ASA HENRY WILLIS

Asa Henry Willis, Brother, Samuel Benjamin Willis, and son of Samuel, William G. Willis
1895

Surnames:  Willis, Dobbs, McCrary, Barrow, Blankenstein, Byrne

ASA HENRY WILLIS, born in 1852 in New York City and died around Falls County prior to 1925.  Asa was one of six children born to ASA HENRY and CATHERINE A. WILLIS (b: 1825 in Ireland and d: July 15, 1884 in NYC) of New York City (Manhattan), NY.  Catherine was the daughter of HENRY and MARY ANN BYRNE of New York City, NY (originally from Ireland).   Asa Henry Sr. was the son of ABEL and MARY SEALY WILLIS.

ASA married ANNIE L. JACOBSON in 1881 in New York City (Manhattan), NY.   Daughter of JACOB and SARAH JACOBSON, Annie was born in August of 1864 in London, England, and died prior to 1925 around Falls Co., TX.

Asa, Annie, Abe (Asa’s younger brother) and four children came to Falls County around 1890, probably to farm tobacco. They had inherited around 350 acres in Falls and Bell County from their uncle, MATTHEW BYRNE, who had received the land as a result of his efforts in fighting in the war between Texas and Mexico.  Eventually he was captured in the Battle of Coleto Creek and executed (along with 300 other soldiers) by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on March 27, 1836 in Goliad. Asa, Annie and Abe, Sr., lived around Falls County for the remainder of their lives.

Together Asa and Annie had a total of six children.  Abel, Sr. was a bachelor.

Children of ASA H. WILLIS and ANNIE L. JACOBSON are:

              i.   CATHERINE “KATIE” ANN WILLIS, b. Feb 11, 1882, New York City, NY; d: Jun 19, 1972 in Granbury, TX. m. THOMAS ABNER. BARROW in 1930; b. 1866, MO., d: Jan 21, 1942 in Granbury, TX.

             ii.   ASA “ASY” HENRY WILLIS, b. 1885, New York City, NY.  m. MAY in 1927.

            iii.   JERUSHA “JESSIE” RUTH WILLIS, b. November 02, 1890, Hoboken, NJ; d. Feb 8, 1965, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. m. STANLEY BEE DOBBS on Jun 6, 1907; b: Dec 1882 in MS; d: around 1955, Ft. Worth, TX. m. JASPER “JACK” FRANK READ (b: February 20, 1886; d: September 03, 1950) in Ft. Worth, TX.

            iv.   LILLIAN “LILLIE” BEATRICE WILLIS, b. Aug 14, 1893, Belfalls, TX; d: Nov 8, 1972 in Granbury, TX; m. JOHN CASPER MCCRARY on July 14, 1919; b: Aug 17, 1886, Temple, TX; d: May 10, 1973, Granbury, TX.

             v.   VIOLA “JOHNNIE” LYDIA WILLIS, b. June 1897, Belfalls, TX.

            vi.   ABE WILLIAM WILLIS, b. Sept 2. 1901, Falls Co., TX; d: Jan 22, 1957, San Saba, TX; m. ALICE E. BLANKENSTEIN on May 3, 1925 in Temple, TX.  b: Oct 22, 1907, Temple, TX; d: Mar 25, 1967, Temple, TX.