Middletown transcript., 1898-11-19
MR. HoRAr1o NELSON WILLIS.

4
There are few communities where there
are more respected and beloved old gentle
men, the active business men OF genel a.
ton ago, and the gentle and sweet. faced
help-meets, the fair and loving brides Of two
generations past, than in and around Mid
dietown But during the past two years
many corner and cozy chairs have been va
Gated, death has claimed the fathers and
mothers, the grandsires and grand ans
Only last week the good Father Davis whose
life of great activity and usefulness had COW
cred the whole of the present century lack
ing two or three years, was gathered home.
In few days "Wednesday, Nov.9) the ven
erable father of Mr.. Merritt N. Willis, one
of the most prominent citizens and farmers
OF st. Georges hundred, passed over the ST.
lent river. Thus the. cruel hand OF time
marks out the changes, it being but few
years ago since the subject of this brief no.
tice, was an active force in the busy life
around, him.
Horatio Nelson Willis was born Dec. Is,
1909 at Little Egg Harbor, Burlington Coun-
ty, now Ocean County, New Jersey. His
ancestors were English, and as far as can be
automatically traced they located at Hem
stead, Long Island in 1857 Mr.. Willis
parents were Orthodox Friends. At the age
of fifteen he left his parental home and be-
came all apprentice to his uncle, Joseph B.
Willis. After serving his time he entered
into partnership with his brother in-law
Allen R. Pharo; their plan being to pur-
chase land, on which to build houses for
sale. They built many large structures IN
Philadelphia among them the Asylum
for the Blind and Friends Meeting House.
at Sixth and Noble streets. They were
very successful. Mr.. Willis retired from
the CO partnership in 1910. In 1912 he be-
came largely engaged in manufacture OF
umbrellas in Baltimore. Nd. from which
business he retired in 1874. He moved in
1845 to Middletown, Del, and engaged in
farming, where he erected the dwelling
which he so long occupied. Mr.. Willis
retired from farming in 1850 but. still con-
tinued in active business. He was one of
the organizers and first directors of the
New Castle County National Bank. He
occupied the same position with respect to
the CantWel Insurance Company of Odessa
remaining in both corporations until 1898
and serving with great faithfulness and
fidelity. In 1872 Mr.. Willis was the trea-
surer, and one of the promoters ofSt. Annes
Episcopal church built in Middletown and
also was the most active in the rebuilding
of the church which was destroyed by fire
in 1882. For many years he was engaged
in buying and shipping peaches with Mr..
John W. Jolls as partner. In 1888 he ex-
tended his peach interests by engaging in
the evaporating business thereby giving
employment to large number of persons
In 1850 he became vestryman of st. Annes
Episcopal church near Middletown, having
already been for number of years a men,
Der thereof. His influence in the vestry
soon secured for him O. position of respon-
sibility. April the 18th, 1871 he was made
Jr. Warden, his Senior being the late Benz.
man Gibbs and on the laters death in 1881
he was elected Sr. Warden which position
he occupied until the time of his death. In
temperament Mr.. Willis was a neryously
active man, never satisfied unless occupied
with some business project. He had little
thought of himself, and from this disposi-
ton he undermined his health to such an
extent that even his iron constitution could
not resist successive attacks of disease with
which he was visitei.
Mr.. N. Willis is the only child reaching
maturity, and the home of the son has been
the home the parents for several years,
father and son being companions and con-
fidants. On Saturday afternoon last all that
was mortal of this honored citizen and be-
loved friend was committed to mother earth
in old st. Annes Cemetery. Bishop Cole
man and Rev. W.. Wilkie, rector, oficiat-
ed The pail bearers were Messrs. John c.
Corbitt, Joshua Clayton, Jr., Joseph L.
Gibson, George W. Lockwood, John w.
Jolls and F. Fl. Clothier.