Sanford Lincoln Willits 1859 - 1939

WILLITS, ROCK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/28/2018 at 20:34:46

The Ute Independent
20 January 1939

Sanford Lincoln Willits was born April 1, 1859 at Monmouth, Illinois and passed away on Monday, January 9, 1939 at Sioux City, Iowa, being 79 years, 10 months and 9 days old. When a small boy he moved to Kansas where he lived on a farm, and after a few years moved to Iowa settling first on the Missouri bottom in the neighborhood of Maple Landing. For the past 61 years Castana has been his home, first at old Castana, on the west side of the river where he had the first blacksmith shop in the community.

On October 2, 1887 he was married to Virginia Rock, who survives him. One son, John, died in 1900, while 7 daughters and 1 son survive him. They are Mrs. Lelia Norcross, Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Ethel Pershing, Des Moines, Iowa, Miss Genevieve Willits of lead, South Dakota, Mrs. Mildred Davis, Des Moines, Iowa, Captain LeLand Willits, Rockwell Center, Long Island, Mrs. Wanda DeVeau, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mrs. Ruth Church and Mrs. Marjorie Whiting of Whiting, Iowa. There is also one brother, Newman Willits of Whiting, fifteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mr. Willits served his community well. He engaged in the mercantile business, later was in banking and for the past several years dealt in real estate and insurance. He was several times mayor of Castana and for forty years was a member of the school board, much of the time as president of the board. His sterling character was known far and wide and he will be missed by his host of friends.