Submitted by Descendants: Waldo W. DAVIS and Gloria Beatrice Ann HART
William Henry Willingham was born 18 April 1816, possibly in Oglethorpe, Georgia. William voted in the 1845 state election in Columbia County and served four enlistments in the Indian Wars.
He married Anna. E. “Annie” Hilliard on 23 July 1838 in Ware County, Georgia. Anna was born 19 March 1815 near Waycross, Georgia. To this union were born nine children: Isabelle, William W. “Bill”, Serena, Matilda, Ellen, Mary Ann and three others who died young.
The family settled near Fort Meade on the east side of the Peace River. At one time William had over 10,000 head of cattle plus orange groves. William died on 2 February 1886 and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Fort Meade.
After William died Annie filed for and received a pension for his Indian War service. On 24 April 1901 while visiting her daughter Ellen Willingham Parker in Bassinger, Florida, Annie passed away and is buried in the Bassinger Cemetery.
William Henry Willingham was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2004