Robert Henry Willard

Brief Life History of Robert Henry

When Robert Henry Willard was born on 27 March 1859, in St. Lawrence, New York, United States, his father, Robert Henry Willard, was 25 and his mother, Mary Emeline Kilton, was 30. He married Sarah Ann Waters on 28 October 1878, in Greene, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Richland Township, Dickinson, Iowa, United States in 1910 and Center Grove Township, Dickinson, Iowa, United States for about 10 years. He died on 31 May 1943, in Spirit Lake, Dickinson, Iowa, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in Spirit Lake, Dickinson, Iowa, United States.

Photos and Memories (0)

Do you know Robert Henry? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account

Family Time Line

Robert Henry Willard
1859–1943
Sarah Ann Waters
1859–1940
Marriage: 28 October 1878
Ira Emmett Willard
1879–1901
Frank Sidney Willard
1881–1908
Robert William Willard
1884–1965
Pearl Willard
1886–1888
Harry Edward Willard
1888–1968
Cora Ann Willard
1891–1968
Clyde Edwin Willard
1893–1968
Leta May Willard
1895–1896
Maybel Edna Willard
1904–1988

Sources (55)

  • Henry Willard, "Iowa State Census, 1905"
  • R H Willard, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934"
  • Henry Willard, "Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951"

World Events (8)

1863

Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free.

1867 · The Burtis Opera House

The Burtis Opera House opened in Davenport and could easily hold an audience of 1,600. It was a widely used facility and Mark Twain filled the house when he spoke on tour in 1869. It was also used to house Susan B. Anthony when she lectured on the woman's right to vote. The Quad City Symphony Orchestra played its first concert as the new Tri-City Symphony in the Opera House. An arsonist set fire to the building on the evening of April 26, 1921, and the building was severely destroyed. The building was rebuilt but was no longer used as an opera house.

1881 · The Assassination of James Garfield

Garfield was shot twice by Charles J. Guitea at Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1881. After eleven weeks of intensive and other care Garfield died in Elberon, New Jersey, the second of four presidents to be assassinated, following Abraham Lincoln.

Name Meaning

English (Sussex, Kent, and Surrey): from the Middle English personal name Willard, representing either Old English Wilheard or Old French Willard (ancient Germanic Willihard), the source of both of which consists of elements meaning ‘will, desire’ + ‘hardy, brave’. The name may also derive from the Middle English personal name Withelard, shortened to Willard (Old French, ancient Germanic Widelard).

German: variant of Willhardt (see Willert ) and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this.

History: Simon Willard (1605–76) came from Horsmonden, Kent, England, to Boston, MA, in 1634. In that year he became one of the founders of Cambridge, MA, and the following year (1635) was a founder of Concord, MA. Twenty years later, in 1659, he was a founder of Lancaster, MA. Simon Willard was involved in numerous confrontations with the Native Americans, in particular in ‘King Philip's War’ of 1675–76. He had seventeen children and was the ancestor of many prominent Americans.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Discover Even More

As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.

Create a FREE Account

Search for Another Deceased Ancestor

Share this with your family and friends.