Conrad Will

Conrad Will (June 3, 1779 – June 12, 1835) was an American medical doctor, politician, and pioneer who is the namesake of Will County, Illinois. Born in Pennsylvania, Will studied medicine in a town in the western portion of the state before moving to Illinois. His farm in Jackson County, Illinois became the first county seat there. Will co-authored the Constitution of Illinois in 1818 and then served in the Illinois Senate for the 1st Illinois General Assembly. Will remained in one of the two houses of the general assembly until his death. The following year, Will County was named in his honor.

Biography Conrad Will was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 3, 1779. He was the sixth of ten children born to Daniel and Maria Will. As a youth, Will helped his father on the family farm. He attended a subscription school during winters and took an interest in medicine. He attended a medical school in Philadelphia and graduated with a doctor's degree. He moved west to Somerset County, Pennsylvania to establish a practice.

In the early 1810s, Will decided to strike out as a pioneer and decided to visit the Illinois Territory. Impressed with the region, he returned home then moved his family to Kaskaskia. Arriving in the spring of 1815, he found a suitable location on the Big Muddy River in southern Randolph County to live, building a double room log cabin. He obtained a license to practice medicine for around him. He served in the upper house until his death in 1835.