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Jonathan S. Willis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromDelaware'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | John W. Causey |
| Succeeded by | L. Irving Handy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1830-04-05)April 5, 1830 Oxford, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 1903(1903-11-24) (aged 73) Milford, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Milford, Delaware |
Jonathan Spencer Willis (April 5, 1830 – November 24, 1903) was an American politician fromMilford inKent County, Delaware. He was a member of theRepublican Party, and served as U.S. Representative from Delaware.
Willis was born inOxford, Maryland, attended the district schools there and studied under private tutors.
Willis married twice. To Annie Barratt Townsend (1843–1885), they had one daughter, Elizabeth Townsend Willis (1864–1934). And to Edith Gillespie (1855–1914), they had one son Jonathan Spencer Willis Jr. (1892–1957).
He taught school seven years and then entered the ministry of theMethodist Episcopal Church, serving charges in Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia, New York City, and Stamford, Connecticut. He retired from the ministry in 1884 and settled on a farm near Milford and engaged in fruit growing.
Willis was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election in 1892 to the53rd Congress, but was elected to the54th Congress, serving from March 4, 1895, to March 3, 1897. He was an unsuccessful candidate, however, for reelection in 1896 to the55th Congress, and returned to the full effort of agricultural pursuits.
He died in Milford and was buried in theBarratt's Chapel Cemetery nearFrederica, Delaware.
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term.
| Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | March 4, 1895 | March 3, 1897 |
| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1895–1897 | 54th | U.S. House | Democratic | Grover Cleveland | at-large |
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | U.S. Representative | Jonathan S. Willis | Republican | 18,080 | 49% | John W. Causey | Democratic | 18,554 | 51% | ||
| 1894 | U.S. Representative | Jonathan S. Willis | Republican | 19,789 | 51% | Samuel Bancroft | Democratic | 18,482 | 48% | ||
| 1896 | U.S. Representative | Jonathan S. Willis | Republican | 11,159 | 32% | L. Irving Handy | Democratic | 15,407 | 44% |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromDelaware's at-large congressional district 1895–1897 | Succeeded by |
