Milford chronicle., 1903-11-27
J0a0THAa s. WILLIS
Died At GIEaU13THG.
PASSED PEACEFULLY 10 REST LAST
TUESDAY.

Rev. JOnOthan Spencer Wills passed.
away at mis- home near town, on Tues
day morning lsst in his 18th yearsfter
a lingering illness Of caAcer of the
stomach. Mr.. willis was the son Of
vii lam Barlaby and Mary Spen Ger
Willis of oxford Talbot County. Md 4,
and was born on farm near there on
April 5,h, 1880 at hich place be spent
his eary lie and received his early ed
ucatjon He was able by the district
schools aid private tutors to acquire a
knowledge Of Greek Latin, French and
German, and afterward taught in the
district schools and lastly in the Trappe
Academy for nearly eight years In
1884 he entered The ministry of the NJ.
E. Church. and served various charges
in NIarvlau d until 1860, in which year
he was called to Philadelphia, and was
for two wears pastor of the Tahernae c
Church: then he was transferred to NJ!
Vernon street church for two years and
organized the present Spring Garden
congregation; became pastor Of the
Western Presbyterian Church for
wear. then resigned his charge aud re-
moved to Delaware, where he remained
a short time with two congregations
IN 1868 he was called to New York East
Conference for nine years, having in
this time two pastorstes in New York
and one in stanford, Conn in 1877 h'
returned TO Delaware, and after having
charge of two more congregations
Milford pss,erate being the last h'
retired from the ministry. H. 1888, ni
wears in the sacred calling numbering
thirty one, Mr. Willis the moved t.
his farm near this town, which i
known as the "GIenworthe" p ace
wbefe be has resided ever sin bis re
firing from tue ministry.
In 1892 he was the Republican nom
inee for Congress from Kent county
but was defeated by Hon. john w
Causev. Of this town, the Democ att
nominee. In 1894 he was again nom
mated by the Republicans and defeat
Samuel Banci oft, the Democratic nom
inee. In 1896 he was given a Ienoml
nation and was defeated by l.. lrvlni
Handy. At this time Mr.. Willis prac
ticallv lost interest in politics, having
held only one office since, that Of super
visor of the Census. After retiring iron
this public service, Mr.. Willis agar
entered the ministry at the COZ ferenc
Of two wears ago which was held
Chestertown, and at the sueceeulH
meeting of the annual conference Il
was appointed assistant pastor OF I'd
Avenue NJ. E. Church Of this towI
with Rev. Frank Harris as paste
Since his reentering the ministry, NJ
Willis has been devoted to the work
the church. and it can be said th'
when he was taken ill, that he was
the active work of the chuich.
> Mr.. Willis was married three time
!, His first wife was Ann, daughter
1 Hugh aud Rebecca Denny Valian
of Talbot county, Md. They had tn"
children who died in early childhOo'
His second wife was Annie Barret
3 daughter of William and Eiizabei
t fBanett) Townsend, of Fredelica, Kel
a county, Del. They had two childieI
0 Elizabeth Townsend (Mrs. Villa
g H. McCallum), of Philadelphia, al
n a son who died in infancy. The thii
is wife of Mr.. Willis is Edith, daught
= Of Isaac H. and Mary A. (DuntOl
# (4illespy, of Greenwich, Conn. The
y have had two children; one died in
!. fancy. and Jonothan Spencer Willis. .
d Mrs. Ed. willis and Jnnothan >, e
e Ger Willis survive the deceased. Fu
# eral will be held at the "Glenworlh
u farm, his late residences this Friui
.e afternoon, at = o'clock. Interme
p at Barratt's Chapel Cemetery.
Milford Trust and Banking COmpa
Opened Monday.