Donna, Page 722-- Barnett J. willsey, farmer, sec. 29; P.O. Pittsfield; was born in the state of NY in 1835; and is the son of Barnett Willsey. In 1840 he was brought by his parents to this county, who settled on the present estate, now consisting of 240 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Here he has lived ever since, except that from 1854 to 1857 he was in CA, in the mining business, in which he was successful. At his home his vocation has always been farming, and in this occupation has been prosperous, being now one of the most enterprising and substanial farmers in the community. He also deals in stock to some extent. The past year he erected a fine two-story frame house, with L; also a large frame barn, etc. The improvements on this place are excelled by few, and the farm itself is in the most fertile district. In 1858 Mr. Willsey married eliza Jane McClintock, a vative of Indiana, and they have 3 children living, - Emily Alice, Charles L and James O.; one child Mary E., is deceased. Jame G. Willsey. The first of the Willsey family who came to this county was a parent of the subject of this sketch. They were natives of New York and emigrated to Ohio in 1837, where they remained until 1840, when they joined the tide of emigration westward and found a location on sec. 34, Pittsfield township. Their names were Barnett and Cornelia (Kizer) Willsey. Upon this section they established themselves, where Mr. Willsey lived until his death, which occured in 1858. He was buried on the old home farm. His widow still resides at the old homestead. James G. was forn in the State of NY Feb. 28, 1830, and was therefore about 10 years of age when his parents came to this county, with whom he remained until about 1851, when he married Miss Melinda Rogers; she was bonr in Greene County, IL in 1830, and was the daughter fo David and Fannie Rogers, early settlers in Martinsburg township. The former died in 1871, his wife two years afterward. Immediately after James G. Willsey's marriage he settled on 40 acres of land which hiss father gave him, where he remained until 1854, when he selected and purchased the northwest quarter of sec. 34, Pittsfield township, which is one of the most fertile sections in this county. at that time this land was in perfectly wild state; not an improvement of any kind had been placed upon it by the hand of man. It was a fine, rolling prairie, interspersed here and ther with patchs of scrub oak and hazel-brush. The first land cultivated on this farm was in the summer of 1854, when Mr. W employed a man to break 40 acres, which he did with oxen. This he sowed in wheat that fall. The next season he planted this piece in corn, and broke another 40 acres for wheat. This land, as fast as broken was surrounded by an eight-rail fence, Mr. W. hauling the rails for the same from the south part of Martinsburg township; a distance of eight miles. In 1857 he erected a log cabin, on the north part of his farm, 16 feet square. It contained two rooms, one above and one below. Into this cabin he moved his family, and although rather tight quarters during the busiest seasons, found room and accomodations for as many as nine hired hands besides his own family. During the years 1868-69 the balance of the 160 acres was fenced and put under cultivation, with the exception of 50 acres which he has never plowed, but which he set aside for pasture for stock, there being several never-failing springs of pure water on this. Mr. W. ascribed much of his success in the raising of stock, especially hogs, to this pasture, and the fact of their always being able to procure pure spring water. he states that during the owrst seasons of cholera, when hogs all around him were dying, he lost very few, In 1860 Mr. W built his present residence. It is a frame structure, two stories in height, the main part 18 by 32, L 14 by 28; it is one of the finest farm residences in the county. The out buildings are all of the modern construction and first class in every way. Mr. W has devoted much attention to floriculture, and has a fine greenhouse in addition to his residence, in which he has hundreds of choice plants, including exotics, etc. Take it all in all, the surrounds and improvements of this home farm render it one of the finest and most pleasant in the county. Seventeen years ago he purchased the southwest quarter of sec. 27. It was partly improved and he has brought it into a high state of cultivation. The winter of 1879-80 he erected on this place a very fine residence, which in point of construction and moderan conveniences is equaled by few. From the observatory on this dwelling one of the finest views of the surrounding country can be obtained, extending to the west, to Louisiana and Hannibal, a distance of 20 miles, and southeast to a distance of about 24 miles. Mr. W's only child and son, William Riley Willsey, who was born in July, 1853, now resides at this place. As a relaxation from active business, to which he had applied himself with scarcely an intermission since he was a boy, in 1875 Mr. Willsey decided on maing a visit to the Pacific slope to see the contry and visit numerous relatives, also with some idea of locating there, if the golden shore should prove preferable to his old home. With the above objects in view, in company with his wife and son, he started on this trip, via the Union Pacific RR to San Francisco, where several days were agreeably spent in viewing the metropolis of California, when he departed by the steamer 'J.L. Stephens' for Portland, Oregon, and from there to Oregon city, where he remained some ten days, and also visited the State Fair at Salem; then took passage up the Columbia river to Wallula, Washington Territory. This river he describes as furnishing the most beautiful scenery he ever beheld. From Wallula they took the cars to Walla Walla, where his sister, Mrs. Richard Wells, resided. At this place the part remained some four weeks, vissiting and viewing different parts of the country, when they started on their journey homeward, via the Columbia to Portland, where they took the cars to Harrisburg; they then traveled by rail to Roseburg, then to the northern terminus of Oregon and California Railroad; from this place they were obliged to travel 270 miles to Reading. During this stage trip, which lasted six days and six nights, it rained continuously. On several occasions the coach was mired down, taking much time and all hands to release it. The fatigue of this journey was so severe that a passenger, an old man,. became temporarily insane. OUr party, however, arrived safely at Reading, where they tood the railroad for San Francisco; then took the U.P.R.R. for home, where they arrived about four months after they had left. They were thoroughly satisfied with the trip, and also satisfied that they found no better place than the old homestead in Pike. They traveled between 5,000 and 6,000 miles, 1000 of which were on the Pacific Ocean. William B. Wilsey, farmer, sec 34, PO Pittsfield, is the owner of 50 acres of land worht $50 per acre, is a native of this county and was born Aug. 24, 1851; was married in this county Aug. 9, 1870 to Miss Loese W. Hoyt, a vative of Vermont, and who was born June 11, 1847. They are the parents of 3 children, namesly, Charles H. born May 26, 1871, Ora C, Jan 2, 1873 and Eva M. jan 1, 1876. William W. Willsey, farmer, sec 34 PO Pittsfield, is a son of Barnett and Caroline (Kiser) Willsey, natives of NY; is a native of this county, and was born in 1848. In 1868 he married Frances J. Robinson, also a native of Missour, and was born in 1848. They have 3 children, Perry A., Almira M. and Nancy C.; both Mr. and Mrs. W belong to the Christian Church. Mr. W owns 80 acres of land worth $60 per acre, and is a Democrat. I hope this does not clog up anyones system - but that it helps someone in their search. I will do the Grabale lookup in a different post. Dorothy