From: www.randywillis.org The Willis Family's Earliest Connection to the Strother Family in Louisiana Francis Strother was born about 1823 in Louisiana; his wife Mary S. Strother was born about 1827 in Louisiana. They are listed in the 1850 Rapides Parish, La. Census (household 661) with four children: Martha Strother(age 8), Elizabeth Strother (age 6), Solomon Strother (age 5), and Mary Ann Strother (age 3). It is very interesting to note that the following are ALL neighbors in 1850 with Francis & Mary Strother mentioned above. Pay special attention to the household numbers. 1) Agerton Willis; Rev. Joseph Willis' eldest son born about 1785 (household 660). 2) William Strother born about 1817 and married to Mary Willis born about 1826 and in the same household is another Mary Willis [Rev. Joseph Willis' daughter] born about 1787. She is also the mother of William Strother's wife Mary (659). 3) Joseph Willis, Jr.; born about 1792; A son of Rev. Joseph Willis (658). 4) Lemuel Willis born about 1812; A son of Rev. Joseph Willis (657). [Note not born by the 1850 Census: Caroline Willis Strother (1855-1931) and a daughter of Lemuel Willis & granddaughter of Rev. Joseph Willis married John Houston Strother, Sr. (1852-1926). His father was Alexander Strother]. 5) John Strother born about 1820 who is married to Eliza Willis born about 1818 (654). Eliza is Agerton Willis' daughter and a granddaughter of Rev. Joseph Willis. She is also a sister to Rev. Daniel H. Willis. 6) William Willis born in 1804; A son of Rev. Joseph Willis (653). 7) Joseph P. Willis; Rev. Joseph Willis' grandson and a son of Joseph Willis, Jr. (652). 8) Richard Strother born about 1806 and also in the same household a Sally Strother born about 1787 in South Carolina (651). She could be Richard's mother. Notes: Eliza Willis (born about 1818) is Agerton Willis' daughter and a sister to Rev. Daniel H. Willis, Sr. Agerton Willis' son Rev. Daniel H. Willis, Sr.'s two eldest daughters were named Eliza born about 1842 and Mary Jane born about 1845. I believe he named these two daughters after the elder Eliza Willis and Mary Willis. Family tradition from my family states that Rev. Daniel H. Willis, Sr.'s sister would read the Bible while he preached because he was blind in his later years. Rev. Daniel Hubbard Willis, Sr. was born in 1817; a year before his sister Eliza Willis Strother. I would appreciate your comments on the above observations! Randy Willis [email protected] www.randywillis.org