Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Judge David WILARD, farmer; P. O. Wilmington; the above named gentleman is one of the 
best known men of Will Co.; was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., June 13, 1818, and is the 
son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SANDERS) WILARD; father a native of Massachusetts, 
engaged in farming; mother, of Fort Edwards, Washington Co., N. Y. His father was 
a volunteer in the war of 1812; was one of the first settlers of Allegany Co., N.Y., 
he died in 1877, at 90 years of age; Judge WILARD was raised on his father's farm; he 
received a high-school education, and at the age of 21, he was engaged in the winter 
months in teaching the district schools. In 1844, he married Miss Hodah AXTELL, of 
Allegany Co., N. Y.; he then with his wife started for Illinois, then the Far West, 
in a wagon drawn by horses, taking them eighteen days in making the trip; came via 
Jamestown, N. Y., Erie, Penn., then following the lakeshore to Cleveland, Ohio, thence 
through La Porte; arrived in Illinois, and settled in Wesley Twp., Will Co., on the 
farm he now lives on, which was purchased before be left New York State; the country 
was new, but few settlers, and no improvements on his farm; he set out in farming; here 
he has lived ever since, with the exception of a few years he lived in Joliet; he has 
made all the improvements on his farm, which ranks among the many fine improved farms 
of Wesley Twp. Judge WILSON [WILARD]* has held various offices of public trust; was 
Township Treasurer of Schools about 1846, Justice of the Peace about 1848; this office 
be held for several years; was Supervisor of township for many years; was Chairman of 
the Board of Supervisors of Will Co.; he was Supervisor of township during the war, and 
took a very active part in the enlistment of men for the army, from Wesley Twp.; in 
1865, he was elected County Judge for four years, and in 1869, he was re-elected to 
same office, term expiring in 1873 , during all of his offices in township and county, 
he has proven himself a gentleman of acknowledged ability, whose duties have been 
performed in a faithful manner; his political opinions are Republican, which party 
he has taken a very active part in ever since its organization. Have two children.

*[WILARD] I put this in because I think they put in the wrong name of Wilson instead 
of [Wilard]. -- Margie Glenn



Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.