Submitted by: Cherie Lantz

 

WILLIS, ASA HENRY

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

THE WILLIS FAMILY (BELFALLS or MARLIN, TEXAS)
From left to right:
Asa Henry Willis, Sr., Jerusha “Jessie” Ruth, Asa Henry Jr., Catherine “Katie” Ann, Annie L. Jacobson Willis, Lillian “Lillie” Beatrice, Abe William, Lydia “Johnnie” Viola,  Great Uncle Abe William Willis

ASA HENRY WILLIS, born in 1952 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.  Catherine’s was the daughter of MICHAEL and ANN BYRNE of Ireland.   Asa Henry was the son of ABEL and MARY SEALY WILLIS.

Asa married ANNIE L. JACOBSON in 1881 in New York City, 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 other children came to Falls County around1890, probably to farm tobacco. They had inherited around 350 acres in Falls and Bell County from their uncle, MATTHEW BRYNE, 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, Sr., 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 WILLIS and ANNIE JACOBSON are:
              i.     CATHERINE ANN WILLIS, b. Feb 11, 1882, New York City, NY; d: Jun 19, 1972 in Granbury, TX.    m. THOMAS A. BARROW in 1930 b. 1866, MO.
             ii.     ASA HENRY WILLIS, b. 1885, New York City, NY.  m. MAE in 1927
             iii.     JERUSHA RUTH WILLIS, b. November 02, 1890, Hoboken, NJ; d. Feb 8,1965, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX. m. STANLEY BEE DOBBS on June 6, 19-7; b: Dec1882 in MS; d: around 1955, Ft. Worth, TX.
             iv.     LILLIAN BEATRICE WILLIS, b. Aug 14,1893, Belfalls, TX; d: Nov 8, 1972 in Granbury, TX; m. JOHNCASPER MCCRARY on July 14, 1919; b: Aug 17, 1886, Temple, TX; d: May 10, 1973,Granbury, TX.
             v.     VIOIA 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: Mar25, 1967, Temple, TX.