US Congressman. He was the Representative from Michigan's 3rd district serving from 1873 to 1877 along with being ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church and a college professor. He was born in Vermont to Eliza Barron and Allen Willard and was first educated at home. He moved with his parents when he was twelve to Battle Creek. He graduated from Michigan's Kalamazoo College in 1844 before studying theology. He was ordained as a minister of the Episcopal Church in 1848, serving at several churches until 1863. He began to write for newspapers. His career in education began with serving on the Michigan state board of education from 1857 to 1862, a professor of Latin in Kalamazoo College from 1863 to 1864 and then as a member of the University of Michigan board of regents from 1864 to 1873. His first political office was being a member of the Michigan state house of representatives from Calhoun County from 1867 to 1868 and as a delegate to the Michigan state constitutional convention in 1867. This was followed in 1872 when he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan and then was elected to the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses. Since not a candidate for renomination in 1876, he returned to his journalism, becoming the owner of the newspaper the "Battle Creek Journal" until his death.
US Congressman. He was the Representative from Michigan's 3rd district serving from 1873 to 1877 along with being ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church and a college professor. He was born in Vermont to Eliza Barron and Allen Willard and was first educated at home. He moved with his parents when he was twelve to Battle Creek. He graduated from Michigan's Kalamazoo College in 1844 before studying theology. He was ordained as a minister of the Episcopal Church in 1848, serving at several churches until 1863. He began to write for newspapers. His career in education began with serving on the Michigan state board of education from 1857 to 1862, a professor of Latin in Kalamazoo College from 1863 to 1864 and then as a member of the University of Michigan board of regents from 1864 to 1873. His first political office was being a member of the Michigan state house of representatives from Calhoun County from 1867 to 1868 and as a delegate to the Michigan state constitutional convention in 1867. This was followed in 1872 when he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan and then was elected to the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses. Since not a candidate for renomination in 1876, he returned to his journalism, becoming the owner of the newspaper the "Battle Creek Journal" until his death.
Bio by: D C McJonathan-Swarm
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