This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HARKNESS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/QFB.2ACE/758 Message Board Post: Elias B. Willison. The village of Augusta is proud to count among its citizens a number of retired farmers, who, after lives of severe toil, have by industry and enterprise accumulated a handsome competency, and are now taking their comforts in this village. Among them there is none more honored than Elias B. Willison, whose sterling integrity and earnest advocacy of every movement in favor of morality have given him the respect, and have earned him the gratitude, of all with whom he has been associated. The original of this sketch was born August 22, 1825, in Allegheny County, N. Y., and was the son of Samuel and Eliza (Banks) Willison, natives, respectively, of New York and Connecticut. His Grandfather Willison was a native of Ireland and his grandmother was born in Wales; they emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War in which conflict the grandfather fought. Our subject came to Michigan with his parents as early as 1837, locating in Barry County. Their new home was in the woods and the nearest neighbor was three miles distant. On making the journey to the Wolverine State, the elder Mr. Willison came overland with two yoke of oxen, camping out by the wayside at night and being four weeks making the trip. Elias Willison was reared to man’s estate among the pioneer scenes of Michigan and has done his full share of redeeming land from its primeval state. He received his primary education in the regulation log schoolhouse and later attended school at Battle Creel. Mr. Willison, June 15, 1848, was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Harkness, who was born March 16, 1830, in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Willison was the daughter of John and Nancy (Sacksmith [sic]) Harkness, natives of the Empire State. [ [ John Harkness, b. aby 1792 Ireland, d. 10 Apr 1848 Ross Twp. Kalamazoo Co. Mi, m. NY Nancy Sixsmith, b. 10 Mar 1796 Kortwright, Delaware Co. NY, d. 18 Mar 1873 Ross Twp. Kalamazoo Co. Mi. Nancy was the d/o Wiliam Sixsmith, b. Queens, MC, Ireland, d. NY, and Mary ?, b. Queens, Ireland, d. NY (Harkness family site (jh)) ] ] When six years of age, she accompanied her parents to Kalamazoo County, where they located in Alamo Township, which place was their home for three years. They then removed to Barry County, where Mr. and Mrs. Harkness died, leaving a family of whom five are living, namely Mrs. Margaret Mott, Mrs. William Willison, Mrs. Robert Marshall, Mrs. Elias Willison and Samuel. To our subject and his wife have been born eight children, seven of whom are living.: Melvin J.; George E.; Agnes, who is the wife of John Trick [[See her obit elsewhere on this website]]; Estella, Mrs. Charles Noble; Frank L.; Wilfred E. and Eva D. Mr. Willison is the proud possessor of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, which bears all the improvements of a first--class estate. He was Supervisor of Barry Township, Barry County, for one year and also served as Road Commissioner in that county. Mrs. Willison is a member of the Congregational Church, and in politics our subject is a stanch Democrat. (Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Buren Counties, Michigan…; Chicago; Chapman Bros.; 1892. Page 618.)