Biography of  Moses B. Willis, pages 928/929/930/931. 
History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, 
Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



As long as history endures will the American nation 
acknowledge indebtedness to heroes who, between 1861 and 
1865,  fought for the preservation of the Union and the 
honor of that starry banner which has never been trailed in 
the dust of defeat in single polemic struggle in which the 
country has been involved. Among those whose military 
records as valiant soldiers of the war of the Rebellion 
reflect lasting honor upon them and their descendants is 
Moses B. Willis,  well know citizen of DeKalb county, where 
he has long maintained his home and won an honored name by 
virtue of his consistency to truth, honesty and right 
living. Therefore, he is eminently qualified for a place in 
this present work.  Moses B. Willis was born on November 8, 
1839, at Salina, Onondaga county, New York, the fourth in 
order of birth of the children that were born to Henry and 
Emerline (Hewitt) Willis. At the age of four years he 
accompanied his parents on their removal to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, settling one-half mile east of Green’s Corners, in 
Richland township. There he was reared amid the hardships 
incident to pioneer life, assisting his father in his 
struggles to reclaim a farm from the dense forest which 
covered the land. His first school was obtained in the 
district school of that neighborhood, which was supplemented 
by two terms attendance at the seminary at Orland, Steuben 
county, Indiana, and later two terms at the Auburn high 
school. He was a good student and qualified himself so well 
in his studies as to pass a creditable examination and 
received a license to teach, which vocation he followed 
during the winters of 1858-59-60. On the breaking out of the 
Civil war Mr. Willis enlisted in September, 1861, in Company 
K, Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for 
three years, taking the place of his father, who  had 
enlisted, but whom he persuaded to remain at home with his 

family, insisting that the younger men ought to be first to 
go. In the organization of his company he was appointed 
third sergeant, and on April 17, 1863, he was commissioned 
second lieutenant, but owing to the depleted condition of 
the county he was not mustered on that commission. About 
this time General Rosecrans conceived the idea that he could 
accomplish great things by organizing a corps of the flower 
of the army, with which he would dash upon the enemy at 
unexpected times and places, and to this end he ordered 
details from each regiment. Two sergeants and five corporals 
were chosen for their bravery and soldierly bearing by the 
commissioned officers of the regiment, and from among this 
number Mr. Willis was  chosen as one of the sergeants from 
his regiment. To these were to be added three privates from 
each company, to be chosen by the captain, all of whom were 
to be mounted and furnished with the best of equipment. Had 
the government or the department of war approved of the 
plan, it would undoubtedly have been very effective, but the 
approval was not gained, therefore the plan was dropped and 
the men were returned to their respective commands.  After 
the battle of Chickamauga, Mr. Willis was detailed with the 
others to go to Indiana to solicit recruits for his company, 
and while thus engaged his regiment re-enlisted as a veteran 
organization, the members being granted thirty days furlough 
at   home.  On returning to the field Mr. Willis also re-
enlisted as a veteran and served in his regiment post guard 
at Chattanooga. On January 16, 1865, he was commissioned and 
mustered in as captain of his company. The regiment was 
short of men on account of those who did not veteranize and 
who, on account of the expiration of their enlistment were 
discharged, but the  regiment was given recruit substitutes 
and  drafter men from two other regiments that did not 
veteranize. On June 17, 1865, Captain Willis was detailed on 
a general court martial for the trial of several cases, and 
was made president of the court, in which position he served 
until the duties of the court were completed. On June 26, 
1865, Mr. Willis was detailed as inspector of the Second 
Brigade, First Separate Division, Army of the Cumberland, 
which later was disbanded and he returned to his company, 
with which he remained until he was mustered out in 
September, 1865. During his military service, Mr. Willis 
took part in the terrible battle of Shiloh, being badly 
wounded in the right hand on the second day of the fight. He 
also was in the siege of Corinth, and at Perrysville, Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and other sanguinary 
engagements, beside many long and tiresome marches, and yet, 
in spite of his arduous service, he never spent a day or 
night in a hospital. According to  the statements of his 
comrades, he was a soldier of unusual valor and courage and 
was held in the highest esteem by his superior officers. On 
his return from the army Captain Willis engaged in farming 
and clearing a tract of land, while operating and living on 
another farm.  In the spring of 1875,  on account of the 
health of himself and wife, he retired from active farming 
and engaged with his father at Waterloo in the book, 
stationery, wall paper and notions trade, in which he 
engaged until September, 1877, when he came to Auburn and 
here engaged in the same line of business, which commanded 
his attention for about twenty years. He was fairly 
successful in this enterprise, but after the death of his 
wife in 1903 he went to Oklahoma for about five years,  
there taking up a homestead claim from the government, 
during which time he was again married. Returning to Auburn 
he retired from active business and is now living quietly in 
his home at this place, secure in the confidence and esteem 
of all who know him.  On November 9, 1865, Captain Willis 
was united with Elizabeth J. Britton, eldest daughter of 
Hon. Lewis D. and Martha (McCague) Britton, and to this 
union were born three children, two sons and a daughter. The 
wife and mother departed this life on June 29, 1901. The 
second son, Lewis H., died at his home in Indianapolis, 
February 24, 1911, leaving a widow, but no children. Marion 
B., the eldest son, is a resident of Auburn, while the 
daughter, Nettie B., is the wife of William Eckhart, of Los 
Angeles, California. While a resident of Oklahoma, Captain 
Willis married Mrs. Maria M. Holmes. In the winter of 1867 
he made a profession of religion, and has been an active and 
faithful member of the  Methodist Episcopal church at Auburn 
continuously since, having been a member of the official 
board for thirty-six years. Fraternally, he is a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of 
the Republic, while politically, he has always affiliated 
with the Republican and Prohibition parties. Believing that 
the temperance question is the greatest now before the 
American people and being a man of distinct convictions on 
the great question of the day, on both social and economic 
lines.  A man of forceful individuality, his probity of 
character and his genial personality have gained for him 
universal esteem and friendship. In the locality where he 
has spent practically his entire life he has always taken a 
leading part in the welfare of the community, having ever 
been willing to aid in those things which make for better 
educational advantages, better homes, better living and 
higher citizenship. Because of his sterling qualities of 
character, his loyalty to his country in the time of its 
need and his honorable career in private life, he is 
eminently deserving of the enviable standing which he now 
enjoys in this community.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com