City: Memphis
WILLS, Wirt James, chairman water commission; born Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 1, 1863; English-French descent; son of Peter Branch and Anne Bott (Archer) WILLS; father’s occupation, merchant; paternal grandparents William and Ridley (Branch) WILLS, maternal grandparents Alexander and Mary (Hatcher) ARCHER; educated in the city schools of Memphis, Tenn.; in early life was a traveling salesman; married Oct. 8, 1889; member of Business Men’s Club, Royal Arcanum, Loyal Assn. National Union and Woodmen of the World; Democrat; elected chairman of water commission of Memphis, Tenn., in 1906; invented the “Wills System” of pumping water from wells direct into water mains in 1910; charter member of Wills Stationery Co. and Wills & Crumpton Co.; at present all time and attention given water department of Memphis, Tenn.; member of Methodist church.
Source: Who’s Who in Tennessee: A Biographical Reference Book of Notable Tennesseans of To-Day. Memphis: Paul & Douglas Co, 1911.
