WILLARD, JOHN A Born near Holland Patent, Oneida county, New York, November 9, 1833. John A Willard was of English ancestry, and a son of Daniel S and Catherine (Williams) Willard. Studiously inclined from early youth, possessed of fine intellectual powers, and with but limited means with which to acquire the higher branches, Mr Willard turned his attention to school teaching during, his later teens, and thus was enabled also to qualify for his chosen profession of law at Utica, New York. After being admitted to practice at the bar of New York state in 1855, he sought a field of endeavor in the less settled and more promising northwest, arriving in Mankato during July, 1856, and thereafter devoting his energies to the practice of law and the purchase and sale of real estate. June 1, 1858, he formed a partnership with S F Barney.

About 1870 Mr Willard became interested in railroad promotion, and was president of the company that built the railroad from Mankato to Wells, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul system. Forming a partnership with R D Hubbard and James B Hubbell, in 1872. he organized the Mankato Linseed Oil Company. As the years passed, other enterprises engaged his attention, including the Mankato Novelty Works, the Standard Fibre Ware Company, the Mankato Knitting Mills, and the St Paul White Lead & Oil Company. Notwithstanding his varied interests, he continually sought new outlets for his remarkable energies, and it was not strange that, having worked his way up from small beginnings to a foremost place among the community's accumulators as well as investors and promoters, he should turn his attention towards the need of local banking facilities. Thus he became one of the founders of the First National Bank, which entered upon its successful history May 4, 1868, with a capitalization of $60,000. Of this institution Mr. Willard was president from 1878 until 1896, resigning therefrom because of ill health. In addition, he was president of the National Bank of Commerce, at Duluth, president of the Granite Falls Bank, and president and director of many other corporations in this part of the state.

Realizing that Duluth held great municipal possibilities by reason of affording an outlet to the lakes for the shipment of the grain of the northwest, as early as 1885 Mr. Willard invested heavily in that town, and later years brought him large benefit from these wise and timely investments. He was first of all interested in his home town of Mankato, however; its welfare ever was dear to his heart, and its growth ever was a source of pride and delight to him. For many years he was president of its board of trade, and since his passing on, it often has been said that no one other man did more for the permanent upbuilding of the city during his forty years of residence here. In recognition of his local devotion he was chosen mayor by unanimous vote in 1891, all parties agreeing that nu one was better qualified to further home interests than he. Had he cared for such responsibility other and higher honors would have been conferred upon him, but his mind was concentrated upon business rather than politics, and partisan affairs held little attraction for him.

When, with thousands of others, Mr Willard fell a victim to the memorable panic of 1893, his business obligations preyed heavily upon his mind, and in the maelstrom of effort to discharge the indebtedness that keenly affected his high sense of honor, he died December 15, 1897. The effect of his personal integrity and tireless energy still is felt in the business and general history of Mankato, and over its present fortunes still broods somewhat of his zeal, devotion and faith.

Mr Willard was the parent of seven children, three of whom survive him. His marriage with Anna M Sibley, of Oneida county, New York, occurred August 23, 1865, Mrs Willard being a daughter of R J Sibley, with whom she came to Mankato at an early day.

[source: History of Blue Earth County and biographies of its leading citizens, by Thomas Hughes, pub 1909]