Victor Willard

Victor Mauro Willard (October 29, 1813 – December 10, 1869) was an American farmer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served as a delegate to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention and was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate in 1849 and 1850, representing Racine County.

Biography Born in New York, Willard moved to the town of Waterford in the Wisconsin Territory in 1837. He was elected as a delegate of Racine County to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention in 1846. At the convention, he worked on the committee to draft an act of congress which would ratify the admission of the state. —in 1849, this was only the northern half of Racine County. Kenosha County was created from the southern half of Racine County in 1850.

Willard died of tuberculosis on December 10, 1869.

Personal life and family Victor Willard was the second of 10 children born to Anson Willard (1786–1850) and his wife Lucretia ( Baker; 1792–1885). The Willard family were descendants of the English colonist Simon Willard, who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634.

On October 2, 1839, Victor Willard married Jane Nancy Gault, who had emigrated to Racine County with her parents from Vermont. Victor and Jane had 12 children, though at least two died in infancy.

Two of their sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War; Charles D. Willard was a first lieutenant in the 19th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment; Albert M. Willard was a private in the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.