Thomas Nelson Wills |
| Posted 2023-08-29 by Pat R |
| Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Monday, June 24, 1940, p. 3 THOMAS WILLS DIES AT HOME Pioneer Rancher, Arizona Legislator Victim of Heart Attack Thomas Nelson Wills, 74, Pioneer Arizona cattleman and legislator, died at his home here at 648 North Seventh avenue yesterday morning after an illness of two years. A heart attack caused his death. Mr. Wills was born in Mariposa county, California, January 17, 1866 and came to Arizona in 1883 settling at Agua Caliente on the San Pedro river. Although he found time to serve in political offices both of the state and of Pinal county during his lifetime, he was continually active as a cattleman, owning several ranches including the Interocean ranch in the Reddington country and the Old Tom Brown Ranch on the San Pedro. He was connected with the Black Mountain Cattle company and owned and operated a ranch in that district. Retires as Rancher He retired about six years ago and made his home in Tucson. During his early life he followed rodeos throughout the country as a hobby, rather than a profession, but aways as a competitor. In 1898 he was a wild west performer at the World's Fair and later was a member of Buffalo Bill's troupe of westerners. In 1900 and again in 1902 he was elected to the board of supervisors of Pinal county. From 1906 to 1910 he was sheriff of Pinal county and from 1910 to 1918 again served as a member of the board of supervisors. In all he served 18 years in the Pinal county court house either as sheriff or a supervisor. State Official He was a member of the constitutional convention and in 1924 and again in 1926 he was elected state senator from Pinal county. In 1896 he married Elizabeth C. Chamberlain,, a daughter of a San Pedro rancher, who survives him. He was a member of Tucson Elks lodge No. 386, a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He leaves, besides his widow, three sisters, Mrs. Luetta Dunbar, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. Della Vurley, Los Angeles and Mrs. Lucy Nelson, Bakersfield, Calif., and two brothers, Roy Wills, Avalon, Calif., and Henry Wills, Florence, Ariz. Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Reilly chapel. Chapel services will be conducted by the Elks and services at the graveside in the Evergreen cemetery will be conducted by the Masonic lodge. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Tuesday, June 25, 1940 RITES TO BE HELD TODAY FOR WILLS Funeral services for Thomas Nelson Wills, 74, pioneer cattleman, legislator and peace officer who died at his home, 648 North Seventh avenue Sunday, will be conducted at 4 o'clock this afternoon at the Reilly chapel. Services there will be conducted by the Tucson Elks lodge. The Masonic lodge will be in charge of graveside services. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ed Echols, Jim Davis, Joe Kerrick, Oliver Palmer, John Van Buskirk and Ray Hickey. Mr. Wills, a native of California, came to Arizona in 1883 and was continually active as a cattleman in southern Arizona until his retirement six years ago. His political career included four years as sheriff of Pinal county, several terms as county supervisor and two terms as state senator from Pinal county. |
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