In 1818, Rev. Joseph Willis and others founded the Louisiana Baptist Association at Cheneyville. Rev. Joseph Willis had been instrumental in founding all five charter member churches. They were Calvary, 1812; Beulah, 1816; Vermillion, 1817; Aimwell, 1817 (also called Debourn); and Plaquemine, 1817. Aimwell was about five miles southeast of Oberlin, Beulah at Cheneyville, Calvary at Bayou Chicot, Vermillion at Lafayette, and Plaquemine near Branch. Rev. Joseph Willis youngest son was Aimuewell Willis (1837-1937). Your observation could very well be correct. Randy Willis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Croxton" <croxton@acadiacom.net> To: <randywillis@ev1.net> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 4:40 PM Subject: Re: Aimuewell Willis (1837-1937) > Hi there. I have no info on your line. Was wandering what kind of name is > "Aimuewell?" There is a town called Aimwell in Catahoula Parish. It looks > to me like a contraction of Aimuewell. Researching Pool-Ford-Swayze-Taylor > & Wilson in Catahoula Parish. Regards, Robert C. Whitney in Metairie, LA, > My Willis line is in Montgomery, AL > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <randywillis@ev1.net> > To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 6:13 AM > Subject: Aimuewell Willis (1837-1937) > > > > Aimuewell Willis > > (b. May 1, 1837; d. Sept. 8, 1937) > > > > Contact: > > Randy Willis > > www.randywillis.org > > randy@randywillis.org > > > > Aimuewell Willis was Rev. Joseph Willis' youngest son. He was born at the > > old Joe Willis Crossing on the Calcasieu River in Rapides Parish, > Louisiana > > on May 1, 1837. Aimuewell Willis, married twice and settled, in 1925, > five > > miles southeast of Leesville. His first wife was Marguerite Leuemche, and > > his second wife was Lucy Ann Foshee (b. Jan. 28, 1868; d. Jun 17, 1960). > He > > was a Civil War Veteran (Company D Cres. LA Inf. CSA). He was also known > as > > "Uncle Ame" by his friends. > > > > His obituary listed the following surviving children: Luther J. Willis [b. > > Jul. 19, 1908; d. Apr. 24, 1958], J. E. Willis, Elbert Willis, Earl > Willis, > > Elzie Willis [b. Nov. 20, 1900; d. Nov. 21, 1991], Everett L. Willis > [b. > > Oct. 14, 1875; d. Nov. 14, 1958], Mrs. George [Effie Willis] Titus, and > > Pearl Willis Haymon. At the time of his death he had 28 grandchildren and > 17 > > great-grandchildren. He died, at age 100, on September 8, 1937 and is > buried > > at the Castor Cemetery in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. > > > > Rev. John Houston Strother, Jr. interviewed Aimuewell Willis in 1933. > The > > interview was later published in The Baptist Message, on July 8, 1937. I > > quote: "Then I asked him of his father. He sat up, his voice became > mellow, > > and his expression cheerful. (No memory seemed so rich to him, even when > > coming back over those 75 years). (With pleasure he told of carrying the > > wasted form in his arms from bed to chair and back again)." Rev. Strother > > also stated, that as of 1937, nine descendants of Rev. Joseph Willis had > > become preachers. > > > > I visited with Aimuewell’s daughter, Pearl Willis Haymon, of Denver, > > Colorado in December of 1980, and a short time later with Aimuewell’s son > > Elzie Willis, near Leesville, Louisiana. It was a strange feeling talking > > with someone whose grandfather was born in the 1750’s. Joseph was about 79 > > when their father was born and, Aimuewell was in his eighties when they > were > > born. > > > > No photograph exists of Rev. Joseph Willis. The photograph below from > > Durham and Ramond’s book, "Baptist Builders in Louisiana" (1934), is of > > Aimuewell, listed as Rev. Joseph Willis in error. > > > > > > ============================== > > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > > > >