The legal profession finds a well known and able representative in Theophilus F. WILLIS, who for twenty-nine years has practiced before the bar of Clarinda. He has lived in Iowa, however, since 1868, and in Page county since 1879, barring two absences, in which year he erected one of the first houses at Blanchard. He removed to this state from southern Illinois, having previously lived in Richview, Washington county. In 1868, however, he crossed the Mississippi and took up his abode at Villisca, after which various removals he at length came to Clarinda.

Mr. WILLIS is a native of White county, Illinois, his birth having occurred February 8, 1839. His parents were Benjamin F. and Matilda (SHIPLEY) WILLIS, and the father, devoting his life to various pursuits, provided for his family in his work as a school teacher, farmer and merchant.

In the state of his nativity Theophilus F. WILLIS was reared, his early life being quietly passed in the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were assigned him by parental authority. He was a young man of about twenty-two years at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. In the period of political unrest which preceded the opening of hostilities he was a deep student of the condition of affairs and his patriotism was aroused by the threatening attitude of the south. It was therefore in response to the first call for troops to serve the Union that he enlisted, joining Company C of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a private in May, 1861, in response to the call for men to serve for three months. He afterward reenlisted for three years, becoming a member of the Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he was assigned to duty with Company G. This regiment was known as the Normal Regiment, as it was composed of students and professors of the normal school, nearly all of whom enlisted. Mr. Willis was at that time a pupil in the normal and with his classmates and teachers joined the army and was chosen adjutant of his company. Becoming ill, however, he did not get to serve in that capacity but did not hesitate to go into the ranks and as a private served throughout the war. He participated in the battle and siege of Spanish Fort in the rear of Mobile, Alabama, and in many skirmishes and was also engaged in guarding the railroad in Louisiana. He continued at the front until the cessation of hostilities, and then did duty in the provost marshal's office, also in the adjutant general's office and in other clerical capacities. He was mustered out November 24, 1865, at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, December 7, 1865. He has always maintained the deepest interest in his old army comrades and is a member of Warren Post, G. A. R.

When the country no longer needed his military aid, Mr. WILLIS returned to his Illinois home, took up the study of law and after a careful and thorough preparation was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1868 before the supreme court. It was in the - same year that he came to Iowa, locating at Villisca, where he opened an office and remained for two years. There he began the practice of law and after two years removed to Red Oak, where he continued until 1879. At that date he took up his abode in Blanchard, Page county, and followed his profession there for a decade, or until his removal to Clarinda. For twenty years he has now been engaged in general practice in this city and has made steady progress, his ability as an advocate and counselor being widely recognized, so that his clientage connects him with much important litigation tried in the courts of the district. While his allegiance to his clients' interests is proverbial, he never forgets that he owes a still higher duty to the majesty of the law. He is always respectful to the court, never abusive of his adversaries, and wins his victories, which are many, and suffers his defeats, which are few, in the open field, face to face with his enemies. He is seldom if ever at error in presenting a point or in quoting a principle and he marshals his evidence with military precision so that he throws its full weight upon his opponent's weakest point. He is now the oldest legal practitioner in the county, having been admitted to the bar more than four decades ago. While in Montgomery county, living at Red Oak, he acted as city attorney and while in Villisca was postmaster. He was also twice mayor of the city of Blanchard, acted as justice of the peace and was likewise township trustee. He also served on the school board and was filling that position when the present fine brick city school building was erected.

Mr. WILLIS was married to Miss Clara BAKER, of Fulton county, Illinois, a daughter of Robert N. BAKER, who was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. WILLIS was for years a capable and successful teacher and is now librarian of the public library. She has filled this position since the establishment of the library and has always taken a deep, active and helpful interest in public affairs and educational work. She is, moreover, a physician and pursued special courses in hygiene in St. Louis. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. WILLIS was celebrated September 24, 1863, and has been blessed with three children: Maud, now the wife of J. J. HOAGUE, a retired farmer living in Blanchard; Cora, the wife of J. W. JOHNSON, a grain dealer residing in Edgeley, North Dakota; and B. Franklin, of Clarinda. who married Vita LUCE, of Villisca, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John LUCE of Mount Ayr.

Mr. and Mrs. WILLIS are both widely known in Clarinda and Page county and in fact throughout southwestern Iowa. They are both people or broad intelligence, interested in the mental development of this part of the state and realizing at all times the value of any project calculated to promote the public good. Any movement which is worth while receives their endorsement and cooperation and the confidence reposed in their opinions makes their position upon any vital question one of influence and leadership.

SOURCE: KERSHAW, W. L. History of Page County Iowa: Also Biographical Sketches of some Prominent Citizens of the County Vol. 11. Pp. 128-29. The S.J. Clarke Publ. Co. Chicago. 1909.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009