Willis

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll give you the full story straight. Willis, Texas, founded in 1870, named for two men: P. J.

Willis and R. S. Willis, large land and timber owners who had formerly been merchants in the area.

They gave the townsite itself, right there on the Houston and Great Northern Railroad, and when that line came through, so did prosperity. Now, those two facts belong together, because the marker puts them together. The railroad arrived, and Willis was in business.

By 1874 the town had grown bold enough to throw its hat in the ring for Montgomery County seat, going toe to toe with the town of Montgomery itself. Two rivals, one prize. You might expect a story like that to have a clear winner.

Well, here's your twist: both Willis and Montgomery lost. Conroe took the county seat, and that was that. But Willis didn't fold.

Not even close. This town boasted a college. An opera house.

Numerous stores. And then came the chapter that'll raise your eyebrows a little. By 1895, Willis had developed vast tobacco fields supporting seven, count them, seven cigar factories.

Seven. Out here in East Texas. That industry grew up real and substantial, until the tariff on Cuban tobacco was lifted, and then it faded.

Just like that, the cigar era was over. Today Willis rests on what it's always had beneath it all: timber and livestock. Two things P.

J. and R. S. Willis would've recognized the moment they handed over that townsite, back at the very beginning.

What the marker says

Founded in 1870. Named for P. J. and R. S. Willis (large land and timber owners who formerly were merchants in area). They gave townsite, on the Houston & Great Northern Railroad. With the line came prosperity, and in 1874 Willis and Montgomery vied for county seat, but both eventually lost to Conroe. Willis boasted a college, opera house, numerous stores; and by 1895 had vast tobacco fields supporting 7 cigar factories. This industry faded when tariff on Cuban tobacco was lifted. Present industries are timber and livestock.