Willis

Willis's first church was Black. Before the railroad townsite of 1870, Black farmers in the vicinity had already organized a Methodist congregation, and local history dates Thomas Chapel to 1867. White Baptists organized in 1872. Peter and Richard Willis were Galveston merchants, and they donated the townsite to the Houston and Great Northern. The town also had its violence: on February 2, 1927 a mob hanged Tom Payne, a 25-year-old Black man accused of assault, near Willis, and newspapers reported that officers could not identify the mob.

What the plaque says

Willis Founded in 1870. Named for P. J. and R. S. Willis (large land and timber owners who formerly were merchants in area). They gave townsite, on the Houston & Great Northern Railroad. With the line came prosperity, and in 1874 Willis and Montgomery vied for county seat, but both eventually lost to Conroe. Willis boasted a college, opera house, numerous stores; and by 1895 had vast tobacco fields supporting 7 cigar factories. This industry faded when tariff on Cuban tobacco was lifted. Present industries are timber and livestock. (1970)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Site of Willis Cigar Factory — 0.4 mi
• Site of Former Town of Danville — 4.7 mi
• Conroe — 7.6 mi
• West Fork of The San Jacinto River — 7.6 mi