Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Isaac Willet

ISAAC WILLET

    Isaac Willet, a farmer, and a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Allen Township, was born near Woodstock, Champaign County, Ohio, May 19. 1837.  His father, David Willet, was a native of Harrison County, W. Va., and his mother, Elizabeth (Rogers) Willett, of Ross County, Ohio.  Mr. Willet removed to Champaign County, Ohio, about 1820.  His mother and three brothers, Isaac, Abraham and Daniel Crislip, emigrated from England prior to the war of the Revolution, and purchased large lands on Brushy Fork, Harrison County, W.Va.  Mr. Willet, the father of the subject of this sketch, was married in Champaign County to Elizaboth Rogers, whose parents had moved to Champaign County in 1805.  Of a family of ten children, nine are living-Samuel L., John O., Mary J., wife of James W. Routine, Isaac, Catharine, wife of W. H. Lease, William H., Sarah E., wife of John Moore Maria, wife of W. and George W. Hopy A. is deceased.  Isaac, the subject of this sketch, passed his early lire on a farm, and was educated in the common schools of his native place.  When a young man he engaged in dealing in stock, and spent the years of 1857-58 in that business in Illinois.  He then returned to Ohio, and in 1862 removed to the farm where he now resides.  For the last twenty-six years he has bought and shipped stock, doing a successful business.  Of late years he has made a leading pursuit in breeding and keeping thoroughbred Poland-China hogs.  Since July 1881, he has been interested in the live stock commission business at Union Stock Yards, Cincinnati.  He is a member of the Agricultural Board of the "World's Fair," and a stockholder in the Bank of North Lewisburg; and also a member of the Ohio Farmers' and Horsemen's Mutual Protection Company.  Mr. Willet is an active, enterprising citizen, and always manifests an interest in all public improvements.  He was married January 22, 1862, to Lucy J. Spain, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth A. Spain. Mrs. W., a native of Champaign County, was born September 12, 1845.  This union was blessed with six children; of these, five are living, viz.: Emma B., Josephine, Lizzie, Marcie and Anderson L. Thomas S. is deceased.