a farm in 
LaCrosse County, 640 acres, which he still owns, located in Onalaska 
Township, conducted by his two sons. George L. WILLEY has filled the office 
of County Supervisor, and for many years has been the Sabbath school 
superintendent at Midway [LaCrosse County, Wisconsin].

He [George L. WILLEY] was married in 1855, in Onalaska [La Crosse County, 
Wisconsin], to Miss Sarah E. NUTTING, daughter of Abel and Clara (BLACKWELL) 
NUTTING, of Maine. They came west in 1855, and after a stay of two years in 
Madison [Dane County, Wisconsin], settled in Onalaska. Their [Abel and Clara 
(BLACKWELL) NUTTING's] family consisted of two sons and four daughters.

Mr. and Mrs. WILLEY [George L. and Sarah E. (NUTTING) WILLEY] have the 
following children: (1) Horace G., on the home farm, married to Mahala 
ROBINS, and has three children: George, Grace and Stephen; (2) Jewett, also 
on the home farm, married to Emma KRUGER, and has two children: Ada and 
Lester; (3) Ansel died at age 26, and was married to Ella FRENCH; (4) 
Samuel was accidentally killed in 1890 at age twenty-three by a runaway colt 
he was breaking a colt, which threw him, his foot clinging to the stirrup; 
(5) the next child died in infancy, unnamed; and (6) Elva, attending the 
public schools of LaCrosse. [p 376] Mr. and Mrs. [George L.] WILLEY have 
been members of the Baptist Church for many years. He takes little interest 
in politics, but when he has the chance votes the Prohibition ticket.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly