The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-15
JOSEPH E. WILLARD.

Capt. Joseph F. Willard was born on
the Willard estate in Fairfax County.
Virginia. in 1866 He Is the son of the late
Joseph C. Willard, of Washington, who
was Il major in the United States army
during the civil war
Joseph c. Willard was born in Vermont
of an old and respected New England fam
lily. He came to Washington early In life
and amassed a fortune in the hotel BUSH
ness. being proprietor OF the old Wizards
Hotel at one time and owner of the prop
erIy which it stood. besides much
other real estate in the business section
of the city. He bought the Fairfax Coun-
ty property many years ago, and It has
been in the family since that time. having
descended to his son with additions since
/ made.
Joseph c. Willard married Miss Antonio
Ford. OF Virginia. Her sympathies were
| strongly with the cause of the South be-
fore and during the civil war. They were
so pronounced that she was accused of
being a Southern spy. When Mosby cap
tured General Stoughton at Fairfax
Court House she was arrested upon the
charge of being implicated in the capture
and of leading Mosby into the town.
She WAS carried to the Federal head
quarters near Centreville, where one of
Virginia's best citizens. Union sympa-
thizer. appealed in her behalf. She was
offered her release conditionaily upon
taking the oath of allegiance. This she
positively refused to do. and she was con-
sequently sent to the Old Capitol prison in
this city.
1t was there that Major Willard, who
was then provost marshal. met and fell
in love with her. He secured her release.
On, he Of thai thax loft
Fairfax Court House in 8 private car
riage for Washington. in company with
Miss Ford's father. They were inter-
copied by Mosby's men. but an old citt-
zen who understood the situation assured
the Confederates that the travellers were
civilians, and they were allowed to pro-
coed.
Captain Willard Is a nephew of Major
Charles +. Ford. who left the Virginia
Military Institute, under StonewaIl Jack
son. in 1861, with a corps of cadets and
entered the Confederate Army as ser
geant of Stuart's Horse Artillery, and was
promoted to ma jor. and soon after killed
in action at Hanover Court House, Nfr-
ginia.
Captain Wizards mother died when he
was quite young, and he was placed in
the care of his maternal grandmother at
Fairfax Court House He was educated
Virginia Military Institute, at which in
stitution he graduated. He then studied
law at the University of Virginia, and
received the degree of LII. D. He was
admitted to the bar at Fairfax Court
House in 1890
Captain Willard has been active in Vir-
ginia politics. He was elected to the
House of Delegates in 1893, and has served
four consecutive terms in that body. He
was defeated for Congress in 1896 by John
S. Rixey. Captain Willard organized and
equipped, at his own expense, company
of infantry at the outbreak of the Span
ish-American war. which went into serv-
ice as Company L of the Third Virginia
Volunteers. When the regiment was mus
tered out in November 1898, he was pre-
scented with sword by the enlisted men,
Upon the election of Governor Tyler in
that year he was appointed on the Gov
errors staff. He afterward rendered his
resignation to accept the position of cap
tain and quartermaSter on the stan Of
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in Cuba
Captain Willard inherited from his
father an immense fortune in District of
Columbia and Virginia property, which
he has added to rapidly since his fathers
death He has interests in many i'm
beautiful new Wizards Hotel. the Wyatt
building in this city. in which his Wash
ington offices are located, and. 1t is under
stood the hotel syndicate which controls
the Ebbitt House, the Raleigh, and the
present Wizards Hotel. In addition. he
manages large real estate holdings IN this
city.
He makes his home at his farm near
Fairfax Court House. and about eighteen
miles from this city. He is expanding
large sums of money In making this prop
erty one of the finest farms in the State.
He is making a speciality of blooded Jer-
sey and red polled cattle and Berkshire
hogs. and has famous herds of both His
Virginia farm property embraces about
300 acres. though it is not all in one piece
Captain Willard is a tall. soldierly.
handsome young man of engaging man
ners and a pleasant, sunny disposition.
He is well liked by both business and
social friends. of which he has many,
both in this city and Virginia He is con-
sdered a shrewd and enterpriSing BUSH
ness man and his ventures have been
most successful. 1t is said that he has
added to his fortune much more rapidly
than his father did, though the elder
Willard was considered a most astute
and successful man.
Captain Willard married Miss Belle L.
Wyatt, of Essex County. Virginia