Willis - Frank - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Texas Panhandle: Judge Frank Willis, of Canadian, was stricken with paralysis on the night of the 4th inst. during divine services at the tent, conducted by Rev. Abe Mulkey. At the time the sad occurrence took place the altar was crowded with penitents, and the Judge was prominent among the workers. When the fatal stroke came he sand down, and the physicians and friends gathered around him, and removed him to his home which was not far away. For a short time he seemed perfectly conscious, and by signs and defective articulations, tried to comfort his family; but he soon became unconscious, and never spoke in an audible tone again. His breathing became heavy and he lingered in that condition until 1:30 p.m. the next day, (Sunday) and passed peacefully away.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Independence, Kan., where he always kept his dues paid in advance and maintained a good standing with the order for twenty years. The members of the Canadian lodge took charge of his remains and buried him in accordance with their ritual. His funeral brought out the largest number of  people ever brought together on a similar occasion in Canadian. At 2 p.m., the 6th inst., the remains were carried from the family residence to the large tent used for the Mulkey revival, where the people, and the ministers, who had been in attendance upon the revival assembled and touchingly paid their last tribute to the honored deceased. It was a solemn scene, many were the tears shed by the sorrowing ones, but the thought that he was a faithful Christian and died at his post with his armor on, and that he has only gone on in advance, as an ambassador to the court, of heaven, and where he is they can go, brings comfort and peace to the grief stricken ones who look forward to the time when they shall all have a happy reunion of the shining shore.  He was born in Alamo, Ind., in the year 1843, and received his education at Crawfordsville in the same state. He chose the profession of law and was admitted to the bar when a young man. Soon after he moved to the state of Missouri and engaged in the practice of his profession. A few years later he moved to Independence, Kan., where he continued the practice of law and also filled the office of District Attorney for one term. In 1876 he moved to Montague, Texas, where he remained practicing law until 1881, at which time he was appointed judge of what is now known as the 31st Judicial District, and moved his family to Mobeetie. After serving for two years by appointment, he was elected and served two full terms of four years each. He was a man of fine legal talent, and as a district judge it is said by those who are in a position to know, that his decisions stood the test of the supreme court as well as any other judge in the state. In 1891 he moved to Canadian and has been attorney for the S. K. R. R. since that time.  Two years ago he joined the Presbyterian Church, which place he filled faithfully up to the time of his death. Though not long a church member yet he made a splendid record as a Christian. About two years ago he was suddenly stricken with paralysis, from which he never entirely recovered. One year ago he had another stroke, though in a much milder form. The fatal one came at last.