Willis was born in Pepin County, Wisconsin to George and Frances (Wakefield) Livingston. The family moved to Colburn, Wisconsin, where he lived with his parents, sister and three brothers. His father died in November of 1906. A year and a half later, Willis and his brothers were "committed to the State Home or State School at Sparta” (Probate of George H. Livingston dated 01/15/1907), while their mother remained in Colburn. Willis was temporarily adopted by the Wohlferts, a farm family, for whom he worked at age 16. At age 19, he and his twin brother, Willard crossed the border into Canada, looking for employment opportunities. Afterwards, he lived with and worked for another farmer named Charles McIntyre and his wife in Koshkonong for several years. Willis was admitted to the county asylum for chronic insanity on August 4, 1921 at 10:00 am. Willis never married. He resided at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor Farm, where he lived for more than 20 years until his release to the hospital on August 23, 1941 at 1:00 pm. He died on August 25, 1947.
A county employee informed me, "Years ago, many people needing services who lived at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor House were not treated very well. When they died, they were simply 'disposed' of with no real thought to keeping records." Willis's death certificate indicates that he is buried in Potter's Field. It is unfortunate that there is no marker memorializing him.
A county employee informed me, "Years ago, many people needing services who lived at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor House were not treated very well. When they died, they were simply 'disposed' of with no real thought to keeping records." Willis's death certificate indicates that he is buried in Potter's Field. It is unfortunate that there is no marker memorializing him.
Willis was born in Pepin County, Wisconsin to George and Frances (Wakefield) Livingston. The family moved to Colburn, Wisconsin, where he lived with his parents, sister and three brothers. His father died in November of 1906. A year and a half later, Willis and his brothers were "committed to the State Home or State School at Sparta” (Probate of George H. Livingston dated 01/15/1907), while their mother remained in Colburn. Willis was temporarily adopted by the Wohlferts, a farm family, for whom he worked at age 16. At age 19, he and his twin brother, Willard crossed the border into Canada, looking for employment opportunities. Afterwards, he lived with and worked for another farmer named Charles McIntyre and his wife in Koshkonong for several years. Willis was admitted to the county asylum for chronic insanity on August 4, 1921 at 10:00 am. Willis never married. He resided at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor Farm, where he lived for more than 20 years until his release to the hospital on August 23, 1941 at 1:00 pm. He died on August 25, 1947.
A county employee informed me, "Years ago, many people needing services who lived at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor House were not treated very well. When they died, they were simply 'disposed' of with no real thought to keeping records." Willis's death certificate indicates that he is buried in Potter's Field. It is unfortunate that there is no marker memorializing him.
A county employee informed me, "Years ago, many people needing services who lived at the Jefferson County Insane Asylum and Poor House were not treated very well. When they died, they were simply 'disposed' of with no real thought to keeping records." Willis's death certificate indicates that he is buried in Potter's Field. It is unfortunate that there is no marker memorializing him.
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