Submitted by Joanne Rose Layshock
Lafayette, CA
layshock@comcast.net
Jay Bartlett Willis was born in 1834 in Vermont township, Delaware County Ohio, one of ten children of Buckley H. Willis and Susan Bartlett. He married Lavinia Adaline Buell.
Jay Willis enlisted as a private in the 48th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company B on Sept. 5, 1864, at age 29. Jay was transferred to the 83rd OVI in January of 1865. He served with two of his brothers, Plyn A. Willis and Rollin K. Willis. Two of his wife's brothers also served in the regiment, Grandley O. Buell and Philaster E. Buell.
In 1891 he filed a pension application as an invalid. Jay and Lavinia Willis had 4 children. One of their sons, Frank Barlett Willis went on to serve as the governor of Ohio from 1914 to 1916 and as a US senator from 1920 until his death in 1928.