Nelson Perkins Willey

Notes:

Nelson was the son of Ambrose Rockwell and Elizabeth (Sanborn) Willey. He may have been born in Ogdensburg, New York.

He lived with his parents in Ogdensburg, New York until 1835, when he and his father and two brothers moved to Chicago with two teams and two wagons. At that time Chicago was only a small town and Nelson took up a homestead on a hay marsh on which the principal business section of the city of Chicago, The Loop, was later built. He lived there for two years during which time he drove a stage coach and carried the mail between Chicago and Galena, Illinois.

In 1837, he moved to Summit, near Milwaukee, after selling his homestead for $40. He was engaged in teaming work in his new location. After several years, he moved to Bever Dam, where he kept the famous "Buckhorn Tavern" for some time.

He then changed residence frequently until 1883, when he went to Bayfield and built the Island View Hotel and operated it for seven years. In his old age, he went to live with his son, C. L. Willey.

Nelson was a Methodist.

Nelson's marriage to Mary Robinson was his second. He had a daughter by his first marriage named Margaret.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 12-62-38-2 - p 338-339

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Nelson married Mary P. Robinson on 6 Jan 1849 in Troy, Wisconsin, USA. Mary (daughter of Ebenezer Robinson, Jr. and Harriet Peirce) was born on 5 Mar 1827 in Milton, Vermont, USA; died on 5 May 1905 in Washburn, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Rockwell Willey was born on 18 Mar 1850 in Mackford, Wautoma Co., Wisconsin, USA; and died.
2. William Willey was born in 1852; and died.
3. Calvin Lucien Willey was born on 6 Apr 1854 in Plainfield, Wisconsin, USA; and died.