Parents

Son of Reuben WILLITS & Mary HARRIS.

Life History

Other facts

Notes

• RootsWeb/MercerCounty/Willits
  The History of Mercer County, 1882 tells us that Milton Willits spent three years in California (see Gold Page for the California Gold Rush): "He crossed the plains in the summer of 1850, and returned in the spring of 1853 to New Boston, and started a lumber yard in partnership with Anderson Kirlin. They continued business until fall, when they dissolved, and Mr. Willits started a grocery store, which he continued till the spring of 1854, when he traded his grocery in part payment on seventy-six acres of land five miles northeast of New Boston, where he has been engaged in farming ever since." His land can be seen in Section 22, 23, and 24 on the New Boston plat map (and it appears to be a good deal more than 76 acres!).
  
  Pat Chapman has much information on this branch of the family and in particular sons Earl and Floyd of Tacoma, Washington. He says they built wooden canoes there for over 50 years, and his book aboutthem has been published. Read the description and purchase copies at his publisher's Web Site. Pat previously published an article in the Wooden Canoe Journal which tells about the family canoe building enterprise in Tacoma, including photos. It can be read on Pat's Web Page. (Pat's Links at top of page)