Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-30
IOHN A. WILLS.
a Sketch of the Career Of Notable
Man.


A gentleman who has led a quiet life
in this city, but who lived in San Fran
cisco during the stormy days from 1853
to 1856, and was there prominently
identified with the formation of the Re-
publican party of California, has just
died. A sketch of his life condensed
from his autobiography published in
the Alumni Annual OF Washington and
Jefferson college, 1887, may therefore
prove of interest.
John Alexander Wills was born in
Pittsburg, Pa, October 2l, 1919, of
Scotch Irish Presbyterian lineage. His
father was one of the early merchants
of the time, and died in 1922, leaving
his three sons to the care and education
OF their mother, Eliza Hood Wills. a
woman noted for her beauty, ability
and Jealous piety.
She devoted herself to their moral
and religious education, deeply impress
ing herself upon their minds, and con-
vinced the subject of this sketch of the
fact that mother is the chief moral ed
ucator of family, and to this convic-
ton Mr.. Wills traces his lifelong advo-
cacy of woman's rights.
In 1888 young Wills entered Washing
ION college, located at Washington, Pa,
ssom which he graduated in 1887 with
honors and as the valedictorian of his
class, at less than Is years OF age. After
graduation he attended the constitu-
tional convention at Harrisburg, Pa,
and visited Washington, d. c., that he
might crafty his love of forensic elo-
Cuence and hear the most famous speak
ers of the day, viz, Clay, Webster, Cal
houn, Prentiss and others.
In the spring of 1888 he entered the
law school of Harvard college, and was
taught by the distinguished Judge Story
and Professor Greenleaf, and numbered
among his classmates such men as VIM.
G. Deming, VIM. M. Evarts, Ebenezar
lockwood Hoar, Richard HI. Dana,
James Russell Lowell, VIM. w. Story,
Jordan M. Pugh, Elihu B. Washburn
and William Ingersoll Bowditch, and
graduated as IL. B. in July, 1S40.
After leaving Harvard he entered the
law office of Walter HI. Lowrie of Pitts
burg, afterwards chief justice OF Penn
sylvania, and was admitted to the.bar in
lS41. He practiced in the courts OF
Pittsburg. the supreme court of the
state, and the United States district
court until the fall of 1858.
In l848 he was married to Charlotte
LeMoyne, eldest daughter of the dis
tinguished physician and surgeon, phil
anthropist and reformer, DIR. Francis
Julius LeMoyne of Washington, Pa.
Beginning life Democrat, Mr.. Wills
early became an aggressive opponent OF
slavery, Joining in 1912 the Liberty
,,srty, in lS43 the Free Soil party, and
IN 1859 the Republican party, and took
an active p.onesr part in all the political
campaigns from 1S42 to 1872, and made
several speeches in Los Angeles during
the campaign OF 1888.
In November, 1858, he left Pittsburg
and removed to San Francisco, where
he practiced law until 1856. lie then
went east as a prominent member ana
chairman OF the California delegation to
the Republican National convention helo
in Philadelphia in 1856, when noml-
mated General Fremont. lie was mace
a member of the committee on PLATFORM
and was assigned the duty OF drafting
resolutions in favor OF the racine ral!-
road and against slavery In the terri
tories. because those were the two SUP,
iects in which California was supposed
to be most interested.
In drawing up these resolutions, Mr..
Wills became the author OF the now
famous phrase, "The twin relics OF bar
barism. Polygamy and Slavery"
In paper upon the sublect, written
nv request for the Historical society OF
Southern California, Mr.. Wits says with
truth: s'If it can be shown tnat the
phrase in question was used IN congress
or elsewhere before the 18th day OF June,
1886. then others may have some claims