The Western Wind

I added pomade to both my hair and mustache!

As the great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson Willis (1878 or 1879 – 1925) and Elizabeth Bailey (also known as Elizabeth Needles, for reasons unknown) (1886-1956). Thomas Jefferson Willis was born Protestant in Dromore, County Kerry, in Southeast Ireland. While leaving a pub one night, he was arrested for the capital crime of larceny; the judge at the trial sentenced him to a seven-year indenture contract on a farm in America. Elizabeth was also convicted of larceny, in a separate case, for stealing 21 pieces of silver, some jewelry, and a spool of fine lace. She received the same sentence. Together they traveled to America on the prison ship, The Raffler, which departed from Cobh in May 1898 with 75 other convicts. Thomas and Elizabeth met on board and had fallen in love by the time the ship arrived in Portsmouth, Virginia. They were married in a secret ceremony in a bean field 10 days after they started work as servants on a farm.

Thomas Jefferson Willis and his new wife finished out their contract, then migrated west over the Appalachian Mountains, where they settled in middle Kentucky. They had 5 children in all, but only Thoroughgood Rex Willis ever made anything of himself, becoming both an attorney and Lieutenant on the very last day of World War I. His second daughter, Sarah Malinda, was courted romantically by a tall, lanky, sportsman named W.R. Jones. From their union, I was produced!

I live in Nashville, TN and have dreams of seeing every music act that I even somewhat enjoy at the Ryman Auditorium, where Emmylou Harris will probably join them onstage for a powerful duet.

*also of note- I only wish that I looked as good as the young fellow in the picture above.