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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of George B. WILLIS 

[Surnames: MAHR, WILLIS, WILT] 

WILLIS, GEORGE B. 

    
A well known contracting carpenter and builder of Canton, Fulton County, he was born in Bushnell, IL, March 11, 1871; a son of John C. and Catherine (Wilt) Willis, of whom the former was born in Freeport, Ohio in 1835, and the latter in the State of Tennessee in 1833. John C. Willis came to Illinois in 1850 and located at Ipava, Fulton County, moving to Canton in 1888, where he died in 1904. 
    
George E. Willis came in 1888 with his parents to Canton having received his early mental training in the district schools of Ipava. In 1893 he began the contracting business in partnership with his father, which was continued four years, but which he has since followed along. 
    
On September 20, 1891, Mr. Willis was married to Salina Mahr, who was born and schooled in Deerfield Twp., Fulton County. One child, William, has resulted from this union. 
    
Mr. Willis was elected Alderman of the First Ward of Canton in the spring of 1905. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 54.